Empire Of Tamriel

''The Empire is Law! The Law is Sacred!"''

―Inscription on every Septim

The Empire of Tamriel, also known formally and informally as the Septim Empire, Cyrodilic Empire, Dragon Empire, Tamrielic Empire, Third Empire, or simply the Empire is an empire founded by the Breton-Nord conqueror Tiber Septim in the late Second Era. The Septim Dynasty ruled the Third Empire during the Third Era, but the bloodline was extinguished after the death of Emperor Martin Septim during the Oblivion Crisis; the Mede Dynasty rose to power in the early Fourth Era and has held the Imperial throne ever since.

At its height, the Third Empire spanned across the entire continent of Tamriel and small colonial territories on Akavir and the islands of Cathnoquey, Esroniet, Yneslea and Roscrea, it administered feudal control through the nine provinces of Tamriel, with the Emperor or Empress acting as supreme ruler, with a High King or Queen ruling over each individual province.

The Empire's prosperity was the driving force behind the ushering in of the Third Era. Through Tiber Septim conquering of all of Tamriel was the Interregnum able to come to an end and the continent was able to achieve unity and peace. Bolstered by centuries of relative peace on the continent of Tamriel, a developed and robust military, and thriving commerce between ethnically diverse provinces, the Third Empire was a leading political, economic, and cultural force on Nirn during the Third and early Fourth Era.

Founding
The Third Empire was founded through a series of wars, known as the Tiber Wars in the late-Second Era. After the Battle of Old Hroldan; Talos, also known as Hjalti Early-Beard, was called by the Greybeards, who told him he was destined to rule all of Tamriel as Emperor.

Battle of Old Hroldran (2E 852)
In 2E 852, King Cuhlecain of Falkreath sought to unite Colovia but needed to secure the northern border with The Reach. The Reach was home to the hostile and territorial Reachman, who claimed no allegiance to High Rock nor Skyrim. With the help of his Nordic allies from Whiterun, Cuhlecain's Colovian army under the administration of Hjalti Early-Beard had invaded the fortress of Old Hroldan. Hjalti was renowned for being a shrewd tactician and was able to force the Reachmen back into Old Hroldan with what little fighters he had at disposal. The siege of Old Hroldan was seemingly impossible until after one stormy night, Hjalti appeared before the gates and broke through it with the power of his Thu'um. Early-Beard's forces stormed the fortress and defeated the Reachmen, bringing victory to the city-state of Falkreath. The Nords of Hjalti's forces were in awe of their leader's power and became to call him, Hjalti Talos, which means Stormcrown in Nordic.

Greybeards
Due to Hjalti Talos being born with the gift of dragon blood by Akatosh, also known as being Dragonborn, Talos was born with the power of the Thu'um, a form of magic that only a few possess which utilizes the Dragon Language to form Dragon Shouts of immense power. When Talos used the Thu'um to shout down Old Hroldran's gate, he was summoned to High Hrothgar, the Greybeard's ancient monastery located in the peaks of the Throat of the World, the tallest mountain in all of Tamriel. After proving that he did indeed posses the power of Thu'um, the Greybeards trained Talos how to control and use the Way of the Voice.

The Greybeards had foreseen the coming of the Third Empire for quite some time. A new emperor that would defeat the High Elves of the Summerset Isles and would unite the continent under a single banner. Talos was informed that he was destined to unite the races of men to defeat the elves and unite Tamriel under a Third Empire. Talos would leave High Hrothgar with his new knowledge of the Thu'um and return to King Cuhlecain in the Falkreath to present his voice to King. After Talos' presentation to the King, in which Talos killed 30 bandits with his voice alone, Cuhlecain would deem Talos ready to lead the armies of Falkreath down south into Cyrodiil to conquer Colovia.

Battle of Sancre Tor (2E 852)
Following the Battle of Old Hroldan, an alliance of Skyrim and High Rock attempted to prevent King Cuhlecain, from creating another Empire by taking over Colovia. In 2E 852, joint Nord and Breton forces crossed the borders into Cyrodiil and occupied many passes and villages in the Jerall Mountains before digging in at Sancre Tor for the winter. Sancre Tor is a ancient fort which houses the tombs of the Reman Cyrodiil dynasty who led the Cyrodillic Empire, also known as the Second Empire who conquered a large amount of Tamriel in the First and Second Era before its dissolution in 2E 430.

General Talos, serving King Cuhelain, prepared to assault the fortress with an army that was tired, cold and ill-equipped to mount an attack on the walls. Talos left a small force outside the main gates of the fortress, tempting the Nord-Breton forces into a sortie. Meanwhile, the main bulk of his forces approached from the rear, gaining entrance to the fortress through a secret passage in the unscalable rear, revealed by a Breton turncoat. The now undermanned fortress was then taken by Talos' forces, who captured the generals within the fortress and compelled the surrender of the Nord-Breton forces engaged in the sortie. Many of the Nord captives swore allegiance to Talos after the battle, however a majority of the Breton army refused, as a result they were executed by the Nordic army on the order of Talos to show their allegiance.

Amulet of Kings
After the battle, Talos recovered the Amulet of Kings from the tomb of the last emperor of the Cyrodillic Empire; Reman Cyrodiil III, in the catacombs beneath Sancre Tor. While in the catacombs the Dragon God Akatosh communicated to Talos through the Amulet of Kings, giving Talos his blessing to form a Third Empire in Tamirel with Talos himself as Emperor. Due to Talos having the Dragon Blood running through his veins, he was a descendent of Akatosh and Saint Alessia allowing him to wear the Amulet of Kings, light the Dragonfires and become Emperor.

Conquest of Colovia (2E 852 - 2E 853)
With Sance Tor secured, the pass to Cryrodiil was secure, King Cuhlecain would order Talos to led the Nordic and Colovian armies down south to Colovia. In late 2E 852, as the Talos' army moved through the Jerral Mountains into Cyrodiil, Talos called for the immediate surrender of all of Colovia to his army. The warlords of Anvil, Bruma, Chorrol, Kvatch, and Skingard, who at the time were waring amongst themselves, allied, and refused Talos' call for surrender.

Battle of Bruma
With his call to surrender rejected, Talos mustered his army from Sancre Tor down to Bruma. The battle was short and decisive, with the battle lasting only a few hours. Talos led his army over and through Bruma's walls, overpowering its small but resilient defense force. The remnants of Bruma's army retreated to its castle, Castle Bruma, where to hoped to form a significant enough defense to hold Talos and his army back in time for reinforcements from Chorrol and Skingrad to arrive. As Talos and his army marched through the undefended city, the majority-Nord populace of the city cheered Talos and his army as liberators. The defense the army of Bruma created by the time Tiber Septim arrived at the gates of Castle Bruma was not enough to hold off his seemingly invincible army, the castle quickly fell in an hour, with its defenders surrendering in the face of guaranteed death. The Colovian warlord, Antalius Magello, the "King" of Bruma, swore loyalty to Talos, but it was too late for the King; he and his court were executed by Talos in front of what remained of Bruma's army. The army of Bruma threw up their swords in loyalty to Talos and were assimilated into his growing army.

The rest of Bruma's outlying towns and villages quickly fell to Talos' advance by 2E 853. He then turned his eyes west towards Chorrol and south towards Skingard.

Battle of Anvil
Upon the notice that Anvil had declined the request to surrender, Talos mustered his army immediately for an invasion of Anvil from nearby Kvatch. Talos and his army quickly marched through the lands of Anvil, capturing many outlying villages, slowly starving Anvil and its army. With Talos and his army rapidly approaching, the Warlord King of Anvil, Ashiir Artaso, ordered his troops to remain outside the walls in a hope to delay Talos enough so he could flee to Hammerfell. Upon his arrival at Anvil, Talos ordered his troops to charge into the enemy line, the following battle would result in a massacre. Both sides took extreme losses, but Talos and his army had ultimately succeeded in defeating Ashiir's army, taking what remained prisoner. Talos stormed the walls of Anvil and secured the unmanned city; due to Talos' speedy arrival Ashiir had not been able to evacuate in time and was taken prisoner. Ashiir and his generals were burned alive for their defiance in the center of the city in front of his army, in the face of this brutality Ashiir's army swore allegiance to Talos.

With the subjugation of Colovia and the fall of Anvil, all of Colovia was in King Cuhlecains' control. Cuhlecain formed the Kingdom of Colovia with himself as King, after this he immediately drew up plans for the invasions of The Heartlands and Nibenay in western Cyrodiil.

Conquest of The Heartlands and Nibenay
Tiber Wars

Reign of Tiber Septim (2E 854 - 3E 38)
When Tiber Septim finally conquered all of Tamriel, he declared that the following year a new era should begin, thus beginning the Third Era at the end of 2E 896. Tiber Septim's thirty-eight-year reign was described as a "lawful, pious, and glorious age." In the first few months of Tiber Septim's rule, he reestablished the Elder Council of old, dating back to the First Era, formed under Reman Cyrdoill when he formed the Cyrdoillic Empire in 1E 2703. The Elder Council would be led by a High Chancellor as a means to run the day-to-day bureaucracy of the Empire and to assist the Emperor in managing the vast provinces of Tamriel.

The Elder Council consisted of a wide array of people, having a total of twenty-one seats in its first incarnation under Tiber Septim. The Elder Council orgininally consisted of eight locally chosen ambassadors, one from each province and a representative of Cyrodiil. Eight members from the most powerful and wealthy families of Tamriel were chosen at the Emperor's whim to serve on the Elder Council as nobles, representing the nobility. The Elder Council would also consist of the two generals of the Imperial Military, one from the Imperial Navy and one from the Imperial Legion, elected to the Elder Council by the Legionary's Council and approved by the rest of the Elder Council. Lastly, the last two seats on the Elder Council would be filled by the High Chancellor, who presides and heads the Elder Council, and the Emperor, leader of the Empire.

To go alongside the Elder Council, the Emperor would establish the High Court, consisting of ten Magistrates and one High Judge. The court would try defendants accused of committing high crimes such as treason against the Empire. The High Court is the highest court in the judiciary of the Empire of Tamriel, as such only dealt with major crimes such as treason and sedition. Trials over more localized crimes such as theft or murder were handled by local courts. Tiber Septim officially established the Elder Council and the High Court when he created the Elder Council Edict and the High Court Edict in late 3E 854.

As a result of many promises during the Tiber Wars, the conquered provinces were given a high degree of autonomy, such as the appointing of their local leaders, such as Jarls and House Councilors, as well as the appointing of their provincial leaders such as the High King or Queen. Despite this, the Empire still had majority control over the provinces and could garrison troops, raise and lower taxes, redraw a province's internal divisions if needed, had complete control of the province's foreign relations, as well as the ability to appoint and dismiss provinical and local leaders as needed, however this was hardly a common practice in the later years of the Empire.

As well as initiating governmental reforms, he is credited for reviving the Cult of the One, an ancient Nordic belief dedicated to the Dragon God Akatosh, and erected a grand temple for it in the Imperial City. He also reestablished the old Alessian Empire era Imperial Pantheon of the Eight Divines as the official religion of the Empire, with the Imperial Cult as its missionary arm. Despite this, other religions were common across the Empire's many provinces, and as a result of this Tiber Septim expressed support for the right to religious freedom in the Empire. Despite this, only worship of Aedra gods was considered legally acceptable, but this was hardly enforced and Deadra worship continued across the Empire.

Tiber Septim would first begin the system of Imperial Edicts. An edict is an Empire spanning law that shall never be altered, these would become the basis of Imperial law. The six Imperial Edicts created by Tiber Septim were;

Firstly, the Emperor/Empress is the supreme sovereign of the Empire of Tamriel, no person or object shall outclass the Emperor/Empress in power or standing.

Secondly, the Elder Council is the legislative power of the Empire of Tamriel and shall never be dissolved.

Thirdly, the High Court is the judicial power of the Empire of Tamriel and shall never be dissolved.

Fourthly, the nine currently established provinces of Tamriel are the basis of the Empire of Tamriel and shall never be dissolved.

Fifthly, no being in any province of territory of the Empire of Tamriel shall be prosecuted for religious worship as long as the god or gods worshipped can be considered Aedra.

Sixthly, slavery is illegal in all provinces and territories of the Empire of Tamriel, except for the Province of Morrowind, where its legality shall be ever left up to the verdict of the Grand Council of Morrowind.

After the Imperial government was formed and the Empire was being governed "equally" by the Emperor, the Elder Council, and the provinces. Tiber Septim went on to create an army to protect the newfound Empire and its people. Tiber Septim formed the Imperial Legion and the Imperial Navy out of his armies of old, these two branches served as the official armed forces of the Empire of Tamriel throughout all of its history.

After Tiber Septim's death in 3E 38, he is believed to have ascended to godhood as the Hero-God of Mankind, named Talos. The Talos Cult has since then been included in the Eight Divines of the Imperial Pantheon, making the Eight Divines the Nine Divines. He was succeeded by his grandson, Pelagius Septim.

Reign of Pelagius Septim I (3E 38 - 3E 41)
In the first year of his reign he recognized his grandfathers ascendency into godhood and reorganized the Imperial Pantheon to represent Talos as the Ninth Divine. As well as approving the first Elder Council Enlargement Act, allowing two high priests of the Imperial Cult, a Primate and a Theurgist to sit on the Council. Only three years into his reign in 3E 41, Pelagius was assassinated by the Dark Brotherhood while praying in the Temple of the One in the Imperial City.

Pelagius died with no heir, and so Tiber Septim's niece Kintyra Septim gave up her role as High Queen of Valenwood to become Empress.

Reign of Kintyra Septim I (3E 38 - 3E 48)
Kintyrna Septim's reign saw much prosperity and development across Tamriel and a unusual peace between the provinces. Many observed that under her rule, Tamriel was blessed with many abundant harvests, which ended the famine in Skyrim which had begun under the last year of Pelagius' rule. Kintyra herself was an avid patron of the arts, music and dance, and so she founded the Imperial Academy of the Arts in the Imperial City, in 3E 43.

Following her death in 3E 48, her son Uriel Septim succeeded her.

Reign of Uriel Septim I (3E 48 - 3E 64)
Uriel Septim I promoted lawfulness and furthered the establishment of Imperial organizations. During his rule he increased the size of the Imperial military and helped with the founding and expansion of many guilds, such as the well known Fighters Guild and the Mages Guild. Due to his affinity with the Fighter and Mages Guilds, he pressured the Council to pass the second Elder Council Expansion Act, which would later be passed and result in four new seats on the Elder Council with two representatives from both Guilds being allowed to serve on the Elder Council in the second Elder Council Expansion Act.

After Uriel's death in 3E 64, his son Uriel Septim II succeeded him.

Reign of Uriel Septim II (3E 64 - 3E 82)
Uriel II's reign ended the brief period of peace founded during Tiber Septim's reign. Insurrection and rebellion erupted across the Empire due to a large tax increase, these rebellions brought an increase of garrisoned troops across the provinces resulting in a need for increased funding for maintaining and supplying the Legion, resulting in high debt. This debt was made worse by Uriel's lavish spending, which brought about the increase in taxes in the first place.

During this time of insurrection the deadly Moon Plague rained supreme through Elsweyr, killing thousands and leading to the forced quarantine of Elsweyr. It is unknown where or how the plague came to be, but its effect on the Khajiit of Elysweyr beginning in 3E 70 was extreme, hundreds of Khajiit everyday all across the province fell sick with the plague. An intense fever after about 1-3 weeks after infection would eventually result in death. With the rapid spread of the plague across Elysweyr, racism flarred, Khajiit were barred from entering many establishments across Tamriel, and many Khajiit trade caravans found themselves unallowed to operate within many provinces.

Eventually the Emperor and the Elder Council declared Elysewyr a "isolation zone" in 3E 71, and its borders were forcibly closed to the rest of Tamriel. In 3E 73, after 3 years of suffering in Elsywer, the finest healers from across Tamriel eventually found a cure to the plague, and it fell into obscurity. It is unknown how many Khajiit died to the Plague, but it estimated to be tens of thousands.

During the Moon Plague, in 3E 71, a potato blight hit Skyrim, killing thousands, and caused thousands of Nords to flee into the Nibenay Valley in Cyrodiil. Though potatoes weren't Skyrim's only food supply, thousands across the province still depended on the potato supply to feed themselves and their families, causing thousands to go hungry. Many criticize Uriel Septim for his mismanagement of the situation in Skyrim. He denied the transportation of critical food supplies into Skyrim from Morrowind and High Rock, and closed Cyrdoiil's borders to Skyrim, causing thousands of refuges to starve and freeze, citing uncertainty of the legaility of the refugees. Eventually, food was able to be imported to Skyrim and the blight was considered over by 3E 76, but with an estimated 80,000 deaths, and tens of thousands more displaced. It is estimated that Uriel's mismanagement of the crisis caused and additional 30,000 deaths.

Pelagius II succeeded his father after his death in 3E 82, and inherited his massive debt.

Reign of Pelagius Septim II (3E 82 - 3E 98)
To fix the massive debt of the Empire, Pelagius dismissed all members of the Elder Council and only let them retain their seats if they payed large sums of money. He encouraged his vassals in the provinces to do likewise, and during his 17 year reign, the Empire returned to a sense of prosperity.

His son Antiochus Septim become the new Emperor following his fathers death in 3E 98.

Reign of Antiochus Septim and the War of the Isle (3E 99 - 3E 119)
Antiochus succeeded his father, but he had little intention of running the empire, and instead spend most of his time with his many mistresses. His reign was rife with civil wars across the Empire due to his inefficient reign and constant disagreements with the Elder Council, leading to a growth in radical anti-Imperial factions which openly fought against Imperial rule across the provinces.

War of the Isle (3E 110 - 3E 114)
In 3E 110, the southern island continent of Pyandonea, led by King Orgnum, launched a surprise invasion into the Summerset Isles with his large armada, hoping to annex the Isles into his Kingdom. The High Queen of the Summerset Isles, begged upon the Emperor's aid and eventually he conceded. The Imperial Navy was redirected to the coasts of Western Tamriel and the Summerset Isles to fight off the invading Armada but were badly beaten during each encounter with the Pyandonean Fleet, most notably the Battle of the Blue Divide in 3E 111. The Emperor in his desperation called upon the help of the Psijic Order, a magical order of powerful Atlmer Mages. The Order agreed to help but only for a high price of fifty millions Septims, but realizing the true danger of the Pyandoneon fleet brought their price down to twelve million Septims to which the Emperor and the Elder Council agreed.

By this time the Pyandonean's had landed on the Summerset Isles, their land invasion was just barely fought off by the Imperial Legion in the Battle of Alinor in 3E 112 and the Battle of Sunhold, that same year, these decisive Imperial victories confined the Pyandonean's to the sea. The combined force of the Imperial Navy and the Psijic Order were able to route the Pyrodoneon fleet in the Battle of the Abecean Sea in 3E 114. According to legend, the Order conjured a huge storm which destroyed much of the Pyandonean armada causing their retreat, however this legend has not been confirmed, only that there was a massive storm that did indeed destroy much of the fleet. Whether the Psijic Order conjured it or not is unknown and has been lost to time. King Orgnum called for a ceasefire and agreed to the terms put forth by the Emperor in the Alinor Concordance, agreeing to remove his armies and his fleets from Tamriel and to never dare invade Tamriel again.

After Antiochus's death in 3E 119, he was succeeded by his daughter, Kintyra Septim II.

Reign of Kintryra Septim (3E 120 - 3E 121)
Fed lies by his Mother High Queen Potema Septim of Skyrim all his life, Uriel Septim III believed he was the rightful Emperor of Tamriel. By the time of his cousin Kintyra II's coronation, Uriel and Potema had mustered allies all across Tamriel to ensure the one day by whatever means necessary he shall serve as the rightful Emperor. On the day of the Kintyra's coronation, him and his mother marched into the Elder Council Chamber and demanded that the coronation be canceled due to Kintrya being a "bastard child," however this did little to stop her coronation and they were both banished back to Skyrim. With any peaceful optons to ascendency crushed, Uriel mustered his allies and launched an attack into High Rock, which forced Empress Kintyra to mobilize her army and march to High Rock, unfortunately she was captured by Uriel's forces in late 3E 120 in which the Amulet of Kings was taken and given to Uriel. He then launched an attack on the Imperial Forts in Morrowind. With the Imperial army split in an attempt to defend High Rock and Morrowind, Uriel's forces marched on the Imperial City and took it after a fortnight. After the capture of the Imperial City, the Elder Council formally recognized Uriel as the legitimate Emperor. In 3E 121, Uriel was crowned Emperor, and the war of the Red Diamond officially began.

War of the Red Diamond and the Reign of Uriel Septim (3E 120 - 3E 127)
The war of the Red Diamond split the Empire in two, with the High Kings of Morrowind and High Rock pledging loyalty to Emperor Uriel Septim III and his mother High Queen Potema Septim of Skyrim. Though Morrowind's High King and a majority of the Grand Council offically plegded loyalty to Uriel, the southern Great Houses of Dres and Halaalu would go against their word and side with Empress Kintayra. While the High Kings and Queens of Hammerfell, Elsweyr, Valenwood, Blackmarsh, and the Summerset Isles pledged loyalty to Empress Kintayra II. Cyrodiil would remain split between the two forces, with the north under Uriel's occupation, while the south remained loyal to Kintayra.

While Empress Kintayra II remained captured in High Rock, her Uncle Cephorus Septim led the Imperial Army to retake High Rock and free the Empress. Unfortunately, due to Cephorous' advance into High Rock in 3E 125, Emperor Uriel Septim II called on Empress Kintayra II's execution, which the King of Daggerfall, loyal to Uriel, obliged. With the death of the Empress, many looked to Uriel as the true successor, however this did not bring an end to the fighting. With western High Rock under Cephorous control by 3E 127, Uriel marched an army to meet Cephorus, resulting in the battle of Battle of Ichidag in Northern Hammerfell, the battle was a stunning defeat for Uriel's army resulting in his capture.

While Uriel was on his way to the city of Gilane in Hammerfell for trial, a group of vigilantes attacked and burned Uriel alive in his prison carriage. At the same time, Kintrya's other Uncle, Magnus Septim was leading the eastern Imperial armies; composed mostly of Argonians, from Black Marsh through Morrowind and into Skyrim, encircling the Imperial City. With the rapid advanced of Magnus' forces into Morrowind, the three Great House of Morrowind loyal to Potema; Indoril, Redoran, and Telvani, would surrender to Magnus and the High King would abdicate.

The armies of the siblings Potema and Magnus would meet at Falconstar in Skyrim, Potema's forces would decisively win the battle after days of fighting and forced Magnus to flee from Skyrim back into Morrowind. With the most of Potema's army in Skyrim, Mangnus took his chance to strike at the now lightly defended Imperial City. After a few days of fighting, the Imperial City laid in the hand of Magnus as the rest of Potema's forces retreated out of Cyrodiil into Skyrim. Cephorus then lit the Dragonfires and was crowned Emperor. For the next ten years Potema would continue the fight against the forces of Emperor Cephorous, but the death of her son cost her many allies, as many left and swore allegiance to the Empire and the new Emperor; as a result she suffered defeat after defeat. After numerous defeats Potema started signing pacts with the Daedra and had necromancers resurrect her fallen forces, which were used to fight battle after battle against Magnus and Cephorus Septim's forces, but to no avail.

By late 3E 127, Potema's forces had been pushed back to Solitude, beginining the Siege of Solitude.

During the siege, Potema gave her nephew, Pelagius Septim III, a necklace that would slowly drive him to insanity. Potema at this point knew from the Elder Scrolls that Pelagius would eventually become Emperor and she so instigated one final act of revenge on the Empire. She summoned massive armies of undead, but they were not enough to hold back Magnus and Cephorus Septim's forces. Her capital of Solitude was besieged and after Magnus stormed and took the castle, resulting in High Queen Potema's death, the war was finally over and the Empire reunited.

Reign of Cephorus I (3E 127 - 3E 140)
During most of Cephorus' rule following his victory in the war was spent rebuilding Tamriel after 16 years of destructive warfare and putting the treacherous armies of Potema and Uriel on trial in the High Court, under the counsel of his brother Magnus, which he appointed as the High Judge of the Court.

After the death of Cephorus Septim in 3E 140 from a horse riding accident, his brother Magnus Septim became Emperor.

Reign of Magnus Septim I (3E 140 - 3E 145)
When Magnus ascended to Emperor in 3E 140, he was already 61 years old. The many arrests and trials of those who were treacherous during the War of the Red Diamond drained his health.

Magnus Septim died after only five years on the throne in 3E 145 at the age of 66. It is rumored that his son, Pelagius "the Mad", killed him and ascended the throne. Scholars, however, agree that it is highly unlikely due to Pelagius's strange persona and, following the death of his aunt Potema Septim, he was busy ruling Skyrim and thus rarely visited the Imperial City.

After his death he was succeeded by his son Pelagius Septim III in 3E 145.

"Reign" of Pelagius Septim III (3E 145 - 3E 152)
By the time Pelagius Septim III was crowned Emperor of Tamriel it was obvious that he was mentally unable to rule and his wife, Katariah was appointed by the Elder Council to serve as Regent to rule in his stead. Pelagius Septim III never truly ruled Tamriel, Katariah and the Elder Council made all of the decisions and only tried to keep Pelagius from embarrassing them all. When Pelagius began to bite and attack visitors to the White-Gold Tower, he was sent to a private asylum on the Isle of Betony in the Iliac Bay in High Rock, a decision made by his own wife Katariah. In 3E 152 Pelagius Septim III died after a brief fever in his cell at the Temple of Kynareth on Betony at the age of 34.

After his death, his wife Katariah, was officially crowned Empress and reigned for another 48 years.

Reign of Katariah Septim (3E 152 - 3E 200)
Following the death of her husband Pelagius Septim III, Regent Katariah Septim was coronated Empress of Tamriel, the first Dunmer Empress and the first not related to Tiber Septim himself. Many falsely assert that the true Septim line ended with Katariah due to her race; however, her defenders are quick to point out that she had a son by Pelagius, thereby continuing the true Septim bloodline. She was also able to wear the Amulet of Kings, meaning she came from a family in Morrowind gifted with Dragonblood or was blessed by Akatosh with it before she became Empress, both of these theories are still highly debated amongst scholars. She was the third woman to hold power over all of Tamriel in the Third Empire, first as Regent and later as Empress. Despite racist claims to the contrary, her forty-six-year reign was arguably the most glorious and benevolent in Tamriel's history. During her reign, she traveled extensively throughout the Empire. Such a cosmopolitan attitude had not been seen since Tiber Septim's day and gained the trust and support of the populous across Tamriel. She repaired the damage her eccentric husband had caused on the diplomatic front, and she strengthened foreign ties and alliances, as well as avoided a disastrous conflict in 3E 164 between the Kingdoms of Wayrest and Daggerfall in High Rock through diplomacy and mutual understanding. Leading to a new era of prosperity and cooperation in High Rock.

She was a very popular monarch; the people came to love her far more than the nobility and politicians did. Unfortunately, not everyone praised and adored Empress Katariah. In 3E 200, on a routine visit to Lilmoth, the capital of Black Marsh, the Empress and her entourage were surrounded by Argonian separatists in the swamp. They demanded her immediate surrender, so they could exchange her life to the Elder Council for the independence of Black Marsh. The Empress declined their offer resulting in the skirmish that would end her life.

Reign of Cassynder Septim (3E 200 - 3E 202)
Cassynder inherited the throne on the death of his mother. Already middle-aged and in poor health due to his duty of keeping the tettering Province of High Rock together as its High King, he abdicated due to his poor health and left the care of the duties of High King to his half-brother Uriel Lariat. Due to his true blood relation with Pelagius Septim III, and thus Tiber Septim himself, he was pressed into accepting the throne after his mother died. He died after only two years of rule, his rule was overall uneventful and focused on keeping the provinces of the Empire in check after the death of his beloved Mother.

His half-brother Uriel Lariat succeeded him in 3E 202 and was crowned Uriel Septim IV.

Reign of Uriel Septim IV (3E 202 - 3E 247)
in 3E 202, Uriel Septim IV left High Rock to reign as Uriel Septim IV after the death of his half-brother. To the Elder Council, the nobility, and the people as a whole, he was a bastard child of Katariah. Uriel did not possess his mother's dynamism, his forty three-year reign being a hotbed of sedition, especially across Cyrdoiil, many calling him an illegitimate heir. Despite the Lariat family's respected position (they were distant cousins of the Septims), few of the Elder Council were receptive to his claim as a blood relative of Tiber Septim and as a result seldom listened to the Emperor. His father was Gallivere Lariat, who was a well noted and respected Breton nobleman, who had also served on the Elder Council for decades. Although his half-brother Cassynder had legally made Uriel IV a Septim after he became the High King of High Rock, this did not matter to the people, especially since the Elder Council were effectively running the Empire, without his say.

Indeed, the Elder Council's final act of rebellion against him even after his death was to that of his son, Andorak Septim, who was disinherited of his title, and choose his cousin Cephorus Septim II to become Emperor instead. the Elder Council had already established itself as a significant authority during his mother Katariah's many travels and reforms and the short reign of the frail Cassynder. As such, their power was remarkable, and as a perceivably alien monarch, Uriel IV found it impossible to keep them faithful, or even respectful, of his authority as Emperor. Time and time again, the Elder Council and Emperor were at odds; and time and time again, the council won the battles. Since the days of Pelagius II, the Elder Council had consisted of the wealthiest and most powerful men and women in the Empire, and the power they wielded was, at the time, ultimate rivaling that of Emperors itself. This subjugation continued throughout Uriel IV's forty-five year reign. He was supposed to be succeeded by his son, Andorak Septim, but after weeks of deliberation the Elder Council overruled this and through majority vote, choose Andorak's cousin, Cephorus Septim II to become Emperor of Tamriel instead, who shared more of a blood relation to Tiber Septim.

Reign of Cephorus Septim II and the Camaron Usurper (3E 247 - 3E 268)
Cephorus' reign was marked by two significant events. The first was his rivalry with his cousin Andorak Septim, the son of Uriel Septim IV, who was the rightful heir to the throne after his father Uriel died. During the first nine years of Cephorus' rule, forces loyal to Andorak attacked the Emperor's forces all across Tamriel, but mostly High Rock. Eventually, Cephorus in 3E 256, conceded the High Rock Kingdom of Shornhelm to Andorak, allowing him to become King of Shornhelm, and after this Andorak pledged his loyalty to Emperor Cephorus, and thus the conflict was concluded, although Sage Eraintine described it by stating that "Tiber Septim's heart is beating no more."

Camoran Usurper (3E 249 - 3E 267)
The second significant event of Cephorus' reign was the invasion and skirmishes of the Camoran Usurper a pretender to the ancient throne of the Camorans, the High Kings and Queens of Valenwood. In 3E 249, he and his army composed of undead and conjured Deadra from the planes of Oblivion, quickly and violently freed the Bosmer of Valenwood from the Empire, overthrowing the pro-Imperial High King, taking two years to do so, and then proceeded northward with almost no resistance from the Emperor and his legions as he could hardly muster his forces due to his ongoing year long battles with Andorak. When the Camron Usurper sent his forces into Hammerfell and Cyrodiil, the Emperor responded by sending large amounts of mercenaries to stop his march northwards, however many of these mercenaries were payed off or killed and turned into undead by the Usurper and his army, leading to Hammerfell and Colovia falling by 3E 257. His armies tore across cities and countryside—seemingly undefeatable. At first, the offense was merely a rebuke to what seemed an indestructible Empire. With the fall of Hammerfell and Western Cyrodiil, the Usurper began his march into Skyrim and High Rock.

Following his diastrous defeat in the Battle of Falkreath and the following concession of Shornhelm, Andorak pledged his loyalty to the Emperor, and with this the Emperor could muster the Imperial Navy and Legion to High Rock and Skyrim, which he did in late 3E 259.

The Imperial Navy arrived in the Iliac Bay with support from the loyal kings and queens of High Rock who also mustered their navies and armies to engage the Usurper, resulting in the second largest assembled navy in the history of Tamriel. The combined navy was able to defeat the Camaron Usurper in the Battle of Firewaves in 3E 267, resulting in his death and the fracturing of his army, many say his defeat was "divine intervenetion." However it was established that the weather played a large part in Camoran's seemingly impossible defeat. Before his defeat, he managed to conquer all of Valenwood, large sections of Colovia, and significant sections of Hammerfell, and was working his way through High Rock when he was finally defeated. After his death and the end of the fighting, an increase in hostility towards the seemingly ineffective empire, from the regions of Hammerfell, HValenwood began, believing that the Empire and the Emperor had abandoned them to the Usurper.

Cephorus Septim died in 3E 268, at the time of his death, the Empire was more divided than it had been in years. He was succeeded by his son Uriel Septim V.

Reign of Uriel Septim V (3E 268 - 3E 290)
Upon assuming the throne in 3E 268, Uriel V immediately began to turn opinions, political and otherwise, in favor of the potential power the Empire could wield hoping to show the Empire was indeed powerful to hopefully ease the doubts of many in the provinces in which the Camroan Usurper had controlled and conquered. At home, the Elder Council practically ran the Empire as Uriel V was away with his army. Turning the attention of Tamriel away from internal strife, he began planning his first series of invasions almost from the moment he took power. His first invasion was to the land of Roscrea in 3E 271, in the Sea of Ghosts halfway between Tamriel and the northern Continent of Atmora, which took his forces roughly four years to conquer. His next stop was Cathnoquey in 3E 276, and after that, Yneslea in 3E 279, Esroniet in 3E 284, all of which lied in the Padomaic Ocean between Tamriel and the Eastern Island Continent of Akavir.

With his conquest of the isles of the seas complete, Uriel Septim set off for Akavir in 3E 285, and established two colonies on the Continent, Ionith and Septimia. In the year 3E 290 after conquering the many islands of the Padomaic Ocean, Uriel Spetim launched a full invasion into Akavir hoping to conquer the Continent and bring it into the Empire, bringing the Empire into conflict with the native vampiric serpent peoples, the Tsaesci. Uriel and his army landed in the Kingdom of Tsaesci, on the southeastern Akaviri coast. According to the official record of the invasion, it was initially successful, but primarily due to a lack of Tsaesci resistance. Once the Tsaesci armies decided to put up a fight, the Imperial armies were routed in short order, with nearly the entire invasion force lost. Only a fraction of one Imperial naval fleet managed to return across the ocean to safety back home.

In 3E 290, the Emperor himself was killed at the "Disaster of Ionith" before he was able to flee Akavir, and to date there have not been any subsequent attempts to invade the continent. In addition to the obvious military prowess of the Tsaesci, there are persistent rumors that the Tsaesci mages possess very potent abilities, including changing the weather patterns off the Akaviri coast, and large-scale disruption of magical communication lines. The Emperor's death at Ionith forced the Imperial army into retreat from Akavir, and the continent has not been revisited by a foreign army since.

Both the colonies of Ionith and Septimia were destroyed by the Tsaesci in 3E 290.

His son Uriel was born shortly before he embarked on the journey to Akavir. Uriel Septim V's other children, the twins Morihatha Septim and Eloisa Septim, were born about a month after he had set off to Akavir. Upon news of his death reaching Cyrodiil, Uriel Septim VI, at just five years old, was crowned the next Emperor of Tamriel.

Reign of Uriel Septim VI ( 3E 290 - 3E 317)
Due to the extreme youth of Uriel apon his coronation as Emperor, his mother, Imperial Consort Thonica, was given a restricted Regency by the Council until Uriel was of sufficient age to govern satisfactorily. During this time, the Elder Council held most of the Empire's true power ever since the rule of Empress Katariah, thus enabling it to make much legislation—some for its own favor and profit. Over the years, Uriel VI had been assuming positions of great variance, and at the age of 22 in 3E 307, he was formally given rule over the Empire. However, the then-current mechanisms of government granted him little power, his only power of note being that of the veto. The following six years saw the Emperor use his veto many times to delay and anger the Elder Council.

By this time, the Emperor had lost many of the powers used to reign in the Elder Council, such as the power to dismiss and appoint members, and the ability to convene and prorogue the Elder Council. As a result, Uriel revived previously defunct spy networks and guard units to bully and coerce those members of the Elder Council that opposed him, eventually forcing the Elder Council through fear to give up much of its power back to the Emperor. His half-sister Morihatha Septim would be an ally throughout this period, her marriage to Jarl Ulfe Gersen of Winterhold, put her in possession of much wealth and influence. The Sage Ugaridge commented regarding this period, "Uriel V conquered Esroniet, but Uriel VI conquered the Elder Council."

Uriel died in 3E 317 when he fell from his horse. He remained in a grave condition for some time, but despite the best efforts of the finest Imperial healers, he could not be saved. He was succeeded by his sister Morihatha Septim.

Reign of Morihatha Septim (3E 290 - 3E 339)
Upon ascending to the throne in 3E 317 she vowed to continue her brother's work of taking control of the Elder Council, through bribing and bullying the last few members of the Council her brother had not yet reached. She vowed her work complete as after years of bribes and bullying all sitting members of the Elder Council had proved their loyalty to the Empress and the people of the Empire. By the time of her rule the state of the Empire had been growing discordant, with many open wars and rebellions running unchecked since the time of her grandfather, Cephorus II. Through calculated strategy, she slowly won back the rebellious vassals, always ensuring never to overextend her armies and risk defeat.

Her most well known victory is the Battle of Gideon in 3E 319, by 3E 316 much of the Province of Black Marsh had been taken over the Argonian nativist faction the An-Xileel, with their headquarters located in the city of Helstrom, deep within the marches of central Black Marsh. In 3E 319, she mustered a force of loyal Argonian Legionaries and stormed the city, after days of battle, the An-Xileel were driven from the city and their leader killed. However, even after their victory, the An-Xileel were able to rebuild themselves in the deep marshes of central Blash Marsh, continuing to sow chaos across the province. Her military campaigns were extremely decorated and successful winning battles against the enemies of the Empire to as north as Skyrim and as south as the Summerset Isles, although the slow pace of these campaigns often frustrated the members of the Elder Council.

Thusly, she was assassinated in 3E 339 in a plot conceived by Argonian Elder Council Ambassdor, Thoricles Romus, who was furious at her refusal to send more troops to the rebellious Black Marsh. She was succeeded by her nephew Pelagius Septim IV. Although he protested his innocence, Thoricles Romus was tried in the High Court and was found guilt of the assassination and was executed in 3E 339. Though she was married to Jarl Ulfe Gersen of Winterhold prior to her ascension to the throne, Morihatha had no children and her sister, Eloisa Septim, had died only four years prior of a fever. Thus her nephew, Pelagius Septim IV, was crowned Emperor at age 25 in 3E 339.

Reign of Pelagius Septim IV (3E 339 - 3E 368)
Pelagius Septim IV's rule was one of reintegration of the rebellious provinces throughout Tamriel, continuing on the work of Morihatha Septim; but, despite his beneficial traits and patience, the progress he made was slow. This is largely because the provinces had been free of constraint for so long, even a benign influence was seen as odious. The eastern province of Morrowind still remained relatively alienated from the Empire, its customs differing strongly from the Empire's, and many of its House Councilors being largely unreceptive of the Empire's diplomacy. Closer to home, however, the Kingdoms of High Rock and the western Holds of Skyrim were gradually integrating further with the Empire and its culture even as others, such as the Crown kingdoms in Hammerfell, rebelled.

Most notably during Pelagius' rule was his reconquest of the rebellious provinces of Valenwood and Black Marsh. Under his Aunt, Morihatha Septim's reign, the rebellious An-Xieel fled to inner marshes and swamps of Black Marsh, but countinued to reign terror and chaos on the people of Black Marsh, mainly on foreigners from other provinces. Due to the remoteness of the region there was little the mostly human composed Imperial Legion could do to combat the growing threat. Until the Emperor, with the assistance of the High King of Black Marsh, assembled an army of Argonians in 3E 345 to assault the An-Xieel's hideouts across the province. By 3E 349, the campaign was considered a success and the An-Xieel were pushed further back into the swamps and marshes of Black Marsh until they were no longed deemed a threat.

By 3E 356, similar campaigns in Valenwood to bring an end to the loyal supporters of the ill-fated Camaron Usurper who had been waging a guerilla war in the province for years after the Camaron's death in 3E 267 resulted in similar success. Both of these factions were deemed satisfactorily quelled by 3E 360.

After Pelagius' 29-year reign, the Empire was more united than it had been for hundreds of years, even if it had been through hard fought conquest through the sacrifice of the soldiers of the Imperial Legion whose blood had spilled in every province of the Empire. Many scholars agree that the Empire had not seen such unity since the reign of Uriel Septim I. Pelagius died in 3E 368, at the age of 54 of a fever. He was succeeded by his son, Uriel Septim VII, who swore on his father's deathbed to continue the work Pelagius had begun to reunite all the provinces of the Empire across Tamriel.

Reign of Uriel Septim VII and the Imperial Simulacrum (3E 368 - 3E 433)
Uriel Septim assumed the title of Emperor of Tamriel when his father, Pelagius Septim IV, died in 3E 368. At the time of Pelagius' death, Tamriel was in the midst of a long process of reunification between the provinces, and the Empire was close to stamping out acts of succession and rebellion across its territory. Uriel, at the age of 22, sought to continue this integration by pursuing bold, aggressive policies within the Empire and on its fringes.

The early decades of Emperor Uriel's life were marked by aggressive expansion and consolidation of Imperial influence throughout the Empire, especially in the eastern provinces of Morrowind and Black Marsh. There, the Empire's powers were limited, Imperial culture was weak, and native customs and traditions were strong and staunchly opposed to assimilation. During this period, Uriel greatly benefited from the arcane support and shrewd council of his closest adviser, the Imperial Battlemage Jagar Tharn.

Uriel was married to Princess Caula Voria of the Kingdom of Evermore in the Province of High Rock. Though a beautiful and charming woman who was much loved and admired by the people, the Empress in private was a deeply unpleasant, arrogant, ambitious, and grasping person. Uriel found himself subjugated in his relationship and came to regret his mistake of marriage. He was repelled by her, and thus he fathered an illegitimate son named Martin who succeeded him to the throne, if only briefly. The relationship gradually grew more bitter, and their three children Geldall, Enman, and Ebel were to bear witness to this unhappy marriage.

Through this time, however, it became evident that Uriel was in possession of an agile mind; he had outstripped his masters in the skills of threat and diplomacy. Uriel's success in co-opting Great House Hlaalu as an advance guard of Imperial culture and economic development in Morrowind is a noteworthy example. However; during this time, Uriel also grew in pride and self-assurance due to his many diplomatic victories. Through this time, Jagar Tharn had purchased the complete trust of the Emperor that led to Uriel's betrayal and imprisonment in Oblivion and Tharn's usurpation of the Imperial throne, which followed the dark period known as the Imperial Simulacrum.

In 3E 389, he captured Uriel VII and banished him into Oblivion with the Staff of Chaos. Normally when the Emperor of Tamriel dies, the Elder Council is magically informed by the Amulet of Kings and meets to select a successor. By sequestering Uriel Septim VII in another dimension, where time ran slower, Tharn prevented this from happening. He then broke the staff into eight pieces and hid them in the other provinces of Tamriel. Using his powerful, and skillful knack for Illusion, he took on the visage of Uriel VII, and ruled the Empire, replacing the Emperor's guard and servants with Daedra.

Several years later, he made a bargain with Mehrunes Dagon to invade the Battlespire, the Imperial training facility and bastion of the Imperial Legion Battlemages. This move was essential to secure his position and to eliminate a possible threat to his reign. Mehrunes Dagon and his forces invaded and captured the Spire, but were later destroyed and cast back into Oblivion by a mysterious hero, but at a cost, the Battlespire was destroyed, severing one of the links between Nirn and Oblivion. The Imperial Battlemages, a potential threat to Tharn, were no longer capable of thwarting Tharn's reign.

Wars during the Imperial Simulacrum, 3E 389 - 3E 399
During Tharn's reign Imperial authority over the nine provinces slipped, resulting in many provinical wars, which Tharn did nothing to prevent or stop.

The Five Year War
3E 395–3E 399

The Five Year War was a war that took place between the Bosmer of Valenwood and the Khajiit of Elsweyr. The Bosmer claim that the war began in 3E 394 when Khajiit bandits started attacking wood caravans headed for Valenwood. The Khajiit claim that the war began in 3E 395 when the Bosmer attacked the city of Torval in retaliation for the bandit attacks. This border dispute soon turned into a bloody war that lasted for 4 years and 9 months. Thus it was named the Five Year War. Eventually, Elsweyr defeated Valenwood and expanded its territory slightly west, taking both banks of the Xylo River. Some major battle of the Five Years War were;


 * Slaughter of Torval: Khajiit Victory
 * Battle of Zelinin: Bosmer Victory
 * Heart of Anequina: Khajiit Victory
 * Battle of Athay: Khajiit Victory
 * Assault on Vindisi: Stalemate
 * Battle of Fort Sphinxmoth: Bosmer Victory

The Arnesian War
3E 396

What started as a simple slave revolt in the House Dres lands to the south escalated into a full war between Morrowind and Black Marsh. The cause of the war was the death of a Dunmer trader named Roris, who was loyal to the Tribunal faith. He was captured by the Argonian rebels and when he refused to denounce his faith, he was brutally tortured and murdered. When news of his death reached the rest of Morrowind, a desire of revenge and justice for Saint Roris would become the rallying cry for war, and as such, Morrowind declared war on Black Marsh due to their support of the Argonian rebels. Morrowind's armies ultimately defeated the Argonians in mere months after a few decisive battles, and expanded Morrowind's territory south into northern Blackmarsh.


 * Battle of Arnesia: Dunmer Victory
 * Battle of the Varedayn Plantation: Dunmer Victory

Under Magnus Septim I, the Elder Council passed the Orsinium Citizenship and Representation Act, which allowed the Orcs of Imperial Territory of Orisium to gain full Imperial Citizenship, allowing them to freely travel across the Empire. The second part of the act allowed the Imperial Territory of Orsinium a right to have a representative on the Elder Council, increasing the number of seats on the Elder Council to twenty-eight. Many scholars believe this would angered Tiber Septim had he been alive, due to his famous racist hatred of Orcs.

Oblivion Crisis
"At the turning of the Fourth Age, in the year 3E 433, the Emperor Uriel Septim VII was assassinated and the Amulet of Kings was destroyed. This set in motion a chain of events that would bring down an empire and change forever the relationship between man and the gods."


 * ―Praxis Sarcorum[src]

The Oblivion Crisis, also known as the Great Anguish to the Altmer or the Time of Gates to Mankar Camoran, was a period of major turmoil and armed conflict, fought between the Tamrielic Empire and the Planes of Oblivion. The Oblivion Crisis is noted as being a significant event in Tamrielic history, as it marks the final days of the Third Era and the end of the Septim Dynasty.