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An Empire of Failure: Legitimacy for the Stormcloak Rebellion and a Post-Imperial Tamriel

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An Empire of Failure:

Justifications for the Stormcloak Rebellion

and a Post-Imperial Tamriel

Jendrik the Scholar

 


 

Forward

 

     There are but few issues that raise such emotions to shouts and blows as that of the Skyrim Civil War and the rebellion of the Stormcloaks. Here, two seemingly clashing ideologies, peoples, and traditions wage war in the great northern province and have torn a nation, and Empire, apart. It is without a doubt a bloody conflict with little in the way of reasoned debate between the two factions. I thereby propose to present my views as scholarly as possible and structured in such a way that provide sourced context to my claims and positions.

 

     As a brief introduction to my thesis: I firmly support the legitimacy of the Stormcloak Rebellion under the leadership of Ulfric Stormcloak. At this point it would be rightfully assumed that half of my intended audience would have ceased reading in mocking rage, but for those that decide to continue forth into my reasoning I implore you to carefully hear out my line of reasoning.

 

     I will divide my rationale into two sectioned analysis, each a specific topic that I will explore. At the end I will leave you with a conclusion and perhaps an earnest reflection of your current views on the situation. While unpopular to suggest, the Empire is at the terminal phase of its ability to enforce any kind of lawful or even moral authority and cannot be trusted to govern Skyrim (or any province for that matter) dutifully given the disastrous steps they have taken in both foreign and domestic policy.

 

     I have attempted to use direct sources in the form of analysis to provide credentials to my statements.

 

     To that end, I invite you dear reader and hope that you may have the endurance to thoughtfully consider what I am about to present to you here now.

 

An Empire Without Legitimacy

 

     This section is largely drawn from the wonderfully detailed account of the war between the Aldmeri Dominion and the Empire, A Concise Account of the Great War Between the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion written by the valiant war hero, Legate Justianus Quintius of the 10th Imperial Legion. This book provides the bulwark (ironically for Legate Quintius would surely have never penned such a briefing with this thought in mind) for my position that the Empire can no longer be viewed as trusted authority in matters of governing or legitimate in its position as leader of Tamriel.

 

     In the first section of his book titled, “The Rise of the Thalmor”, Legate Qunitius makes the claim that, “...very little is known of the factional struggles that went on inside the Dominion while the Thalmor consolidated its power...”[1]. This claim can be easily debunked if one takes into account the words of Aldmeri dissident and martyr Lathenil of Sunhold written down in his series of books, Rising Threat Volumes I-IV. A series of books that one could safely assume a Legate of the Imperial Legion's would be familiar with.

 

     In Rising Threat, Lathenil of Sunhold mentioned directly that, “I tried to bend the ear of the Empire through various avenues and warn them of the Thalmor's doings. The Empire, however, was having enough troubles dealing with the aftermath of the Oblivion crisis within its own borders without seeking trouble in far away Summerset.”[2]. Lathenil later elaborates that he would eventually gain the ear of Potentate Ocato who would unfortunately shortly after meet the blade of an unknown assassin (whom Lathenil suspects was an agent of the Thalmor).

 

     After the bloodied Stormcrown Interrengum that followed Ocato's death and the rise of the Mede Dynasty in the Empire, Lethenil again petitioned the Empire to treat the Thalmor threat with severity. And yet our Legate claims, “The Empire and its Bosmer allies, caught completely off guard, were quickly defeated by the much-better prepared Altmer forces that invaded Valenwood...”[1] (italics added for emphasis). And yet Lathenil of Sunhold claims, “With the Empire stabilizing under... Emperor Titus Mede, I resumed my efforts to warn them of the Thalmor threat.”[2].

 

     Given the Thalmor presence in the chaotic uprisings in Black Marsh in the early days of the 4th Era that led to the successful rise to power of the radical An-Xileel (who preach a violent form of revenge) it is hard to see a picture of an Empire in control of its provinces and able to deal with a dynamic array of threats and duties. This only accelerated during the complete failure of the Empire to defend its province of Valenwood.

 

     Ironically enough, this neglect of the Thalmor in the most earliest of stages and the decision to withdraw the Legion's from the East of the Empire during the Oblivion Crisis directly led to the Argonian mass slaughter following the Red Year of the Dunmer populations of Morrowind. Not only did the Empire fail to protect the Bosmer, but they failed to provide protection against the numerous Dunmer who met their bloodied ends at the blades of great An-Xileel pogroms.

 

     Legate Quintius, to his credit, does state, “Once more the Empire failed to stop the advance of Thalmor power.”[1] in relation to their victory in 4E 115 when the Elsweyr Confederacy was dissolved in a coup that, “...recreated the ancient kingdoms of Anequina and Pelletine as client states of the Aldmeri Dominion.”[2] in Elsweyr following the Void Nights in 4E 98 where the two moons, Masser and Secunda, vanished and the Dominion simply claimed to the superstitious Khajit's that they had restored them when they re-appeared two years later.

 

     The Khajit proclaimed the Thalmor were their saviors[1] and thus a third province of the Empire was broken off from their control. What is worse, the Khajit were fractured back to their two traditional partitions reducing all of the hard diplomatic work that had gone into their unification. Three strikes could then be tallied against the foreign policy of the Empire (four if one chooses to count the withdrawing of the Legion's from the East).

 

     Imperial foreign policy failed again to keep in-check the various populations that they had under their governing authority. Certainly the Khajit's would have seen the chaos of Black Marsh and Morrowind, two former provinces of the Empire, engaged in a violent ethnic war as well as the total failure of the Empire to provide protection for Valenwood which fell in a relatively short campaign. What reasons would they have to view the Empire as “saviors” when they had already failed routinely to protect their citizenry and provinces from violent takeover?

 

     There is also the matter of the Empire's abysmal handling of the post-Red Year crisis when Dunmer sought refuge anywhere and everywhere to escape both the harsh living conditions following the disaster as well as the spears of the An-Xileel fanatics who have aroused such a violent spirit of revenge that has long dwelled in the hearts of the Argonian's for the savage treatment at the hands of the Dunmer for uncountable generations spent in chains. It is a well known fact that Dunmer and Nord relations have been anything but good, and the Empire failing to react to the situation to provide the Dunmer with a reasonable escape plan is yet another clear strike against their ability to protect the safety of its citizens.

 

     I have provided clear examples as to how the Empire, since the Oblivion Crisis, has consistently failed to defend its subjects and the provinces at large. But this story only gets more dramatic as the Great War marches onto the scene. While this text is not focused on a clear history of that terrible war it is vital that I highlight several scenes that further underline the inability of the Empire to protect its citizens, defend its allies, and honor its obligations.

 

     For example, in 4E 172 the Thalmor were attempting to consolidate fresh gains made in Hammerfell against the Redguards, a people divided between two factions known as the Forebears and the Crowns. The Thalmor, content with their gains, allowed the various Imperial forces to fall back in the infamous “March of Thrist” where they regrouped in northern Hammerfull joined by Breton forces from High Rock.

 

     Another event occurs in the following year of 4E 173 when Legate Quintius notes, “Fresh legions from Skyrim bolstered the Emperor's main army in the Imperial City...”[1]. This event is significant because these legions from Skyrim were the same legions that a young Ulfric Stormcloak was a soldier of, ready and willing to do battle against the Thalmor in the name of the Empire. In these days, Ulfric Stormcloak was still a loyal soldier of the Imperial cause as noted in the notorious Thalmor dossier file[3], a subject we shall address later.

 

     In 4E 173 Legate Quintius notes of a Dominion siege being broken at a Redguard city called Hegathe. The importance of this event lies in the fact that it was a Forebear Redguard army coming to the rescue of a Crown Redguard city. Legate Quintius states, “...a Forebear army from Sentinel broke the siege of Hegathe (a Crown city), leading to the reconciliation of the two factions.”[1]. Here is inconclusive proof that the Redguard people had united as one in an all out effort to drive the Dominion from their shores.

 

     What follows next was the triumphant Imperial victory at the Battle of the Red Ring and the destruction of the main Aldermi army in Cyrodil[1]. The Aldermi Dominion commander, Lard Naarifin, as Legate Qunitius explains was, “...kept alive for thirty-three days, hanging from the White-Gold tower.”[1]. It was a stunning triumph for the forces of the Empire and a major turning point in the war. The Dominion was at a loss of any major ability to counter this defeat, its armies were left as a scattered force along the southern shores of Hammerfell.

Despite this stunning victory and shattering of Aldermi forces, the Empire under Titus Mede II would make its most serious and fatal error in the course of the entire disaster that was the 4th Era for the Empire. In 4E 175, Titus Mede II and the Aldmeri Dominion signed “The White-Gold Concordat” and ended the Great War between the Empire and Dominion.

 

     Even Legate Quintius is forced to concede, “The terms were harsh... The two most controversial terms of the Concordat were the banning of the worship of Talos and the cession of a large section of southern Hammerful.”[1]. This was a double betrayal both of the Redguards who had gathered under a single banner against the Dominion but also to the countless Nord soldiers, Ulfric included, who had served bravely and honorably among the Legion's ranks bleeding and dying alongside their Imperial brothers. It is in this move that the Empire's foreign policy doomed itself to utter failure and put a full stop to the failure of the Empire in defending its provinces and protecting the integrity of its peoples.

 

     Despite breaking the Dominion presence in Cyrodiil, the Empire was content to ignore the remaining Dominion forces in Hammerfell. All of the Redguards (and Imperial citizenry alike: Bretons, Nords, and Imperials) had essentially died in vain. The great unification of the Redguard people was trodden under the boots of an Empire unwilling to honor its obligations. For the Nords, the humiliation was only just beginning.

 

     From Morrowind to Elsweyr, Black Marsh to Valenwood, and now Hammerfell and Skyrim the Empire routinely failed to uphold its sole purpose for existence: the defense of the people of Tamriel united under the protection of the Ruby Throne. Legate Quntius continues, “No part of the Empire would have accepted these terms in RE 171...” but this is certainly an understatement.

 

     For in his epilogue titled “Hammerfell Fights On Alone” Legate Qunitius writes of the heroic Redguard resistance against the Dominion for five more long and bloody years. Southern Hammerfell is devastated and yet the Redguards have managed to bring the Dominion to a complete standstill. Imagine the outcome had the Imperials maintained their nerve and kept up the fight? By abandoning the Redguards the Empire has delivered to the Thalmor great access through Imperial territory, including the use of Imperial roads and ports, and brought about its current ruin. It also gave the Dominion a firm foothold on the mainland and a jumping point for future campaigns. The Redguards who had fought hard alongside Imperial's were now left alone in the dark.

 

     But this is still not the end of the ever continuing spiral into Oblivion itself of Imperial policy, for now the swords that were once turned against the Thalmor are now turned against her own people. In the disgraceful and collaborationist text titled The Talos Mistake by Imperial Liasion to the Dominion Leonora Venatus we can see the outline of how the new propaganda machine at work.

 

     “...so we continued to worship Talos, and revere him as the ultimate hero-god. But that was then. This is now. And now, we know the truth: We were wrong.”[4]. Venetus even expands to state, “But the citizens of the Empire must know this: the Emperor did not agree to outlaw the worship of Talos because it was demanded by the Thalmor... The Emperor agreed to the outlaw of the worship of Talos because it was the right thing to do.”[4].

 

     Whether or not this is the opinion that Emperor Titus Mede II feels in his heart is of little consequence, for it was in this treason of the Nord peoples, whom hold Talos in the highest regard and whom shed their blood as equals against the Thalmor, that the very foundation for the Stormcloak rebellion was laid. Veteran Nords of the Imperial wars would also be familiar with the situation in Hammerfell and no doubt Ulfric Stormcloak, who routinely claims he will continue the war against the Thalmor once Imperial occupation has been driven from Skyrim, has future plans in extending a hand towards the Redguards (and who knows, even High Rock may pull themselves together).

 

     The Nords are a proud race of warriors who are not prone to accepting humiliation or slavery. Their battle cry, “Victory or Sovngarde!” provides the metaphysical context that the average Nord feels in their hearts. This is a warrior culture, much in line with the Redguards of Hammerfell, that was not willing to abandon the war against the Dominion. Particularly after such a victory as that found at the Battle of the Red Ring.

 

     In the famous Stormcloak propaganda pamphlet, Nords Arise!, it is written, “The empire tells us we cannot worship Holy Talos. How can man set aside a god? How can a true Nord of Skyrim cast aside the god that rose from our own heartland? Mighty Tiber Septim, himself the first emperor...”[5]. And to underline this point the anonymous author states, “Reject the Imperial law that forbids the worship of Talos.” as the center most point for the rallying cry of the Nord rebellion. The Empire, who had failed to defend Black Marsh, Valenwood, Morrowind, and Elsweyr had not sold what was left of their dignity for the authority of the Aldermi Dominion to enforce laws of cruel injustice on the people of Skyrim who had honored their obligations as citizens of the Empire and shed their blood in Cyrodiil, far from home, in an effort to drive the Dominion back. It can only be speculated as to what the average Nord (see: Nords Arise!feels when he or she see's the same Imperial Legion's that they had once proudly served in, who had once proudly defended them now rounding up their priests and worshippers of their most beloved Talos and throwing them to the butchers hands of the Thalmor. And there are still those in the Empire who feign to not understand why Ulfric was able, in such a short time, to rally half the kingdom?

 

     In this section I aimed to prove to the reader that not only has the Empire failed to uphold its legitimacy in its obligations to defend its provinces, but ultimately betrayed those same people in order for temporal security. Time and time again the Empire failed to treat the Thalmor threat seriously, and ultimately surrendered the entire Empire to their authority. This same Empire betrayed even those provinces, that despite all of the disastrous decades of abysmal foreign policy, had remained loyal and fought side by side with them across countless battlefields during The Great War.

 

     Whether or not the Empire will admit to it, but their legitimacy and authority in Tamriel has ceased to be taken with any shred of dignity by all its former provinces and citizens. One can only hope that in the wake of the defeat of both the fallen Empire and Dominion that a new, stronger, better prepared, and healthier force will fill the space that will be left once these powers have gone. There will certainly be plenty of room for growth!

 

Ulfric Stormcloak: A Dossier Revisited

 

     The leader of the Stormcloak Rebellion comes under great criticism for various social policies he has set as well as accusations that he is truly an asset to the Thalmor. In this section I will prove to you that while far from perfect, Ulfric is the legitimate authority to rally and restore the Nord people who have been broken by both Dominion oppression and Imperial treason. As of now, it is only Ulfric that can save the fate of Skyrim and Hammerfell and drive the Dominion from the shores of Cyrodiil. In achieving this goal I will dismiss the infamous ly leaked Thalmor Dossier that is used by Imperial supporters to de-fame Ulfric. The great irony of this all is that it is directly the fault of the Empire that Ulfric was ever captured by the Dominion in the first place, but this is a discussion for another time.

 

     The greatest argument against the authority of Ulfric Stormcloak lies foremost in the aforementioned Dossier. In this Dossier, critics and antagonists of Ulfric only like to selectively point out pieces and not take into account the wider document as well as its greater implications.

 

     For example they will quote, “After the war, contact was established and he has proven his worth as an asset. The so-called Markath Incident was particularly valuable from the point of view of our strategic goals in Skyrim...”[3]. But of course this is only telling a part of the story.

 

     We know from the Dossier itself that Ulfric was a soldier (among many other Nords) who served in the Nordic Legion's drawn from Skyrim to come to the defense of Cyrodiil against the rampaging Dominion forces. The Dossier states, “...he was taken prisoner of war during the campaign for the White-Gold tower. Under interrogation, we learned of his potential value... and he was assigned as an asset to the interrogator.”[3].

 

     Critics point out the last section of this sentence as proof that Ulfric was a willing participant but it is no deep secret what torture at the hands of the Thalmor looks like. It is also without a doubt certain that many other Nord soldiers would have been taken captive alongside him and we cannot be sure of just what horrors Ulfric Stormcloak witnessed and was subjected to, but we can assume the worst given the Thalmor's own propaganda. In fact, the Dossier highlights him as an asset due to his “...potential value...” as the son of the Jarl of Windhelm[3].

 

     The Dossier then confesses, “Direct contact remains a possibility... but in general the asset should be considered dormant.”[3] which overall seems to suggest Ulfric is no longer willing to talk with this previous jailers under normal circumstances. The dossier previously admitted that following the Markath Incident, Ulfric had become “...generally uncooperative...”[3]. This speculative talk of “...possibility...” And passive aggressive terms such as, “...generally uncooperative...” read more like a covering of tracks to avoid persecution by superior's of the author of the document[3].

 

     And to finally put an end to the hysteria this Dossier has caused among proponents of the Imperial cause, the Dossier concludes with this sentence, “A Stormcloak victory is also to be avoided, so even indirect aid to the Stormcloaks must be carefully managed.”[3].

 

     “Aha!” Shouts the Imperial supporter, “You see? Indirect aid!” and yet the Dossier blatantly states, “As long as the civil war proceeds in its current indecisive fashion, we should remain hands-off.”[3] indicating their interest in supplying “indirect aid” only exists to keep a balance of power and thus drain the ability of both armies. Yet, given the previous section's analysis of the failure of Imperial domestic and foreign policy it is hard to form a solid case in believing in the legitimacy of the Empire's violent suppression of the Nordic people and their culture, especially as the Legion's are receiving open and direct aid from the Thalmor whom have a timid and arguably unsteady, but nonetheless alliance with the Empire.

 

     The Markath Incident and certainly the situation in The Reach is worth further consideration, but now is not the place to consider this situation in detail. In a future study, I will explore the Markath Incident and its implications and hope to bring about some insight as to what happened and why. But this discussion is for another time.

 

Conclusion

 

     I have presented to the reader my claims that not only has the Empire lost its status as a legitimate upholder of law, order, and authority but that Ulfric Stormcloak and his Stormcloak Rebellion are justified in their uprising. Here lies the greatest potential for a strengthening of Tamriel once the decadent Empire and tyrannic Dominion are defeated. Skyrim can only ever achieve harmony under a Stormcloak victory given the restoration of Nordic tradition and culture from the humiliating repression brought by the Thalmor enforced by the Empire.

 

     Imperial authority has waned and I have proved that they have, since the Oblivion Crisis, been throughouly unable to honor their obligations. I have stated routinely that the Empire no longer bears the legitimacy in governing the peoples of its territories. It is simply a fact that the Imperials can no longer claim themselves to be rightful defenders of the old provinces nor authorities in the lands such as Skyrim, particularly after their betrayal of both Redguard and Nordic allies following the Great War and subsequent disastrous treaty.

 

     Given the failings in the 4th Era of the Empire, it is imperative that we now begin to look for an alternative to this broken and defeated governing apparatus that has done nothing but surrendered to the Thalmor a foothold in Cyrodiil and turned the very Empire against itself, enforced by the same Legion's that had allegedly sworn to defend its citizens and their rights. The Imperial legitimacy is vanquished, but in the wake of the prospects of a Hammerfell – High Rock – Skyrim alliance would mankind even need such an apparatus at all?

 

     Only the future can tell us the answer to this great question. It is enough now to know that the Empire has not only failed its people and provinces but failed to maintain its own integrity, honor, and dignity. After nearly two-hundred years of repeated Imperial failings it is highly unlikely, or at this point even desirable, that the Empire will overthrow the Thalmor and reclaim the provinces. Such a prospect, at this point in time, is unwelcome. From Black Marsh to Skyrim, Hammerfell to Morrowind the legacy of failure is all the Empire has left to sit on.

 

 


 

Sources

 

The source list is arranged by the numerical order in which they appeared in the text:

 

  1. Quintius, Justianus. A Concise Account of the Great War Between the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion.

  2. Lathenil of Sunhold. Editor: Erratuim, Parxis. Rising Threat, Volumes I-IV.

  3. Anonymous. Thalmor Dossier; Ulfric Stormcloak.

  4. Venatus, Leonora. The Talos Mistake.

  5. Anonymous. Nords Arise!

 

 

 

 

 

cpt.Od's picture
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Joined: 07/02/2010

If the FSG was still a thing, this would have a place there. Sorry for the late response.