Lore:Cephorus II

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Emperor Cephorus Septim II
Race Nord Gender Male
Born 3rd Era
Died 3rd Era
Reign 3E 247-
3E 268
Previous Ruler Uriel IV
Next Ruler Uriel V

Cephorus Septim II was the sixteenth emperor of the Septim Dynasty, ruling the Third Empire for twenty-one years, from 3E 247 to 3E 268. Conflict and rebellion characterized Cephorus II's reign, with the Camoran Usurper's war in western Tamriel being the most significant.[1][2] The Usurper's eventual defeat had little to do with Cephorus II's efforts, which brought increased hostility toward the inefficacious Empire.[1] As a result of this increased hostility and Cephorus II's weak and ineffectual leadership, rebellions and civil wars beset the Empire for over half a century after his reign.[3] He was preceded by Uriel IV, and was succeeded by his son, Uriel V.[1]

Biography[edit]

Little is known of Cephorus Septim's life prior to becoming emperor. At some point, he had a son, Uriel.[1] Prior to 3E 247, Cephorus was the king of an unspecified kingdom.[4]

In 3E 247, Cephorus' cousin Emperor Uriel IV died, but the Elder Council disinherited Uriel IV's son Andorak and proclaimed Cephorus emperor because he was more closely related to the original Septim line.[1][5][6] Following Cephorus' proclamation as emperor, Andorak's loyalists initiated a rebellion against the Empire.[1]

Cephorus II was the first emperor of the Septim Dynasty who was neither a Breton nor had spent any of his childhood in High Rock.[2] Moreover, he was a Nord, whose sympathies lay with Skyrim and Morrowind.[2] The difference between Cephorus II and his cousin and predecessor, Uriel IV, a Breton and former King of Wayrest, appalled the people of High Rock.[2] Consequently, many of the people in High Rock detested Cephorus II.[2]

In 3E 249, while Cephorus II was attempting to suppress Andorak's rebellion, Haymon Camoran, known as the Camoran Usurper and a member of the Camoran Dynasty, initiated a war in western Tamriel.[1][5][6][7] The Usurper, with his army of Daedra, undead, and Bosmer mercenaries, quickly conquered Valenwood.[1][2][7] The Usurper and his army then marched north and invaded Cyrodiil, where they sacked the city of Kvatch.[8] In 3E 253, the Usurper and his army defeated the armies of Taneth and Rihad at the Battle of Dragontooth and took control of southern Hammerfell.[6][9]

Cephorus II dispatched numerous mercenaries into Hammerfell in an attempt to halt the Usurper's northward march, but they were either bribed or killed and reanimated as undead.[1] The Imperial Navy was also dispatched to fight the Usurper, but this enabled Torradan ap Dugal and the Red Sabre pirates to raid merchant and supply ships throughout the Abecean Sea.[10][11] In an act that the Sage Eraintine described as "Tiber Septim's heart beating no more", the Elder Council granted Andorak the Kingdom of Shornhelm in 3E 256, ending his rebellion.[1]

News of the Usurper's conquests reached High Rock in early 3E 266, but preparations to repel the invasion did not begin until 3E 267.[2] The delay in preparations occurred due to the weak monarchs of the major powers in the Iliac Bay, who could not unite the region against the Camoran Usurper's armies.[2] Additionally, eight local leaders formed secret allegiances with the Usurper to safeguard their lands.[2] Finally, many of the common men in High Rock detested Cephorus II, which led them to be sympathetic toward the Usurper, whom they viewed as the Emperor's archfoe.[2] With no clear leadership from the major regional powers or the Empire, Dwynnen, Kambria, Phrygias, and Ykalon united under the Baron of Dwynnen, Othrok, to defeat the Usurper at the Battle of Firewaves in 3E 267.[2][5][12] The Usurper's demise had little to do with Cephorus II's efforts, and instead, his lack of assistance brought increased hostility toward the inefficacious Empire.[1] As a result of this increased hostility and Cephorus II's weak and ineffectual leadership, rebellions and civil wars beset the Empire for decades after his reign.[1][3]

In 3E 268, Cephorus II's son Uriel V succeeded him as emperor.[1][5]

Legacy[edit]

Uriel V's reign helped improve the people's opinion of the Empire, but the rebellions and civil wars from Cephorus II's reign went unchallenged for decades, until the reign of his granddaughter, Morihatha.[1][3] During her reign, Morihatha slowly brought the rebellious kingdoms, duchies, and baronies back under imperial control.[3] Cephorus II's great-grandson Pelagius IV continued Morihatha's efforts, and by the end of his reign, Tamriel was closer to unity than it had been since the reign of Uriel I.[3]

Gallery[edit]

  • Map of West Tamriel; the Usurper's trajectory in his invasion

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Brief History of the Empire v 3 — Stronach k'Thojj III
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k The Fall of the Usurper — Palaux Illthre
  3. ^ a b c d e Brief History of the Empire v 4 — Stronach k'Thojj III
  4. ^ Brief History of the Empire, Part III — Stronach
  5. ^ a b c d The Third Era Timeline — Jaspus Ignateous
  6. ^ a b c Tamriel's Timeline, The Daggerfall Chronicles — Ronald Wartow
  7. ^ a b Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Wilds Remain: Valenwood — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  8. ^ The Refugees — Geros Albreigh
  9. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Ra Gada: Hammerfell — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  10. ^ Cap'n Dugal's Journal, Part 2 — Captain Torradan ap Dugal
  11. ^ Thieves Den download description on obliviondownloads.com
  12. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Sons and Daughter of the Direnni West: High Rock — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
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