Lore:Cephorus I

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Emperor Cephorus Septim I
Race Unknown Gender Male
Born 3E 77
Died 3E 140
Resided in Imperial City
Gilane
Reign 3E 127-
3E 140
Previous Ruler Uriel III
Next Ruler Magnus Septim

Cephorus Septim I was the tenth emperor of the Septim Dynasty, ruling the Third Empire for thirteen years, from 3E 127 to 3E 140. In 3E 121, his nephew Uriel usurped Kintyra II, so Cephorus and his brother Magnus allied to oppose Uriel III in the War of the Red Diamond.[1][2] In 3E 127, after six years of fighting, he defeated and captured Uriel III at the Battle of Ichidag.[2] However, a mob killed Uriel while he was en route to stand trial in the Imperial City, leading to Cephorus' proclamation as emperor.[2] Cephorus' accession marked the official end of the War of the Red Diamond, but he spent the next decade fighting his sister Potema until her death at the Siege of Solitude in 3E 137.[2] He was preceded by his nephew, Uriel III, and was succeeded by his younger brother, Magnus.[2]

Biography[edit]

Early Life and King of Gilane[edit]

Cephorus Septim was born in 3E 77 to Prince Pelagius Septim (later Emperor Pelagius II) and his second wife, Quintilla.[nb 1][3][4][5][6] Cephorus was the younger brother of Antiochus, Potema, and the older brother of Magnus.[5][2][4] By 3E 98, Cephorus was betrothed to the Redguard Bianki, Queen of Gilane.[nb 2][5] In 3E 98 and 3E 99, Cephorus attended the funeral of his father, Pelagius II, and the coronation of his successor, Antiochus, in the Imperial City.[5][7][8]

By 3E 109, Bianki had borne Cephorus several children.[nb 2][9] By 3E 119, his reign as king was marked by good governance, and he maintained good relations with other Tamrielic kingdoms.[9][10] In 3E 120, after the death of Antiochus, he attended his funeral in the Imperial City and the coronation of his niece Kintyra in the Imperial City.[10][11][12] Before the funeral of Antiochus, Potema gave a speech before the Elder Council in which she asserted that Kintyra was not the daughter of Antiochus.[10][4] Cephorus' nephew, Uriel, made a similar accusation, referring to the infamous decadence of the Imperial City during the reign of Kintyra's father.[1] After hearing of this accusation, Kintyra banished Potema and Uriel from the Imperial Court, and they returned to Solitude.[10][4] On 3 First Seed, 3E 120, he attended the coronation of Kintyra II as Empress of Tamriel.[11][12]

War of the Red Diamond[edit]

In 3E 121, the War of the Red Diamond broke out and split the Empire in half.[11][2][1][13] Uriel and Potema captured Kintyra II at Glenpoint.[11][14][1] Uriel then invaded the Imperial Province, capturing the under-defended Imperial City after a fortnight-long siege, and he assumed the Ruby Throne as Uriel Septim III.[14][1] After Uriel III was crowned emperor, Cephorus allied with Magnus to oppose Uriel III.[4][12][14] The kings of Hammerfell, the Summerset Isles, Valenwood, Elsweyr, southern Morrowind, and Black Marsh mostly supported Cephorus and Magnus, while Uriel III had the combined support of Skyrim, Cyrodiil, northern Morrowind, and High Rock, except for the Isle of Balfiera.[2][12][14]

Accounts describe Cephorus as a kind and intelligent man, but he also proved himself to be a great warrior.[2] Cephorus concentrated his army on the war in High Rock, which was the location of some of the bloodiest battles of the war.[12][14] In the summer of 3E 125, he conquered western High Rock, and by 3E 127, all of High Rock had defected to the side of Cephorus and Magnus.[14][2] In 3E 127, Cephorus and his army defeated Uriel III and the Imperial Army at the Battle of Ichidag in Hammerfell and captured the Emperor.[2][12][6][8] Uriel III was placed in a carriage for transport to the Imperial City to stand trial, but while en route, a mob overtook his carriage and burned him alive within it.[14][2][4] After Uriel III's death, Cephorus was proclaimed Emperor of Tamriel.[2][6][7]

Emperor of Tamriel[edit]

Following Cephorus I's accession, many of the royals, nobles, and troops formerly loyal to Uriel III and Potema pledged themselves to him.[6] In return for their support, the provincial nobility and royalty demanded and received greater autonomy and independence from the Empire.[6] In 3E 131, Cephorus I issued a decree that officially dissolved the Knights of the Nine.[13]

Cephorus I's accession marked the official end of the War of the Red Diamond, but the next decade was a period of constant warfare against Potema.[4][2][6] He had to deal with attack after attack on his forces by Potema's army of Daedra and undead.[4][6] During the decade of warfare, the Emperor reclaimed all the territory of Potema's remaining allies until only the Kingdom of Solitude remained outside of Imperial control.[4][6] In 3E 136, his wife, Bianki, died.[nb 2][6] In 3E 137, Cephorus ended the almost two decades of warfare that nearly tore the Empire apart when Potema died after a month-long siege of the Blue Palace.[4][2][6] After the siege, the Emperor placed his nephew, Pelagius, on the throne of Solitude.[12] In 3E 140, Cephorus I died after falling from his horse, and he was succeeded by Magnus.[2][6][12][7]

Notes[edit]

  • 1  Biography of the Wolf Queen states that the name of Cephorus' mother was Qizara, while The Wolf Queen states that her name was Quintilla.
  • 2  Sources are conflicted on whether Cephorus had children or was ever even married. The Wolf Queen states that Cephorus married Bianki of Gilane, with whom he had children, and that Bianki and all their children were dead by the time of the Siege of Solitude. The Madness of Pelagius states that Cephorus never married and died childless. And Brief History of the Empire states that Cephorus never had time during the war years to marry.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Brief History of the Empire v 1 — Stronach k'Thojj III
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Brief History of the Empire v 2 — Stronach k'Thojj III
  3. ^ The Wolf Queen, v1 — Waughin Jarth
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Biography of the Wolf Queen — Katar Eriphanes
  5. ^ a b c d The Wolf Queen, v3 — Waughin Jarth
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k The Wolf Queen, v8 — Waughin Jarth
  7. ^ a b c The Third Era Timeline — Jaspus Ignateous
  8. ^ a b Tamriel's Timeline, The Daggerfall Chronicles — Ronald Wartow
  9. ^ a b The Wolf Queen, v4 — Waughin Jarth
  10. ^ a b c d The Wolf Queen, v5 — Waughin Jarth
  11. ^ a b c d The Wolf Queen, v6 — Waughin Jarth
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h The Madness of Pelagius — Tsathenes
  13. ^ a b The Knights of the Nine — Karoline of Solitude
  14. ^ a b c d e f g The Wolf Queen, v7 — Waughin Jarth
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