The Book of the Dragonborn Contents . Many people have heard the term " Dragonborn " - we are of course ruled by the " Dragonborn Emperors " - but the true meaning of the term is not commonly understood . For those of us in the Order of Talos , this is a subject near and dear to our hearts , and in this book I will attempt to illuminate the history and significance of those known as Dragonborn down through the ages . Most scholars agree that the term was first used in connection with the Covenant of Akatosh , when the blessed St . Alessia was given the Amulet of Kings and the Dragonfires in the Temple of the One were first lit . " Akatosh , looking with pity upon the plight of men , drew precious blood from his own heart , and blessed St . Alessia with this blood of Dragons , and made a Covenant that so long as Alessia ' s generations were true to the dragon blood , Akatosh would endeavor to seal tight the Gates of Oblivion , and to deny the armies of daedra and undead to their enemies , the Daedra - loving Ayleid s . " Those blessed by Akatosh with " the dragon blood " became known more simply as Dragonborn . The connection with the rulers of the Empire was thus there from the beginning - only those of the dragon blood were able to wear the Amulet of Kings and light the Dragonfires . All the legitimate rulers of the Empire have been Dragonborn - the Emperors and Empresses of the first Cyrodilic Empire founded by Alessia ; Reman Cyrodiil and his heirs ; and of course Tiber Septim and his heirs , down to our current Emperor , His Majesty Pelagius Septim IV . Because of this connection with the Emperors , however , the other significance of the Dragonborn has been obscured and largely forgotten by all but scholars and those of us dedicated to the service of the blessed Talos , Who Was Tiber Septim . Very few realize that being Dragonborn is not a simple matter of heredity - being the blessing of Akatosh Himself , it is beyond our understanding exactly how and why it is bestowed . Those who become Emperor and light the Dragonfires are surely Dragonborn - the proof is in the wearing of the Amulet and the lighting of the Fires . But were they Dragonborn and thus able to do these things - or was the doing the sign of the blessing of Akatosh descending upon them ? All that we can say is that it is both , and neither - a divine mystery . The line of Septims have all been Dragonborn , of course , which is one reason the simplistic notion of it being hereditary has become so commonplace . But we know for certain that the early Cyrodilic rulers were not all related . There is also no evidence that Reman Cyrodiil was descended from Alessia , although there are many legends that would make it so , most of them dating from the time of Reman and likely attempts to legitimize his rule . We know that the Blades , usually thought of as the Emperor ' s bodyguards , originated in Akaviri crusaders who invaded Tamriel for obscure reasons in the late First Era . They appear to have been searching for a Dragonborn - the events at Pale Pass bear this out - and the Akaviri were the first to proclaim Reman Cyrodiil as Dragonborn . In fact it was the Akaviri who did the most to promote his standing as Emperor ( although Reman himself never took that title in his lifetime ) . And of course there is no known hereditary connection between Tiber Septim and any of the previous Dragonborn rulers of Tamriel . Whether there can be more than one Dragonborn at any time is another mystery . The Emperors have done their best to dismiss this notion , but of course the Imperial succession itself means that at the very least there are two or more potential Dragonborn at any time : the current ruler and his or her heirs . The history of the Blades also hints at this - although little is known of their activities during the Interregnum between Reman ' s Empire and the rise of Tiber Septim , many believe that the Blades continued to search out and guard those they believed were ( or might be ) Dragonborn during this time . Lastly , we come to the question of the true meaning of being Dragonborn . The connection with dragons is so obvious that it has almost been forgotten - in these days when dragons are a distant memory , we forget that in the early days being Dragonborn meant having " the dragon blood " . Some scholars believe that was meant quite literally , although the exact significance is not known . The Nords tell tales of Dragonborn heroes who were great dragonslayers , able to steal the power of the dragons they killed . Indeed , it is well known that the Akaviri sought out and killed many dragons during their invasion , and there is some evidence that this continued after they became Reman Cyrodiil ' s Dragonguard ( again , the connection to dragons ) - the direct predecessor to the Blades of today . I leave you with what is known as " The Prophecy of the Dragonborn " . It often said to originate in an Elder Scroll , although it is sometimes also attributed to the ancient Akaviri . Many have attempted to decipher it , and many have also believed that its omens had been fulfilled and that the advent of the " Last Dragonborn " was at hand . I make no claims as an interpreter of prophecy , but it does suggest that the true significance of Akatosh ' s gift to mortalkind has yet to be fully understood . When misrule takes its place at the eight corners of the world When the Brass Tower walks and Time is reshaped When the thrice - blessed fail and the Red Tower trembles When the Dragonborn Ruler loses his throne , and the White Tower falls When the Snow Tower lies sundered , kingless , bleeding The World - Eater wakes , and the Wheel turns upon the Last Dragonborn .