Akaviri Invasions The Akaviri Invasions are a series of attempted full - scale invasions of Tamriel by various peoples from the continent of Akavir . While some make the claim that there have been at least three or more like incursions by the people of Akavir , most seem to agree that there have been two particularly widespread assaults upon the Tamrielic mainland . Not included amongst these invasions is Uriel Septim V ' s failed conquest of the Akaviri homeland in the year 3E 290 . It cannot be said with certainty whether the invasions were due to a specific interest in Tamriel , or were simply the result of Imperial ambitions amongst the Akaviri . There are some who theorize the invasions may have something to do with Tamriel ' s anticipated role in the coming " Last War . " Allegedly , the God and ruler of the Ka Po ' Tun , Tosh Raka , has vowed to invade Tamriel as well after he has vanquished the Tsaesci Kingdom . The First Invasion . The first , and perhaps most devastating , of the Akaviri Invasions occurred in the year 1E 2703 and played a large role in the foundation of the Reman Empire . This invasion was carried out almost exclusively by the serpentine people of Tsaesci . The Akaviri made their first appearances in Tamriel as early as 1E 800 , with reports of ships manned by bizarre beasts , pirating and raiding islands in and around the Iliac Bay region . As it is understood , these raids played an important role in the coming invasion , scouting out the land for possible future incursions . The Tsaesci invasion was seemingly preceded by a severe increase in Akaviri piracy , with the people of Wayrest forced to take refuge behind the city walls in 1E 2702 due to the presence of a large Akaviri raiding party . The following year , the main Akaviri force landed in northern Skyrim , and quickly cut through the armies of the Nord s , spreading their invasion to every region of the north . While the Akaviri continued their conquest relatively unchallenged , in Cyrodiil the ambitious Colovian General , Reman , had managed to rally the armies of Colovia and Nibenay under his banner for the purpose of defending Tamriel from the Akaviri threat . Reman used his forces to engage the Akaviri in northern Tamriel , constructing an expansive network of fortifications throughout Skyrim . Joining Reman ' s coalition were the forces of Morrowind , whose lands were also under direct threat from the Akaviri horde . Likewise , the Kingdom of Daggerfall played a very important role in the defense of High Rock . Reman ' s war culminated at the Battle of Pale Pass , where the Akaviri invaders would finally be defeated . Prior to the battle , Reman was aware that the Akaviri army was preparing to cross the Jeralls into Cyrodiil . It was rumored that the Akaviri command was held up in a hidden outpost within the Pale Pass , which Reman intended to cut off from the army . Unbeknownst to Reman , a large avalanche had trapped the Akaviri commanders within the fort , leaving the main force isolated within the pass and without leadership . As Reman prepared his assault , so too did Vivec , one of the God - Kings of Morrowind , move in with his army , cutting the Akaviri off from the north . After a brief battle the Akaviri army surrendered before Reman en masse . As legend holds it , the Akaviri horde , upon hearing Reman ' s voice , fell to their knees and swore their lives to him , proclaiming him Dragonborn , the chosen one after whom they had sought . Impressed by their weaponry and prowess in battle , Reman was more than happy to accept the Akaviri into his ranks . The Akaviri would become the nucleus of Reman ' s army , and as a whole would contribute heavily to the rise of Reman Dynasty . In Breton legend , the hero Lyrisius , an esteemed champion of Boethiah , is often pointed to as having destroyed the Akaviri Horde in High Rock with the help of a dragon . The authenticity of this legend , however , is questionable . The Second Invasion . The Second Akaviri Invasion occurred abruptly in the year 2E 572 . This invasion was undertaken primarily by the Kamal i snow - demons of Akavir , and led by their king Ada ' Soom Dir - Kamal . Some accounts bring the implication there may have been a contingent of Tsaesci present as well . While the course the invasion followed is relatively well - known , albeit slightly confused , the circumstances leading up to the attack are not so clear . All that is known is that on the 7th of Sun ' s Height , 2E 572 , a fleet of Akaviri ships was sighted entering the mouth of the White River , dropping anchor off the coast . There they sat for nearly a month before assaulting the beaches of Windhelm on the 2nd of Last Seed . For unknown reasons , the Akaviri had bypassed the Telvanni Isles , Vvardenfell , and Solstheim before finally reaching their objective . Reports of Akaviri movements through Morrowind place the first landings as early as the 29th of Sun ' s Height . The invasion itself came as a complete surprise , with Windhelm falling only after five days of siege . The city itself was brutally sacked , with the assault resulting in the deaths of the reigning Queen in East - Skyrim , Mabjaarn Flame - Hair , and her heir Nurnhilde . It is at this point that details on the invasion become slightly obscured , especially those surrounding the actions of the immediate heir and acting King , Jorunn . According to some sources , Jorunn was in Windhelm when the invasion began but managed to flee the city , heading south to Riften . Others state that Jorunn had already been in Riften when the fighting started . It has also been said that upon hearing of the invasion , Jorunn heroically came to the aid of Windhelm with his Pack of Bards , arriving just in time to see the city gates breached , and was unable to save the city . Contrary to this claim , others sources state that Jorunn , rather than attack , remained in Riften while Windhelm was under siege , buying the time to rally his forces and fortify the city . When regarding certain aspects of the Second Akaviri Invasion , it becomes hard to discern the facts from myth . Regardless , most sources agree that , at some point , Jorunn found his forces accompanied by someone claiming to be the legendary Underking . As it is told , Jorunn , in despair after having barely escaping Windhelm ' s destruction , retreated to High Hrothgar to plead the Greybeards for aid in defeating the Akaviri . The Greybeards responded by singing the ghost of the great Ysmir Kingmaker back into the world . Jorunn , now apparently referred to as the " Skald - King , " with the help of the Underking , mustered a great army of Nords ready to destroy the invading Akaviri horde . However , other legends state that the Underking instead walked Nirn at the summoning of the Dunmer living - god , Almalexia , with the two vanquishing Ada ' Soom at Red Mountain . With Windhelm in ruins , Ada ' Soom Dir - Kamal moved his forces south into The Rift . However , instead of laying siege to Riften , as King Jorunn anticipated , he bypassed the city and began marching towards Morrowind , breaking through the defenses at Fort Virak . Why Ada ' Soom made this decision is not known , though some theorize that he may have been deterred by Riften ' s impressive fortifications , or that he believed the Nords would not follow him outside Skyrim . What is clear is that Ada ' Soom intended to march on Mournhold , with Jorunn leaving their defensive posturing to pursue him . The forces of Morrowind , led by Almalexia and her general Tanval Indoril , were unable to holdout against the Akaviri assault . Rather than continue fighting the Akaviri outright , the Dunmeri command instead ordered a fighting retreat through the Ashlands , in order to regroup at the defensive line in Stonefalls . As the Akaviri hit the Dunmer at Stonefalls , not far outside the city of Ebonheart , the Nords swooped in with an attack on their rear line , in a surprise attack so well executed it has been theorized that there must have been some early coordination between the Nord and Dunmer forces . However , Jorunn ' s army was weak and demoralized , suffering from their long trek through foreign territory . Had it not been for the Underking ' s inspirational leadership , the attack may have failed . Though the Akaviri were outmaneuvered and hard - pressed , they still managed to hold against the onslaught , repeatedly pushing back the advancing Nordic and Dunmeri forces . The Akaviri ' s intent was to holdout on the beaches until their fleet arrived in which they would make a quick retreat . The outcome of the battle hung in the balance , with the Akaviri fleet on the horizon . But as it seemed the Akaviri forces were about to escape , the surprise intervention of two legions of Argonian Shellbacks , provided the extra push to break the Akaviri lines . At first , the Dunmeri forces dreaded the sight of the oncoming Argonians , perceiving them as a slave - revolt looking to take advantage of Morrowind ' s present vulnerability . Some rumors even tell of Dunmer soldiers turning their blades against the Argonians , unwilling to accept the help of the slave - race . Nevertheless , the Akaviri were broken , and their panicked forces either fell from the sword or drowned in the Inner Sea . Legends state the sea was risen by Vivec to destroy all that remained of the Akaviri . After the battle , it was decided that a defensive alliance must be formed between each of the armies in order to prevent another such invasion . In exchange for continued military aid , the Argonian slaves were granted temporary amnesty within the boundaries of the new founded Ebonheart Pact . The reason Ada ' Soom Dir - Kamal invaded Tamriel is still not fully known . Some reports from the few Akaviri soldiers captured during the invasion mention seeking an " Ordained Receptacle , " but that is all . Some years late , remnants of the Kamal invasion would usurp the Imperial throne from the heirs of the Warlord Attrebus . They would work with the Akaviri - Rimmen to reestablish the Empire , but their attempts would inevitably fail .