Dragonborn ( Lore ) A Dragonborn , ( Dovahzul : Dovahkiin , which can mean both " dragon - born " and " dragonkind - hunter - born " ) , is a rare individual who has been born with the blood and soul of a dragon , but the body of a mortal . They can naturally learn and speak the ancient and powerful tongue of the Dov , called the Thu ' um . Dragonborn scarcely exist , and it is rare for more than one to appear at the same time . They can belong to any race or gender , since dragons have no inherent concept of gender , and the dragon blood ( transliterated from to Dovah Sos ) is a gift bestowed to certain mortals favored by Akatosh . Despite their divine souls , Dragonborn possess a mortal free will and may serve as champions for either the Nine Divines or the Daedric Princes . It is unknown if the Daedra claim the souls of their Dragonborn champions as they do with their other servants . Their mortal bodies also subject them to mortal vulnerabilities ; old age , death , and disease all affect Dragonborn as they do common mortals . Some Dragonborn individuals have knowledge of the Thu ' um and can consume a slain dragon ' s soul and absorb its knowledge directly , allowing them to learn Words of Power instantaneously , and then use the power of a slain dragon ' s soul to unlock that Shout . It is said that the Blades have always guided , protected , and served the Dragonborn , whom they consider " The Ultimate Dragon Slayer . " The Greybeards , however , see the Blades as ambitious assassins who seek to mold the Dragonborn into a weapon for their own ends . The Prophecy of the Dragonborn , generally attributed to the Elder Scrolls , and sometimes to the ancient Akaviri , tells that , at the end of time , in the wake of the World - Eater , the wheel will turn upon the " Last Dragonborn . " Dragonborn in history . The first Dragonborn in history was Miraak , a Dragon Priest from the Merethic Era . Instead of using his Voice to fight Alduin , Miraak decided to serve the Daedric Prince Hermaeus Mora instead , making himself an enemy of the Dragon Cult he once served . He was eventually defeated by the dragons and hid in Apocrypha . He was later encountered in the Fourth Era and did battle with the Last Dragonborn before being destroyed by Hermaeus Mora . The next Dragonborn was purportedly Saint Alessia , the Nedic slave - queen who was blessed by Akatosh and given the Amulet of Kings to seal the covenant between them . This began the tradition of all legitimate rulers of the Cyrodilic Empire referred to as Dragonborn , as only they could wear the Amulet of Kings and light the Dragonfire s in the Temple of the One . Reman Cyrodiil was considered to be the next Dragonborn after Alessia . Upon their defeat , the Akaviri invaders recognized him as Dragonborn and swore unceasing loyalty to him . Tiber Septim , founder of the Septim Dynasty of Tamriel , was the next individual to be recognized as Dragonborn . His heirs continued the tradition and were all considered Dragonborn Emperors . This lineage ended with the death of Martin Septim during the Oblivion Crisis . The Last Dragonborn , otherwise known as the " Laat Dovahkiin " , appeared during the Fourth Era to fulfill the Prophecy of the Dragonborn . His purpose was to prevent Alduin the World - Eater from consuming all of Mundus and the souls of Sovngarde when the latter appeared from a temporal warp known as the Time Wound , after having been sent into the future during the Dragon War . The Last Dragonborn also later defeated the first Dragonborn , Miraak , in Apocrypha after dealing with Hermaeus Mora in order to weaken Mora ' s disruptive champion .