recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Henri XIX of Arian

* In 3E 298
* In 3E 296
* In 3E 292

**Henri XIX** was the ruler of Arian and its wider dominion as High King over the Spires and Valleys. In the histories of the region, he was recorded as its 114th monarch.

Henri belonged to the Most Ancient House of Galan, which boasted that it was the oldest dynasty in High Rock. He could confidently trace his lineage to the First Era, to the twilight years of the Direnni Hegemony, and so his pedigree as a king was unmatched. His right to sit the throne was unquestionable. His right to rule was less clear.

Against this backdrop, the great prestige of his House, Henri's rule was hobbled and infirm. Court culture and ill-preparedness, for he came to the throne aged just three, caused the King to remain essentially powerless throughout large parts of his reign. During this period, the so-called Rule of Three Queens became most apparent.

In spite of his own impotence however, or perhaps as a result of it, the Spires and Valleys flourished during his reign. Those agricultural policies developed by the Grand High Chancellor, chief minister of the realm since time of the Henri's grandfather, came to full fruition and the Kingdom of Arian saw its population triple. Trade was also revitalised, the court was relatively less corrupt, and Arian once more projected its influence beyond its own borders.

## **Character**

Henri was magnanimous, raised in the kindly image of saints. Though his munificence won him the adoration of many, it proved to be his greatest weakness. He valued loyalty above all else, but was quick to forgive the disloyal. He detested corruption, but regularly pardoned the corrupt. The environemnt in which he ruled required him to be ruthless and ruthless he was not.

The King's weakness was most clear in his treatment of his family. His unwillingness to banish his own mother from the palace, natural though it was, eventually meant his inability to do so, and he was only freed from her overbearing character and frank overreach by the events of the 3E 290s. Even then, his mother's influence would simply pass to his wife.

Henri was less blameworthy for the nature of his court, which was not unique to his reign and had plagued so many of his ancestors. He was not content with non-rule, sharing none of his father's apathy, and actively pursued his duties as King and more, seeking to govern his kingdom as his grandfather had done. Most of his attempts to take back what had been lost in the reign of his father, and in his own minority, were feeble however; easily parried by the bloated but powerful court he inherited. Still, he struggled mightily in those ways he could to see his personal ambitions for the Crown and Kingdom fulfilled.
Torlan Cathedral

The **Torlan Cathedral**, officially the **Cathedral of the Eight Divines**, was the greatest temple in the Kingdom of Torlan. Towering over the capital's North Bank, the cathedral was dedicated to the Eight Divines.

## **Temple Hierarchy**

### **Bishop**

The high priest or priestess of the cathedral was titled Bishop. The Bishop was elected for life from the cathedral clergy by the adjutors. Despite this being a privilege of the cathedral, the adjutors were often pressured to elect a candidate of the king. Royal interest in the election is unsurprising since the Bishop was revered as the kingdom's paramount ecclesiastic, traditionally presiding over the monarch's coronation and conferring divine blessing. The Bishop was furthermore the king's adviser in spiritual and religious matters, often spending much time at the royal court. All clergy of the cathedral were ordained by the Bishop.

### **Adjutors**

The shrines of the Eight Divines in the cathedral were each maintained by an adjutor, appointed from the cathedral clergy by the Bishop. An adjutor was responsible for leading worship of their respective deity, including bestowing blessings and receiving offerings. It was also the sacred duty of the adjutors to elect the Bishop when this position became vacant.

### **Clergy**

The priests and priestesses of the cathedral were ordained by the Bishop, and thereafter performed a variety of duties (both spiritual and mundane) on the instructions of the adjutors. All priests of the cathedral were bound by vows of chastity and poverty.
Imperial Inspector

An **Imperial Inspector**, or **Inspector of the Empire**, is the most senior imperial official in the absence of an Imperial Governor.

The precise duties of an Inspector may vary from place to place, a fact used to both the advantage and disadvantage of these officials. They are understood to be governors by appointment of the Emperor and directors of imperial personnel and policy in a region. An Inspector is granted powers over local imperial forces, both civil and military, and given authority to command the efforts of junior officials. Traditionally, Inspectors are assigned to boost and maintain the influence of the imperial court. For this purpose, they are generally appointed to areas of dissidence and low order.

The Inspectors of the Empire work beneath Imperial Governors where necessary or alongside traditional rulers. For this reason, they frequently come into conflict with these local lords, whose autonomy is often found to be under threat. In areas where the existing powers depend heavily on imperial forces and institutions, Inspectors wield significant leverage. These officials can on behalf of the Emperor deny military aid, introduce new taxes, construct castles, and assign or withdraw imperial officials from court.

**[This is really too close to the existing Imperial Prefects methinks, so I'm working on distinguishing the two].**
Lorderas Bank

The **Lorderas Bank** is an Imperial banking institution founded by the Lorderas family in the Second Era. Constans Lorderas is the head of the bank, inheriting this role from his father in 3E 288.

The bank is sometimes called *the Stag Bank* in reference to the tale of its origin. The story, likely apocryphal, states that a stag of golden fur led the merchant Amadeus Lorderas to a treasure hoard contained within a ruined tower. The wealth contained within was used by Lorderas in his business pursuits, quickly buying him influence and protection.

Its successes tied to the common order and stability of Septim rule, the bank holds sway throughout the Empire. Belonging exclusively to the Lorderases, an unlanded and non-noble family, it has given them tangible power through the bank’s many debtors.

The bank’s chief function is the procurement of money. It lends to the many nobles, merchants, and citizens in the Empire, exacting substantial (sometimes, though not usually, crippling) interest on these loans. Additional services include the safekeeping of wealth and the fulfilment of letters of credit. The bank also possesses minting rights, granted to it by Emperor Tiber Septim himself.
Intercessor

In the worship of the Divines, an **intercessor** was a priest or priestess who solicited divine blessing on behalf of another (usually through prayer or ritual). Intercessors were often retained by powerful and wealthy individuals, including kings and queens. As well as offering their prayers for their benefactors, intercessors also served as spiritual and religious advisers. Intercessors were most commonly found in Cyrodiil and High Rock.

## **Teachings of Saint Resius**

The theologian Saint Resius, flourishing in the first century of the Third Era, wrote extensively on divine intercession and the role of priestly intercessors. In one dialogic work, Resius contemplated whether it was more efficacious for a sinful intercessor to pray for a virtuous benefactor, or for a virtuous intercessor to pray for a sinful benefactor. At length, the saint concluded that neither circumstances would be efficacious. He exhorted the prayers of virtuous intercessors for virtuous benefactors as the sole means of obtaining divine intercession.
Calidius Capito

Archmagister **Calidius Capito** was an Imperial conjurer. He was the Guildmaster of the Mages Guild in Cyrodiil.

As *primus inter pares* of the six archmagisters, the powerful and wise Capito was the *de facto* leader of the Mages Guild throughout the latter half of the third century. A stalwart of the Guild, Capito guarded its independence and privileges. Having earned his title through magical mastery, the Archmagister despaired at the corruption and venality that afflicted the Guild. An *'islet in the deluge'*, his efforts to reform the organisation were futile.
Seekers of Arcanos

The **Seekers of Arcanos** were mages from the School of Arcanos permitted to leave in search of magical technology and knowledge.

The usual task of a Seeker was to acquire magical instruments and tomes for the School of Arcanos, sometimes even by illicit means. Seekers could additionally serve other purposes, however, and it was not uncommon for one to act as a diplomat or messenger.

Appointment as a Seeker came from the Magisterium.

1. ↑ It is likely no coincidence that Seekers were named for the daedric servants of Hermaeus Mora.
Lorderas Family

The **Lorderas Family** is an Imperial family best known for its bank.

Despite being non-noble, the Lorderases hold influence across the Empire, gaining and effecting power through the Lorderas Bank. It has been remarked casually that *one cannot march a mile without meeting a man indebted to the Lorderas Family*.

Banking ventures are the chief source of the family’s wealth, which is substantial. This wealth has bought the Lorderases a host of retainers, a large household, and numerous estates. The primary residence of the family is Cornelius Hall in the Imperial City; built by Cornelius the Elder and passed down just three generations. It is one of the largest homes in the capital, supporting a significant permanent presence.

The Lorderas family tree can be viewed here.
Faren Orys

Archmagister **Faren Orys** was a Dunmer sorcerer. He was the Imperial Battlemage between 3E 189 and 207, and subsequently the Guildmaster of the Mages Guild in Morrowind and Black Marsh.

## **Biography**

Faren Orys was born in the city of Narsis a few years before the signing of the Armistice, by which Morrowind was absorbed into the nascent Septim Empire. House Orys belonged to the Great House Hlaalu, the rulers of Narsis and sympathisers of imperial rule. To ingratiate himself with both the Hlaalu Council and the Empire, Faren's father apprenticed his son to the imperially-chartered Mages Guild.

[...]

In 3E 189, the Dunmer Empress Katariah summoned Orys to the White-Gold Tower and appointed him Imperial Battlemage. The presence of another Dark Elf beside the Ruby Throne did little to endear the foreign and manifestly non-Septim regime to the Elder Council. In 3E 207, during the reign of Katariah's half-Dunmer son Uriel IV, a faction of the Council succeeded in ousting the Imperial Battlemage by installing him as Guildmaster of the Mages Guild in Morrowind. Whilst conferring the rank of Archmagister upon him, this manoeuvre effectively banished Orys from Cyrodiil.

Orys returned to Morrowind, settling first in his native city of Narsis before establishing a permanent seat in Mournhold in 3E 210. The Archmagister courted both Barenziah, Queen of Morrowind, and her consort Symmachus. Despite reaching the pinnacle of the Mages Guild, Orys remained a Hlaalu partisan and promoted the Great House's interests in the capital.

For his affiliation with the Imperial Mages Guild and House Hlaalu, Orys earned the enmity of House Telvanni. The wizard-lord Morvyn remarked that whilst Orys might be skilled by human standards, he would be an unworthy Telvanni novice.
Treaty of the Two Bouchards

The **Treaty of the Two Bouchards**, otherwise called the **Eastvale Settlement**, was an agreement between Duke Bouchard of Corsen and his son King Bouchard of Ystrad.
Agreed on 3rd Sun's Dawn 3E 296, the treaty resolved the disputed succession to the Kingdom of Ystrad following the death of Queen Mahaut six months earlier. The Duke of Corsen, hitherto the King Consort of Ystrad, conspired to remain king (claiming *jure uxoris*) at the expense of his own son, Bouchard. This plot was foiled and the younger Bouchard was duly proclaimed king. The elder Bouchard was confined to house arrest in Eastvale Castle, where his communication with the outside world was restricted and monitored. After six months of comfortable imprisonment, the duke accepted the terms offered by the king, and affixed his seal to the treaty.

In exchange for his freedom and an annual pension of 15,000 septims, the Duke of Corsen was to renounce his claim to the throne of Ystrad. To signify his renunciation he was to omit the Ystrad arms from his coat of arms, and any reference to Ystrad from his titles. Though not explicitly stated in the treaty text, it was implicit that the elder Bouchard was no longer welcome in his late wife's realm where he had lived for the past quarter of a century. In a separate agreement, the elder Bouchard ceded the estates granted to him by the late Queen Mahaut to his son, the king, for which he was to be compensated with an additional 6,000 septims *per annum*. This provision spared the Duke of Corsen the humiliation of swearing fealty to his own son as the suzerain of those lands.

A fortnight after the Treaty of the Two Bouchards was agreed, the erstwhile king consort departed Ystrad with his entourage (including his youngest children Geoffroy and Marguerite) and returned at last to his own Duchy of Corsen, within the Kingdom of Torlan.
Arthur VII of Arian

**Arthur VII**, known as **Arthur the Peacemaker**, was a king of Arian and its wider dominion as High King over the Spires and Valleys. In the histories of the region, he was recorded as its 101st ruler and reigned from 2E 798 to 830.

Arthur was credited with initiating the *Century of Peace*. During this time, the Kingdom of Arian enjoyed peace with its neighbours. This included the Kingdom of Shornhelm, with which it was a historic rival and frequently warred against.

The Century of Peace remained intact until the advent of the Tiber Wars. The Peacemaker’s grandson, Arthur IX, used the opportunity to renew conflict with Arian’s neighbours.
Elzear IV of Torlan

Glanfa Abbey

**Elzear IV**, called **Elzear the Pious**, was a Breton king and monk. He ruled the Kingdom of Torlan from 3E ? until his abdication in 3E 174. He was posthumously venerated as **Saint Elzear**.

## **Biography**

Elzear IV was renowned for his virtue and piety. He lived austerely, foregoing the kingly vices of gluttony and lust. Indeed, it was only after many embarrassed years of marriage that Elzear fathered a son. In his godliness, Elzear IV neglected the worldly demands of his kingdom. He was, however, responsible for rebuilding the great cathedral in Torlan.

Elzear was better suited to a monk's cowl than a king's crown. On the occasion of his spurned queen's death in 3E 174, the king renounced the throne in favour of his son (thereafter King Elzear V) and entered the monastery of Glanfa Abbey. *Brother Elzear* spent the remainder of his life in the monastery, an exemplar of holiness. He died in 3E 206, at the age of 92.

It was not long before the erstwhile king was venerated as a saint. In the reign of his great-grandson, Berenger I, Saint Elzear was recognised as the patron saint of Torlan.
Archmagister of Glorinel

In the **Archduchy of Glorinel**, the **Archmagister** is the head of the Magisterium - a body of alchemists and wizards.

Entry into the Royal Magisterium requires prospective members to pass formal testing of mundane intellectual and magical ability. If successful, these members are chiefly responsible for serving the archducal court’s magical needs. Producing and administering potions, alchemists perform a daily function as court physicians, while mages are expected to perform various duties related to their magical expertise. The Archmagister is tasked with overseeing the Royal Magisterium and serving the archduke directly when necessary.

In war, the Archmagister is additionally responsible for directing the battlemages amongst the forces of Glorinel. These wizards are placed under his personal command, separated from the greater body of troops.

Although he does not receive direct monetary compensation, the Magister is traditionally granted sinecures and additional posts as the master of schools in Glorinel. He is furthermore permitted to take a fee from those seeking to join the Magisterium and to receive payment in return for magical services.

As one of the eight Great Officers of the Realm, the Archmagister is granted the right to hold a golden staff as a symbol of his authority.
Westmorean Uprising

The **Westmorean Uprising** was a revolt that took place in the Archduchy of Glorinel. Fighting began in 3E 296 following the decision of Archduke Louis IX to bequeath a number of castles to his daughter Elisabeth, all on land promised to his sons. Both the Duke of Westmore and the Marquess of Caershire fought their father, supported by many knights and noblemen. The uprising ended in defeat the following year.
Sceptre of Glorinel

The **Sceptre of Glorinel** was a staff held by the rulers of Glorinel. Until the Third Era, the Archduke did not wear a crown and instead used this sceptre as a symbol of his authority. In the Third Era, it remained significant but ultimately became secondary.

The Sceptre was said to be of Direnni make, created in that ancient time and possibly bound with long-forgotten enchantments. Whether or not the Sceptre was particularly special then, or used to represent rule as it now does, was debated among historians.

Those wars for rule over the Archduchy of Glorinel came to be known as the Wars for the Sceptre.
Ring of Persuasion

The **Ring of Persuasion** was a magical artefact, enchanted to augment its wearer's charisma, eloquence and influence. It was an elegant gold band set with five sapphires.

Archmagister Engelard was the first known wearer of the ring; his success in cajoling the kings and queens of High Rock during the Peace of Torlan may be attributed to it. The ring's provenance is uncertain, although it was likely enchanted by the archmagister himself.
Lord Herald of Torlan

In the Kingdom of Torlan, the **Lord Herald** was the seniormost officer of arms.

This official was authorised to grant coats of arms, and to certify the rights of armigers to adopt existing heraldic achievements. The Lord Herald maintained extensive records of the kingdom's heraldry and genealogies; the Kings of Torlan depended on this knowledge to identify the arms of their vassals both at court and on the battlefield.
Antazir

**Antazir** was a necropolis in the Kingdom of Hamitas, located at the heart of the peninsula.

Once the bustling capital of the region, the city was sacked and depopulated during the conquest of Hamit in the first century of the Third Era. Shunned as the *City of the Dead*, the ruins of Antazir were abandoned for several decades before Cemal the Great constructed a colossal mausoleum at the site for his late wife. The Stonelayer himself was later laid to rest there, followed by all the kings of his line. Many other families built crypts in proximity to the royal mausoleum; burial at Antazir came to signify honour and prestige to the Redguards of Hamitas.

Priests of Tu'whacca, the God of Souls, were the stewards of Antazir. Only mourners were permitted to enter the necropolis; trade was strictly prohibited within its sacred walls.

In 3E 300, the Keeper of Antazir was High Priest Asim at-Talib.
Peronnelle of Eirias

**Peronnelle of Eirias** was a Breton noblewoman in the Kingdom of Arian.

Peronnelle was the daughter of Arthur, Prince of Eirias and his *maîtresse-en-titre* lady Iseult. Though her parents were not married, the laws and customs of Arian regarded her as her father's legitimate daughter. As the granddaughter of King Henri XVII, she was permitted the dignity of princess.
Imperial Battlemage

The Imperial Battlemage, distinct from *Imperial battlemages*, is the chief magical advisor to the Emperor of Tamriel and the Elder Council.

The office of the Imperial Battlemage is as fluid and undefined as many other offices in the Empire. Historically, the Imperial Battlemage was the commander of the magical forces of the Second Empire, and in this role acted as an advisor. Zurin Arctus, the first Battlemage of the current Third Empire, served both a military and civil purpose; notably crowning Emperor Tiber Septim.
Eudes III of Glorinel

**Eudes III**, known as **Eudes the Wise**, was an Archduke of Glorinel. He ruled jointly with his wife Elisabeth I, both *suo jure*, from 3E 218 until his death in 242. Eudes held the Archduchy in personal union with his other realms, most notably the Duchy of Azurefell.

Though he took the throne of Glorinel by force, fighting his wife’s cousin and seating himself as her co-ruler, Eudes was not remembered as conqueror but rather as architect. He patronised several institutions, supported the burgher class, and alongside Elisabeth renewed prosperity in the Archduchy. Eudes preferred Glorinel over his other lands, remaining there throughout his reign.
Edward of Eirias

**Edward of Eirias** was a Breton nobleman in the Kingdom of Arian.

Edward was the son of Arthur, Prince of Eirias and his wife Eleanor of Cyfnos. He was named for the sainted King of Arian, the Prince of Dragons. Edward was heir to his father's titles and as the grandson of King Henri XVII was permitted the dignity of prince.

While his twin brother inherited their mother's silver hair, Edward was dark haired.
House of Clerjus

Duke of Corsen

The **House of Clerjus** was a Breton royal dynasty.

The Clerjus family tree can be viewed here. *(being rebuilt)*

## **Brief History**

The House of Clerjus assumed power in the Kingdom of Torlan in the aftermath of the Tiber Wars. The kingdom's ancient ruling dynasty – the House of Berlancourt – resisted Tiber Septim and were annihilated. The throne was subsequently awarded to Elzear, the Count of Corsen, who was crowned King Elzear I in 3E 14.

The patrilineal descendants of Elzear I continued to rule Torlan for two centuries until the death of Queen Berengere in 3E 223. The queen nevertheless decreed that her descendants (by her marriage to Sir Jacques Noyon) would continue to bear the name Clerjus. Thus when her son, Berenger I, succeeded to the throne he did so as a Clerjus monarch.

The dynasty which descended from Queen Berengere was sometimes described as the **House of Clerjus-Noyon** or the **Second House of Clerjus**.

## **Members of the House of Clerjus**

* **Berenger I, King of Torlan** (3E 204–269), married. Isabelle of Glastir
	+ **Berenger II, King of Torlan** (3E 238–292), married (1) Emma of Ebyr (2) Adelaide of Glorinel
		- Berenger, Prince of Torlan (3E 272–291)
		- **Elzear VII, King of Torlan** (born 3E 276)
	+ Bouchard I, Duke of Corsen (born 3E 239), married Mahaut, Queen of Ystrad
		- Bouchard I, King of Ystrad (born 3E 273)
		- Mahaut (born 3E 275)
		- Isabelle (born 3E 275)
		- Geoffroy (born 3E 279)
		- Marguerite (born 3E 280)
	+ Bernard (born 242), a monk
	+ Berengere (born 3E 244), married Pierre IV, King of Calon; no issue
	+ Baudouin, Count of Gorlif (born 3E 247), married Catherine Orbec
		- Berenger of Gorlif (born 3E 270)
	+ Beatrice (born 3E 254), married Prince Charles of Coeth
		- Henriette, Princess of Coeth

*Unfinished*
Abecean Company

The **Abecean Company**, officially the **Imperial Abecean Company**, was a trading company which operated in the western provinces of the Third Empire: Cyrodiil, Hammerfell, High Rock, the Summerset Isles and Valenwood.

The Company originated as a consortium of merchants who imported spices from Hammerfell to the city-states of High Rock. In 3E 177, this was incorporated into a joint-stock enterprise: the Abecean Company. Expanding both its merchandise and reach, the Company obtained a monopoly on the trade of multiple goods (including spices and wine). It owned offices and warehouses across the western seaboard of Tamriel, as well as a fleet of several hundred ships. The Emperor, himself a shareholder of the Company, granted the enterprise privileges but also influenced its operations.

It rivalled the East Empire Company, another monopolistic enterprise with close links to the Emperor.
Prince-Bishopric of Morol

The **Prince-Bishopric of Morol** was a city-state and ecclesiastical principality in southern High Rock. Uniquely [?], the city was ruled by a prince-bishop. In 3E 300, the Prince-Bishop of Morol was Anseau Roisel.

## **History**

Morol was one of the great Breton city-states of the Iliac Bay during the Second Era. It was ruled by a long succession of kings from the House of {Dynasty}, under whom the city prospered. At the close of the era, the all-conquering Tiber Septim demanded the submission of Morol. The king, Maurice VII, defied and insulted the emperor. The subsequent Sack of Morol by Imperial forces was brutal; many neighbouring rulers submitted to the Emperor to avoid a similar fate. Much of the city was razed and its population butchered. King Maurice VII and the rest of the {Dynasty} dynasty were slain when the palace was breached.

Only the city's cathedral was spared ruin. Whether or not this was owed to the invaders' piety is uncertain. Some more fancifully attributed this reprieve to the Divines. In any event, once the Imperial forces had plundered the city it was the cathedral where the refugees flocked to. They were sheltered and fed by the bishop, {Bishop}. Since all eligible candidates to the throne were counted among the dead, Morol descended into anarchy without a legitimate ruler. A series of petty tyrants, mostly robber knights, attempted to seize control of the city. Only {Bishop} succeeded in establishing a semblance of order and peace in Morol. Thus, according to the city's chronicle, '*the people made the good bishop their prince*'.

The first act of the inaugural Prince-Bishop was to submit the Morol to the suzerainty of the Emperor. This prevented further depredations and provided the city with imperial subsidies to rebuild itself. During the fourteen years of his reign as Prince-Bishop, {Bishop} oversaw a programme of construction and repair which restored Morol to prosperity.

## **Government**

Morol was ruled by a Prince-Bishop, who exercised both spiritual and temporal authority. Whereas {Bishop}, the first Prince-Bishop, was chosen by plebiscite, his successors were elected by the cathedral clergy. The clergy in fact only elected a Bishop, who by custom assumed sovereignty of the city as *Prince*-Bishop. This duality is illustrated in the ruler's full titulature: "*[Name], by the Grace of the Divines, Prince **and** Bishop of Morol*"*.* Whilst some kings and queens in High Rock enjoyed sacerdotal status, the Prince-Bishop of Morol enjoyed kingly status as a secular ruler.

The city of Morol was divided into several districts called *curacies*. Each was administered by a curate, a priest appointed by the Prince-Bishop to oversee both the spiritual and temporal welfare of its population. Curates were regarded as the high priests of the city. A powerful official in Morol was the Vidame, appointed from the laity to perform functions considered inappropriate or unbecoming for the priesthood to discharge (such as commanding the city's militia).
Arthur IX of Arian

**Arthur IX** was a king of Arian and its wider dominion as High King over the Spires and Valleys. In the histories of the region, he was recorded as its 103rd ruler.

It was Arthur who ruled when the Tiber Septim emerged as the master of all-Tamriel. Accepting the counsel of his court, Arthur was among the first to submit to the Septim conqueror. He used the Tiber Wars as an opportunity to renew conflicts against neighbouring kingdoms, namely Shornhelm, and embarked upon a series of regional conquests.

Arthur was especially enthusiastic in his support of the Empire and paid significant tributes voluntarily to the Imperial City. He is noted to have personally befriended a number of Imperial ambassadors. In return, the Kingdom of Arian enjoyed the Emperor’s favour and goodwill. Many of its conquests were legitimised by the court of Emperor Tiber.

Arthur was granted a position on the Elder Council and was permitted to send his son Prince Henri (the future Henri XV) as proxy. His grandson, later Henri XVI, was raised for a time in the Imperial City.
Edward I of Arian

**Edward I**, called **the Dragon Prince**, was a First Era king of Arian and its wider dominion as High King over the Spires and Valleys. In the histories of the region, he was recorded as its 72nd ruler.

Edward was shrouded in legend, said to have conquered the mountains of central High Rock with the aid of the dragon Kromiirdaan. His reign followed the string of *Morcantine* kings.

The Dragon Prince was a saint in the Kingdom of Arian and it was in imitation of him that its kings wore a single white glove.
King's Clerk (Torlan)

In the Kingdom of Torlan, the **King's Clerk** (alternatively the **King's Secretary**) was an administrator responsible for the king's private correspondence.

Whereas the clerks of the chancery composed official documents, authenticated with the great seal by the Lord Chancellor, the king dictated letters of a personal or sensitive nature to his own clerk. These were generally sealed with the Little Seal. The distinction between state and private correspondence was unclear; the king and the kingdom were indivisible. The King's Clerk was thus often engaged in the great affairs of the realm.

During the reign of Elzear VII, the king was so removed from from government to render his own clerk redundant. The title *King's Clerk* was granted by Engelard of Morfa to the chief clerk of the chancery as a sinecure.
Kingdom of Tyno

The **Kingdom of Tyno** was an island principality in the Abecean Sea. It was culturally diverse and home to significant populations of Altmer, Bretons, Imperials, and Redguards.

In 3E 300, Caspian I reigned as King.

## **City of Tyno**

On the eastern bay of Tyno sat its eponymous city, built on waterways and canals that ran from the hills to the sea. This city was central to the trade empires of western Tamriel, providing both goods and rest to merchants from High Rock to Valenwood.

Before the Tynan Revolt, the city was governed from Lord's Square. Rioters torched the palace in 3E 271 and thereafter, following the crowning of Caspian I as King of Tyno, the city came to be ruled instead from the newly named Prince's Garden.

The haves and have-nots of the city were neatly divided. Those with wealth lived west and away from the sea, in tall manor houses on the hills; those without lived in the docks and bridges. The waterways and canals were dominated by the merchants, who travelled on barges and gondolas.

Numerous banking houses were dotted across the city, all belonging to the [Family]. Moneylending was a significant source of income for the King, alone matching the taxes and tariffs on half a dozen goods.
Henri, Lord of Coeth

**Henri, Lord of Coeth** was a Breton nobleman. He was the lord of Coeth from 3E 260 until his death in 272, holding the mountain in fee to the Kings of Arian.

Henri was a seasoned warrior, a veteran of wars from the age of sixteen, and a famed commander in High Rock. He led armies against Breton kings, Orcish chiefs, and the Reachmen of Cragdale. His death in battle lionised him and a statue in his honour was erected in the capital.
Amafinius Torquatus

**Amafinius Torquatus** was a priest of the Imperial Church, belonging to the Order of Julianos.

The aged cleric, a native of Cyrodiil, entered the service of Archmagister Engelard in 3E 295, becoming his confidant and intercessor. He wielded considerable influence over his patron; if Engelard was the *alter rex* of Torlan, Torquatus was its *éminence grise*.
Kingdom of Gylfin

The **Kingdom of Gylfin** was a Breton principality in High Rock.

## **Summary**

The Kingdom of Gylfin ruled the delta of the Cygnus River. Its eponymous capital city guarded the river mouth, where the Cygnus met the Eltheric Ocean. The city was wealthy from the trade which passed between river and sea.

In the third century of the Third Era, the kingdom was inherited by the Cyrodiilic Velius family (which became the royal House of Velius).
High King over the Spires and Valleys

**High King over the Spires and Valleys** was a title used by rulers in the Kingdom of Arian that reflected their lordship, real or imagined, over a series of peaks and mountain ranges in High Rock. These rulers were occasionally *high kings proper* as overlords to local subject-kings.

In 3E 300, Henri XIX ruled as High King over the Spires and Valleys. Court records in the Kingdom of Arian listed him as the 114th High King.
Septim Dynasty

The **Septim Dynasty** is the the ruling imperial family of the Third Empire. It was founded by Tiber Septim, who ascended to godhood as Talos.

## **Emperors and Empresses of the Septim Dynasty**

All emperors and empresses of the Third Empire, with the exception of Katariah, assumed the dynastic name *Septim*. Only Pelagius I was a direct descendant of the divine Tiber Septim; subsequent monarchs descended from his brother Agnorith. On more than one occasion the succession of empresses regnant interrupted patrilineal descent from Agnorth, though the Septim name continued to be used. These occasions allowed historians, particularly in the Fourth Era, to divide the Septim dynasty into distinctive phases: the *Kintyran*, the *Katarian*, *Cephoric* and *Eloisan.*
Elzear VII of Torlan

**Elzear VII** was the King of Torlan from 3E 292, succeeding his father Berenger II.

For reigning during the Peace of Torlan, Elzear earned the epithet '*the Peaceful'*. His weakness, in both body and character, also incurred the less flattering nickname *'the Feeble'*.

## **The *Roi Fainéant***

Elzear VII was doltish, indolent and blundering. He was neither pious nor ambitious like his namesake predecessors, Elzear IV and Elzear V. The king lacked both an interest in and a comprehension of state affairs; a far cry from his father who personally scrutinised the ledgers of his treasury. The complaisant Elzear allowed his mother, Adelaide of Glorinel, to continue ruling Torlan as regent without protest even after coming of age. After Adelaide was incapacitated, the king immediately entrusted control of his kingdom to Engelard of Morfa. At no time did Elzear contemplate discharging the duties of king himself.

The King of Torlan's weak disposition was complemented by a weak constitution. Elzear was frail and was beset by bouts of ill health throughout his life. The timorous monarch also suffered from a stammer. When not bedridden, Elzear spent his days idling in the company of his similarly frivolous familiars. He was otherwise entertained by his fool, Pepin.
Henri XVII of Arian

**Henri XVII**, usually called **Henri the Restorer**, was a king of Arian and its wider dominion as High King over the Spires and Valleys. In the histories of the region, he was recorded as its 112th ruler and reigned from 3E 244 to 263.

Henri was the son of the pretender Arthur XIII, born just two years before the Battle of [Field]. He survived Arthur's death by the skillful hand of Lord Alain the Tall, who arranged for the infant's escape into the west. Two decades later, the boy returned a man and claimant.

Henri waged fresh war against the Aymarian Line. He captured his cousin Aymar IV in their first confrontation and was crowned on the field. Portraits that emphasised the victorious Henri's resemblance to his grandfather Arthur XII weere commissioned by Lord Alain the Short (soon to be father-in-law to the King). These did away with much of the controversy that surrounded his father's identity.

When *the Restorer* rode into the city of Arian, flanked by wife and father-in-law to be, he was met with loud cheers. He ordered all royal depictions of the *usurper* Aymar II and his successors be destroyed.

### **The People's King**

The Restorer surrounded himself with those of low status and lowly origins. Perhaps on account of his own meagre upbringing in exile, he felt great affinity towards the poorer of the realm. Henri was surprisingly sympathetic to the desires and demands of the realm's peasants. It was during his reign that new agricultural methods and policies, as developed by Aimery the Younger, were introduced to the realm. These eased the burden on the farmer class and eventually allowed for greater harvests.

The Restorer's death was shortly followed by flooding. Bards said this was caused by the tears of his subjects.

## **Notes**

1. ↑ The exact origin of 'the Restorer' is unclear. When Henri XVII entered the city of Arian, it is possible some in the gathered crowds cheered *'Hail the restored king!'*. This references the restoration of the so-called Arthurian Line. Some historians instead associate the title with the restoration of order following the chaotic rule of Aymar IV. In any case, it was not until after his death that the King came to be called Henri the Restorer.
2. ↑ Although recorded and remembered as *usurper*, Aymar II had in fact inherited the throne legitimately from his brother Arthur XII (whose heirs were believed to have died with him in a fire).
Henri XVI of Arian

**Henri XVI**, called **Henri the Martyr** by his venerators, was a king of Arian and its wider dominion as High King over the Spires and Valleys. In the histories of the region, he was recorded as its 106th ruler and reigned from 3E 82 to 86.

Henri was a man of exceptional piety. He took quickly to religious studies and preferred the company of priests to laymen. He was very much the antithesis of his father. Even as a boy, Henri prayed in the chapel of the Shining City for long hours. He fasted on the days of every saint. One day in rage, the King forbade his son from entering the chapel. Thereafter, Henri prayed in his chambers.

Though he was heir to the throne, Henri was unwilling to partake in *'worldly affairs'*. At seventeen, during a progress through the realm, he attempted to join amonastery in the eastern foothills of the Kingdom. He had in fact been successful: the Prince, who did not declare his identity, swore vows of celibacy and renunciation. Some days later, knights of the Shining Host arrived to retrieve him. The monks were punished by the King.

At the age of twenty-one, Henri was commanded by his father to marry. He protested, ever maintaining that his vows were legitimate and binding. Although he was eventually made to marry, he remained celibate for life.

When his father died, Henri came to the throne an unwilling king. He nonetheless embarked upon a radical restructuring of the realm. His first proclamation as King was the forgiveness of all dues owed by members of the clergy. The abolition of any tax on temples and priests soon followed. Court and King were both quickly beggared and Henri became wildly unpopular in the palace. Among the peasants, however, he was revered as a man of great piety.

At the age of twenty-eight, Henri began to isolate himself in prayer even more than before. He began to fast for days, then weeks, at a time. Following a fast of one month, he emerged from his chapel to declare that he had been chosen by the Divines to bring the light of faith to the heathen Reachmen. Ignoring the objections of his court, Henri departed for the East alone and never returned.

Legends record that the King was murdered by Reachmen while prostrating before a shrine to Arkay in the wilderness. The day of his death was marked as 15th Morning Star 3E 86. Some believe instead that he had been assassinated en route.

Some decades after his death, Henri was canonised as a saint.
Great Chronicle of Arian

The **Great Chronicle** was a series of works in the Kingdom of Arian dedicated to the record and preservation of its rulers' histories. These works were spread across many hundreds of volumes that filled the ancient and labyrinthine libraries beneath the Shining City.

The records kept in this Great Chronicle were extensive, detailing even the minutia of court life in the Kingdom. The chroniclers charged with recording events went to great lengths, even spying, to collect information. It was forbidden for anyone among them to alter any event, even on the command of the King. An amusing case demonstrating this concerns Arthur VIII. The King is recorded to have been shooting targets at two hundred yards on 13th Sun's Dawn, 2E 837. When he missed one shot, he turned to a nearby chronicler and commanded him not to record the miss. The chronicler recorded both the miss and the King's command that he should not record the miss.

The Great Chronicle provided an unrivalled and highly intimate view into the lives of the rulers of Arian. Although exceptional as a historical resource, the work was of religious or almost religious status. It was therefore very difficult to access. Various magical enchanmtents, including spells that made it impossible for a chronicler to speak the contents, were used to protect the Great Chronicle.
Assassination of Gaius Horatius

The **Assassination of Gaius Horatius** took place on the morning of 7th Sun’s Height, 3E 298. The killing acted as a catalyst for political rise and fall both. Perhaps most notably, general Quintus Aurelian was made Potentate in the event’s aftermath.

The High Chancellor Horatius, emerging from the Great Chantry of Akatosh, was accosted by a large section of the Elder Council. Several demands and petitions were made, chief and final among which was the High Chancellor's abdication. These demands refused, some from the party assaulted Horatis; these assaults led to murder.
Almodis of Caregos

**Almodis** was the ruling Queen of Caregos from 3E 276.

## **Biography**

Almodis was the niece of Queen Amelie III, the ruler of Caregos. An orphan, Almodis was raised at court alongside her younger brother Alain. She was the favourite ward of the childless Queen Amelie; on the queen's death in 3E 276 the kingdom was bequeathed to Almodis rather than Alain (High Rock's tradition of male succession was not closely followed in Caregos).

Whilst Alain himself swore obeisance to his sister, and received preferments in turn, Almodis was suspicious of conspiracies to dethrone her. She sought to consolidate her power by allying with the neighbouring kingdom of Torlan, ruled by King Berenger II. This alliance was sealed by the marriage of Almodis to the king's younger brother Prince Bohemond in 3E 277. As a dowry, Bohemond was promised several castles at the border of Caregos and Torlan by his fiancée. The wedding was celebrated in Caregos, followed by a tournament which the groom insisted on participating in. The impetuous prince was killed in the joust; Almodis was wedded and widowed on the same day.

The alliance with Torlan died with Prince Bohemond; although the marriage was unconsummated, the grasping King Berenger pursued the dowry promised by Almodis. This dispute would sour relations between Caregos and Torlan until the peace of 3E 298.

*Unfinished*
Lord Chancellor of Glorinel

In the **Archduchy of Glorinel**, the **Lord Chancellor** (otherwise the **Chancellor**) is the head of the Royal Chancery - a body charged with the production, procurement, and preservation of official documents.

Those who belong to the chancery come most often from the ranks of lawyers and are required to pass a formal examination. Responsible for transcribing the decrees of the Archduke and issuing legally sound papers, the civil servants of the chancery unrivalled access to the archives of Glorinel. The Lord Chancellor, as the *ex officio* keeper of the Golden Seal, is tasked with authenticating documents produced by the chancery following a proper review.

The Lord Chancellor is furthermore responsible for those issues of foreign policy. He is expected to instruct ambassadors in foreign courts, reflecting the will of the archduke and his council.

As the *Master of Requests*, the Lord Chancellor is finally responsible for receiving and, where appropriate, responding to petitions on behalf of the Archduke.

Though he receives no direct monetary compensation, the Chancellor is often granted sinecures and otherwise permitted to extract fees for petitions and access to official documents.

As one of the eight Great Officers of the Realm, the Lord Chancellor is granted the right to hold a golden staff as a symbol of his authority.
Elder Council

The **Elder Council**, sometimes called the **Imperial Council**,is the paramount advisory and governing body in the Empire.

Convened and presided over by the High Chancellor, the Elder Council traditionally meets in the White-Gold Tower. Originally assisting the Emperor or Empress in governing the Empire as mere advisers and administrators, it accumulated vast powers and prerogatives throughout the Third Era (particularly during the reigns of weak emperors). Gaining much potency during the reign of the itinerant Empress Katariah, the Elder Council demonstrated its authority in 2E 247 by disinheriting the son of Emperor Uriel IV and electing Cephorus II to the Ruby Throne.

## **Role and Powers**

Whilst the emperor rules, the Elder Council governs. True to its original purpose, the Elder Council constitutes the central government of the Empire and its members are burdened with the tedium of imperial administration (generally concerned with the taxation of provinces). The affairs of the Empire – great and small – are conducted by the High Chancellor, who depends upon the succour and the assent of the Elder Council to govern effectively.

Formerly the mere executors of the emperor's will, the Elder Council now enjoys the authority to promulgate laws. The emperor possesses a nominal veto on such laws, which is rarely exercised. As well as legislative initiative, the Elder Council may also issue interpretations on existing laws.
Imperial Legion

The **Imperial Legion** is the the standing army of the Empire

Loyal to the Emperor alone, the Imperial Legion is famed for the quality of its of training, equipment and discipline. The Imperial Legion maintains peace and order throughout the Empire, but also serves as its main fighting force in offensive and defensive wars.

## **Structure**

The Imperial Legion is itself divided into numerous legions. At full strength, a legion consists of 5,000 legionnaires.

Officers and cavalry
 Cohort
 Century
 Company
Order of Julianos

The **Order of Julianos** was a religious order in the Third Empire. Dedicated and devoted to Julianos, the God of Wisdom, the order's mission was to spread the "holy wisdom" of its patron deity.

Despite lacking a single hierarchy, many autonomous priesthoods and temples throughout Tamriel were affiliated with the Order of Julianos. Whilst some were more prestigious than others, none could could claim undisputed precedence within the order. Each followed (or rather interpreted) the precepts of Figulus the Hierophant, the sainted founder of the order.

Priests and priestesses of the Order of Julianos were distinguished by their blue robes.