Imperial Law

*"All are guilty until they have proven themselves innocent."*
―Marukh[src]
**Imperial Law,** also known as **Tamrielan Law**, is the law system in place in the Third Empire of Tamriel. Each of its provinces follow at least the basics of the law, though exceptions for laws can be made under certain circumstances, such as with Morrowind and the Treaty of the Armistice.

## Imperial law book

A book detailing Tamrielan Law can be found in *The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall* called *Legal Basics*.

## Law enforcement

* City Guard
* House Guard
* Imperial Legion
* Imperial Guard
* Hold Guard

## Regulations

The fines for commiting crimes are determind by magistrates, as is the compensation. Magistrates also judge cases and determine prison sentences for crimes. Criminals may pay these fines to members of the law enforcement. If the criminal chooses to endure a jail sentence, they are tasked with doing heavy labor in workcamps. It is often expected that criminals who chose to follow a jail sentence lose some of their experience in skills as a result of physical, mental, or emotional punishment. Prisoners can be released from their jail sentence by a higher authority. In such an event, they are provided with a Release Identification, in which they must fill in their personal details. These papers must then be delivered to a local Imperial Legion Captain to formally authorize the release.

People who are considered outlaws have no rights. As such, these people may be killed, or stolen from, without scandal or sanction. Officers in the line of duty are allowed to use deadly force in order to put down outlaws.

Upon being caught, criminals are brought to a court where their verdict is announced. Criminals can go to jail and serve their time, or pay the court a fine and be let go. In both circumstances, criminals are searched of any stolen goods, which are taken from them and gathered as evidence. In rare cases, prisoners can also fight for their freedom in the Imperial City Arena. During the Third Era the two Doyens of the Cyrodiilic Thieves Guild, known as Armand Christophe and S'Krivva had special arrangements with the guards and judges within the province, enabling them to half the cost of the bounty for Thieves Guild members who paid them. Within Cyrodiil itself, legal counsel is available to those who seek it.

## Laws and punishments

* Imperial Law protects salvaged Dwemer artifacts from being sold, being noted as property of the Emperor. Though trade in these artifacts is allowed with the proper charter.
* Imperial Law supports and protects the Imperial Cult.
	+ Since the signing of the White-Gold Concordat, Imperial Law outlaws Talos worship.
* Argonians and Khajiits freed from slavery have the rights of citizens.
	+ Dunmer raids into Black Marsh for Argonian slaves is made illegal through Imperial Law.
* Piracy, sedition and treason are punished by summary execution.
* Murdering a tax collector is punished by death.
* Verbal assault, pickpocketing, and trespassing are minor crimes, punished by fines or hard labor. Verbal assault and pickpocketing are often fined with fines and compensation of less than 100 Septims.
* Theft and foul murder are felonies. The fine for theft depends on the value of the property stolen, or hard labor. Foul murder is fined with at least 1000 Septims, or hard labor.
	+ Stealing from the Imperial Legion is a crime punished by death.
	+ Duels can be fought between nobles, however, if the victim was bullied, intimidated, or goaded by the stronger party with suspect motives, magistrates often convict the stronger party of foul murder.
* Brawling, and murder are crimes under Imperial Law, and often paid off through a fine or with hard labor. Murder can also be punished by death or imprisonment.
* Killing of people considered heretics is against Imperial Law.
* Slavery is illegal throughout the Empire.
* Imperial Law states killing is fair in war, self-defense, defense of property, affairs of honor, and sanctioned affairs of state. Other killings are considered murder.
* Dunmer are allowed to make use of necromancy to bind their dead to sacred or family property.
	+ Other means of necromancy are illegal in Morrowind.
		- In the rest of the Empire, both body and spirit are protected as property, and are not allowed to be used without the owner's permission. Displaying the undead is widely prohibited. Necromancy itself is, however, not really illegal. Mages are allowed to legally purchase corpses and souls for philosophical research, and are allowed to do with these as they wish in private.
* Levitation magic is made illegal through the Levitation Act of 3E 421.
* Skooma is an illegal narcotic.
* Imperial public policy supports religious tolerance.
* In the event where members of the Legion slay innocents, they can be tried by a military tribunal.
* Petty theft and extortion are crimes.
* Imperial Watch Captains can only be arrested by another Watch Captain, with false charges posing a risk for the accusing Captain's career.
* Necrophilia is a crime under Imperial law.
	+ The second and further offenses are punished by fines of at least 500 Gold.
* Grave robbing is a crime punished by death.
* Failing to cooperate in an Imperial investigation is a ground for being arrested.

## Gallery

Prison Ship card art.pngAn Imperial Prison Ship.Roggvir Execution.pngFormer gate guard of Solitude, Roggvir is executed for treason against Solitude in 4E 201.
## Appearances

* *The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall*
* *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
* *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion*
* *The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim*
* *The Elder Scrolls Online*

## Notes

1. ↑ This law applied to Morrowind, in which slavery was still legal during the late-Third Era.
2. ↑ With exception of Morrowind due to the Armistice, until Helseth Hlaalu outlawed slavery.

## References

1. ↑ *Legal Basics*
2. ↑ Dialogue with Tappius Esdrecus
3. ↑ citizens of the Empire dialogue topic in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Imperial Law dialogue topic in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 law in Morrowind dialogue topic in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
6. ↑ Events of "Report to Caius Cosades"
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 little advice dialogue topic in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 killing and murder dialogue topic in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
9. ↑ Events of being arrested by members of the City Watch in *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion*
10. ↑ Dialogue with Owyn during "Arena"
11. ↑ Dialogue with Ongar the World-Weary
12. ↑ *Legal Basics*
13. ↑ Dwemer artifacts dialogue topic in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
14. ↑ Dwemer ruins dialogue topic in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
15. ↑ Imperial cult dialogue topic in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
16. ↑ Dialogue with Thalmor Justiciars
17. ↑ *The Talos Mistake*
18. ↑ Argonian dialogue topic in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
19. ↑ Khajiit dialogue topic in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
20. ↑ Black Marsh dialogue topic in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
21. ↑ Dialogue with Tienius Delitian during "Evidence of Conspiracy"
22. ↑ Dialogue with Amiel Richton
23. ↑ Events of Death of a Taxman
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 Morrowind lore dialogue topic in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
25. ↑ Dialogue with Saenus Lusius during "Frostmoth Smugglers"
26. ↑ Events of *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
27. ↑ Events of *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion*
28. ↑ Events of *The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim*
29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 necromancy dialogue topic in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
30. ↑ Overheard rumors in *Oblivion*
31. ↑ skooma dialogue topic in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
32. ↑ Smuggling dialogue topic in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
33. ↑ Daedra worship dialogue topic in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
34. ↑ Dialogue with Gaius Platorius during "The Message"
35. ↑ Dialogue with Boregis during "A Visit to Blackridge"
36. ↑ Conversation between Itius Hayn and Audens Avidius during "Imperial Corruption"
37. ↑ Dialogue with members of the Imperial Watch during "Imperial Corruption"
38. ↑ Dialogue with Jensine during "Imperial Corruption"
39. ↑ Dialogue with Servatius Quintilius during "Imperial Corruption"
40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Dialogue with Falanu Hlaalu
41. ↑ Dialogue with Jensine during "Unfriendly Competition"
42. ↑ Dialogue with Segunivus Mantedius during "Shipment of Ebony"