Cuhlecain

**Cuhlecain**, better known widely as **Emperor Zero**, was a petty-king of Falkreath in the Colovian Estates and later Emperor of Cyrodiil during the last years of the Interregnum. He is also known for to unite the Colovian Estates, and has since been memorialized by the Cult of Emperor Zero, founded in his honor by his successor, Tiber Septim.

## History

Though little is known about him prior becoming king, Cuhlecain is born in the Nordic kingdom of Falkreath, which the part of the Colovian Estates, a separate nation in Cyrodiil that was ruled by city-state monarchs. He assumed the title of king after his predecessor's death and sought to reunite the fractured Estates. Before advancing south, Cuhlecain recognized the need to secure his northern border, with Nords and the Reachmen had a long conflict with each other. He than soon meet and allied with Skyrim, General Hjalti Early-Beard to led his armies. Hjalti's resilience and his efficiency with the thu'um gave Cuhlecain the power to claim the Colovian West, and so his forces soon moved south across the Jerall Mountains. In 2E 852, an allied force of Nords and Bretons took control over the Jerall region and its various mountain passes and settlements, including the fortress of Sancre Tor was captured and became a great roadblock to Cuhlecain's conquest. He than sent his general Hjalti, now known as Talos, to retake the city. In the midst of the Sack of Sancre Tor, Talos found the Amulet of Kings and left the city in ruins upon the realization of its weak strategic location.

The military successes of Talos and Cuhlecain had caught the attention of Chevalier Renald, a remnant of Emperor Reman III's Dragonguard from several years prior. Renald support King Cuhlecain's campaign to take the Imperial City, capital of the dissolution of the Second Empire, however this only get closer to Talos Stormcrown. In the year time, King Cuhlecain brought the Estates together and made his way to the Nibenay Valley, however the defending battlemages quickly surrendered and Cuhlecain took control of the Imperial City.

Before he could be named and crowned the Emperor of Cyrodiil, Cuhlecain was either assassinated or murdered by an unknown assailant in 2E 854. The historical records states he was assassinated by Reachfolk nightblade from the Western Reach, other sources say that his death was the result of a conspiracy by General Talos, who then blamed it on his enemies. On the aftermath, Talos' throat was slit in the attack causing him to inability to use the thu'um, and survived. Talos than subsequently donned Cuhlecain's crown and took the Cyrodiilic name of Tiber Septim as the first true emperor of the Third Empire.

## Legacy and Heresy

Tiber Septim continued Cuhlecain's legacy of conquest by advancing upon other nations like Hammerfell and Morrowind which now known to be the Tiber Wars. In honor of his former king, Tiber founded the Cult of Emperor Zero, that was recognized the king's wisdom in appointing Septim as his general and bravery in the battle for the Imperial City. The hood of the cult is among the most popular temple-cults worshipped in the Nibenay region. The visage of Cuhlecain was crafted by topiary-mages, which were displayed throughout Green Emperor Way.

During the Tiber Wars, Falkreath was governed by the Far Falkreath Estate, one of the several Colovian merchant families that made up the estates. It has strong ties to the holds of Skyrim, but whether Cuhlecain was related to the noble family is unknown. The Richtons, a minor noble family near the Strid River in Colovia, supported King Cuhlecain's bid for the Ruby Throne back when he was vying for control of the Estates. One of their own, Amiel Richton, served as Admiral of the Imperial Navy and was known for his victory at the Battle of Hunding Bay.

However, according to *The Arcturian Heresy*, it is said that Talos himself killed Cuhlecain to become the Emperor. Though it can be justified that Talos was meant to become Emperor according to the prophecy given to him by the Greybeards, and because Cuhlecain would never have let Talos obtain the throne, he was meant to kill Cuhlecain to fulfill the will of the Greybeards. It can also be suggested that Talos slit his own throat to make himself seem innocent to the murder.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 *Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition: Cyrodiil*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 *The Arcturian Heresy*
3. ↑ *The Legendary Sancre Tor*
4. ↑ *Remanada*
5. ↑ The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard — Character Bios
6. ↑ *Etched tablets on the Throat of the World*