Julianus Varian

**Emperor Julianus Varian** (5E 415–5E 474), also known as **Julianus the Ambitionless**, was the eighteenth Emperor of Cyrodiil, inheriting the Ruby Throne after the death of his sister, Marlena Varian II. He was involved with his sister the future Marlena II, and his brother Severinus in a sibling rivalry who ever controls the Ruby Throne, eventually Marlena inherits. During the reign of her sister Marlena II, he served as Marlena's royal protector and spymaster. After Julianus become Emperor, he having huge lack of desiring success during his reign, however spend his military campaigns against the Highwayman tribes, the Reach, and have policies including the Tamrielic Alliance.

## History

### Early years

Julianus was born in 5E 415 on the port-city of New Gaius on island of Yneslea, making him the second Varian who was born outside of Cyrodiil, and the only is born outside of the country. He is the youngest son of reigning Emperor Claudius IV, and youngest brother of Severinus and the future Empress Marlena Varian II. He begin his military service at the Imperial Legion and later becoming a General and was stationed in final days of Imperial-controlled Akavir and escaped after an failed assassination attempt, leaving Claudius wounded. As General under his uncle and father, he's one of the famous generals after Julianus's ancestor Marcella Varian and spend his final years as General in New Gaius.

### Succession crisis

When his uncle, Claudius III died in 5E 368, his father Claudius IV succeeded the throne but his health is failing and suffered an long-time illness and refused to in his duties of his illness as Emperor. Before his father's death, Julianus and his brother, Severinus and sister Marlena started beef by series of duels which known to be the "Meeting of the Claudius's Children", which result in Marlena inheriting the throne while the meeting is ongoing after Claudius IV's death. After the humiliation by Marlena, now called Empress Marlena II, Julianus than allied with his brother Severinus to deposed Marlena from the throne, however he was swore oath to his sister Marlena II. But weeks later, Julianus swore to oath to Marlena and become the heir apparent. During her sister's nine-year reign, Julianus provided his care of the Empire as he could, aid and security as her Royal Protector and Spymaster.

### Ascension

On 5E 439, her sister Empress Marlena II was assassinated while staying at the Tiber Septim Hotel by the Thalmor assassin, while Julianus himself was unharmed and shocked by the assassination of her now late sister. The Thalmor assassin was caught and executed, and sent the assassin's body back to Alinor where it was buried. Julianus return to the Imperial Palace and ascended the Ruby Throne as Julianus. During his coronation, Julianus was met with a cheerful crowd, due to his previous title as her sister and predecessor's royal protector and spymaster.

During his reign, Julianus had subsequent military campaigns while facing threats against the Highwayman tribes, making the Reachmen withdraw from Cyrodiil, and faced a couple of rebellions which was crushed to rebuild his reputation. He also continuing much of the Varian laws which pervious by his predecessors. In 5E 455, while Julianus faced a potential civil war with crisis at his home city of New Gaius as the economy collapsed and many of its residence abandoned. After the potential civil war had settled, Julianus married Medra and bore a son, named Pelagius.

He than return to politics as a alliance treaty with Morrowind which improved the policy of the Tamrielic Alliance. In his later reign, Julianus helped most of the economy and policy reforms return, however his lacked of passing the laws and running the Empire seemed impossible as the Elder Council as the *de facto* ruled Cyrodiil as it body of government.

### Religious issues

Julianus had a major religious problems during the majority of his reign, while his Empire were primary support or worship the Ten Divines. The Altmer around Cyrodiil worship the it's own pantheon. After Empress Marcella Varian ascended into godhood and become the tenth Divine goddess Marcella, many considered in Cyrodiil and other Tamrielic provinces accepted Marcella as the Tenth Divine because of her accomplishments as Empress and ending the Second Great War. While the Empire respected peace among other religious pantheons, Julianus attempted to restore much of Marcella's worship law; which he succeeded the majority of it however the Emperor also had many problems within the Divines deities worshipped, including he was the head of the Imperial Cult, a organization devoted to worshiping the Divines. The Elder Council advised Julianus to resolate with other deities within the other respected pantheons, pretty much dated during the reign of Empress Marcella Varian. The Daedric Cult of the Order of the Dead which worshiped by Haidoneus was founded by the last Mede Dynasty Emperor turned Potentate Antonius Mede stationed mainly in Cyrodiil, and other places in Tamriel. Julianus also support Marcella's ban of Daedric Cults including the Dead Cult, however the ban order didn't come to effect until more than two-hundred years later.

### Death

In his final years as Emperor, Julianus' health declining throughout the years since 5E 472 after he was wounded during the assassination attempted, which the wound became infected. The following was the series of a two-year period of illnesses, resulting his son Prince Pelagius become the Prince regent and become the *de facto* leader of the Empire with letting Julianus's approval. Julianus died on 5E 474, while his son, the Prince Regent become Emperor Pelagius Varian II. He was buried at Dovah Skor, making him the last Varian Emperor to be buried there until Titus III in 5E 725.

## Legacy

His reign marked the golden age of Imperial rule in Cyrodiil, however he already lack of his duties as Emperor. When he was Royal Protector and Spymaster to his sister and predecessor Marlena II, he is also faced with potential civil war, which the last time was six centuries ago when Reman Varian founded the Fourth Empire after defeating Potentate Antonius Mede, however he was also squished of the civil war never happened. As Emperor, he is also faced with potential civil war in Cyrodiil, and his religion issues dissociated among his subjects, which the damage already done when the Emperor passed his ancestor, Marcella Varian's 500-year old law. His subsequent campaigns including the Reachmen folk exiled back to Skyrim. During his reign, Julianus also called the Ambitionless, because of his lack of ruling the Empire.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 *Dynasties: The Varians of Cyrodiil*
2. ↑ *Year in Cyrodiil: 5E 415*
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 *Brief History of the Empire, Book IV*
4. ↑ *Year in Cyrodiil: 5E 368*
5. ↑ *Year in Cyrodiil: 5E 439*
6. ↑ *Empress Marlena II Assassinated!*
7. ↑ *Year in Cyrodiil: 5E 455*
8. ↑ Dialogue with Claudius
9. ↑ *Marcella's Recognized in Tamriel*
10. ↑ *The Dead Order*
11. ↑ *Year in Cyrodiil: 5E 472*
12. ↑ *Year in Cyrodiil: 5E 474*
13. ↑ *Emperor Julianus Dead*
14. ↑ *Year in Cyrodiil: 5E 725*