Count

Eight of the nine cities of Cyrodiil are governed by a **Count** or **Countess**. The Counts are largely independent, but they swear fealty to the Emperor of Tamriel. The Count is the official in charge of the local County, controlling the local City Watch and regulating trade.

## Ascension

The title of Count or Countess is passed along to the next closest blood relative. Wives may receive the title from their deceased husbands. The position of Count is also hereditary, passing from parent to their first-born child, daughters are equal in the line of succession.

### Elder Council

The Counts of Cyrodiil may be part of the Elder Council. As part of the Elder Council they have the power to legislate for the entire Empire. In the absence of a legitimate heir to the Emperor, the Elder Council rules in the Emperors stead. If there is not a legitimate heir for a Count the Elder Council chooses a suitable replacement count to rule.

## Court

Each Count elects a cabinet of officials to assist them with governing their County:

* Stewards control public relations and are often approached about business, civil disputes, and the purchasing of property, instead of approaching the Count directly.
* Court Wizards serve as the Count's specialist on arcane knowledge, though it is very rare for Court Wizards to be involved in the court, instead focusing on their experiments.
* Guard Captains are men put in command of the City Watch, they are charged with upholding the law and defending the city from attack.
* Count's Bodyguard protect the Count at all times, although the City Guard also possess this responsibility.
* Inquisitors are hired to put down unlawful or insurgent groups in the counties. There is only one inquisitor in the *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion*.

## Residence and apparel

Counts reside in large castles located in the capital cities of the counties in which they govern. There, they sit upon the throne, surrounded by their subjects. They wear lavish clothes which vary from count to count.

## Form of address

As a title, Counts are addressed to as Count (Name) e.g. "What do you say on this matter, Count Andel?" The full name is not required when addressing to a Count.

## Counts

### Other Counts and Countesses

* Count Cirion, Count of Vitharn
* Countess Cirion, Countess of Vitharn
* Count Haderus Goldwine, Count of Kvatch before Ormellius
* Count Sven Advensen, Count of Darkmoor Estate
* Count Vitharn, Count of Vitharn and the man who built Vitharn
* Count Fasil Umbranox, first Count of Anvil and ancestor to Corvus Umbranox

## Trivia

* Count is a historical title given to members of the European royal peerage above Viscounts and below Marquises and are charged with maintaining a fief. The area surrounding their castles often developed into townships or cities.
* Alternative names for the Count rank in the nobility structure are used in other parts of Tamriel, such as Jarls in the province of Skyrim or the Councilors in the province of Morrowind.

## See also

* Emperor
* Jarl
* Councilor
* County

## References

1. ↑ *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion* – Dialogue with the Counts.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Gameplay from *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion*
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Gameplay from *The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles*
4. ↑ *Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition: Cyrodiil*
5. ↑ *Biography of Barenziah, v 1*
6. ↑ *Fall of Vitharn*
7. ↑ *Cap'n Dugal's Journal, Book III*

es:Conde (Oblivion)
fr:Comte