The Stormcrown Interregnum (4E 15 - 4E 22)[nb 1] was a period during the early Fourth Era. The catalyst for the interregnum was the assassination of Potentate Ocato, which triggered a flurry of contenders vying for the Ruby Throne.[1] Titus Mede I ended the interregnum when he conquered the Imperial City and founded a new imperial dynasty, the Mede Dynasty.[1]
HistoryEdit
Following the Oblivion Crisis, the Elder Council was unable to find a suitable heir to the Dragon Throne, so High Chancellor Ocato reluctantly agreed to become potentate under the terms of the Elder Council Charter.[2] The Elder Council was not as strong in leadership as they would have liked, and made efforts to consolidate and conserve the Empire and its provinces, though with perhaps little effect.[UOL 1] Skyrim appeared to be on the brink of secession, and the other provinces each had their own internal and external problems to deal with.[UOL 1]
Ocato's assassination circa 4E 15 marked the beginning of the Stormcrown Interregnum.[1] The Elder Council fractured, leading to years of ruthless in-fighting, plots and backstabbing.[1] Many tried to claim the Ruby Throne.[1] Most were pretenders to the crown, a few had legitimate claims, and others were strongmen and warlords.[1] Violent, unnatural storms reportedly lashed the Imperial City several times during this anarchy, always with the eye of the storm looking directly down upon the White-Gold Tower.[1]
With the Empire engulfed in chaos, the Thalmor overthrew the kings and queens of the Summerset Isles in 4E 22, allowing them to take control of the province.[1][3] Counties Bravil and Leyawiin became independent and were often at odds during the interregnum.[4]:223 The remnants of the Imperial Navy protected the settlement of Water's Edge during this time.[4]:223
At some point during the interregnum, Thules the Gibbering, a Nibenese witch-warrior, became the Empire's ruler.[5]:96 Circa 4E 22, the Colovian warlord Titus Mede captured the Imperial City with a force of less than a thousand men and deposed Thules.[1][4]:109[5]:96 Following the capture of the Imperial City, Titus routed the army of Eddar Olin with a force of around two thousand men.[4]:109 Thules the Gibbering was not a well-liked ruler, but since he was Nibenese, many on the Elder Council favored him over a Colovian usurper.[5]:96 Hierem, who was from an old and well-connected Nibenese family and a minister to Thules the Gibbering, helped smooth over the conquest by convincing the Elder Council to accept Titus as a liberator rather than a conqueror.[5]:96
Titus I's accession marked the end of the Stormcrown Interregnum and the foundation of a new imperial dynasty, the Mede Dynasty.[1]
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rising Threat, Vol. IV — Lathenil of Sunhold
- ^ Rising Threat, Vol. III — Lathenil of Sunhold
- ^ The Great War — Legate Justianus Quintius
- ^ a b c d The Infernal City — Greg Keyes
- ^ a b c d Lord of Souls — Greg Keyes
Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.
- ^ a b Ted Peterson's posts in From the Ashes