Summary
The Elder Scrollsis filled with figures from legend and history-makers, though none have had as much of an impact on Tamriel as Queen Alessia. A passing footnote to many adventurers, Queen Alessia is best known as the first Empress of Cyrodiil and the creator of the Amulet of Kings. While her achievements and life may seem best confined to the history books, much of what she did shaped whatSkyrimandThe Elder Scrollsas a whole look like today.
The Empire of Cyrodiil is thousands of years old and reaches across the continent of Tamriel. Its founder, Saint Alessia, is known across the Empire as the Slave-Queen, the creator of the Amulet of Kings, and the first of the Dragonborn Emperors. Alessia was born in a Tamriel that looked very different from the one that players know, one that was ruled by the Ayleid elves and where humans were enslaved across much of the continent.
Who Was Saint Alessia?
Alessia was a Nedic human, born as a slave to elves in Cyrodiil during a turbulent time during the Ayleid’s rule. Humans had just driven the elves from Skyrim and worshiped their own group of gods who were more sympathetic to humans than the elven pantheon. Taking inspiration from their success, Alessia began praying to the divine Kyne, who would become known as Kynareth. The goddess sent her son, the demigod hero Morihaus, and theDivine Crusader Pelinal Whitestrake, to aid Alessia in overthrowing the Ayleid overlords and freeing humans from slavery.
Alessia’s Role as a Rebel Leader in Tamriel
Alessia’s Slave Rebellion
With her new allies, Alessia began a slave rebellion against the Ayleids that resulted in the collapse of their empire. Alessia’s armies and her alliance with the Nords of Skyrim resulted in the Ayleids being pushed back to the White-Gold Tower. Despite the brutal death of Pelinal Whitestrake at the hands ofUmaril and other Ayleid kings, Alessia’s rebellion was successful and the human armies finally took control of the White-Gold Tower, which would become the Imperial City of Cyrodiil. Her actions during the rebellion inspired freed slaves from across the continent and, upon the defeat of the Ayleids, Alessia was declared the first Empress of Cyrodiil.
The Start of a New Empire
Alessia’s actions as Queen were so fundamental that the institutions she created were considered the norm hundreds of years later during the Third and Fourth Eras. One of those was thecreation of the Eight Divines, which would become the dominant religion in Tamriel. Alessia combined the religions of the Ayleids and the Nords of Skyrim, incorporating divines like Akatosh and Dibella, to create a diverse pantheon that the two groups would accept.
Was Alessia the First Dragonborn?
Keeping the Forces of Oblivion at Bay
Alessia’s most important act was most likely thecreation of the Amulet of Kingsand the Cyrodiilic Empire. Before her death, Akatosh bound Alessia’s soul to the amulet that would become the Amulet of Kings. This covenant with Akatosh ensured the gates to Oblivion would remain shut so long as her descendants had the Amulet and the Dragon Fires lit. Alessia’s descendants included Reman Cyrodiil, who expanded the Empire across Tamriel and eventually became the Septims, who reigned until the end of the Third Era.
Queen Alessia’s Impact
Alessia was known asthe first Dragonbornfor a long time, until Miraak’s reemergence, and all her descendants were known as the Dragonborn Emperors. Her actions in life led to the downfall of an empire, the rise of another, the establishment of Tamriel’s dominant religion, and a covenant that kept the daedra at bay for hundreds of years. Few figures in The Elder Scrolls lore lived so long before the main series, especially those whose influence can still be felt.
Skyrim
WHERE TO PLAY
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