Lore:Uriel VII

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Emperor Uriel VII
OBR-cinematic-Uriel Septim02.png
Emperor Uriel VII ruminating in his final hours
Race Imperial Gender Male
Born 3E 346
Died 3E 433, 27th of Last Seed
Imperial City
Resided in Imperial City
Reign 3E 368-
3E 433
Previous Ruler Pelagius Septim IV
Next Ruler Martin Septim
Appears in Arena, Daggerfall, Oblivion, Oblivion Mobile, Legends
"I've served the Nine all my days, and I chart my course by the cycles of the heavens.
The skies are marked with numberless sparks, each a fire, and every one a sign."
—Uriel Septim VII, the Emperor of Tamriel

Uriel Septim VII (/ˈjˈə-ˈiːl sˈɛptəm/ yer-iel septm⏵) was the twenty-first or twenty-fourth Emperor of the Third Empire and Septim Dynasty.[1][2][nb 1] Inheriting the throne from his late father, Pelagius Septim IV, in 3E 368, Uriel VII reigned for 55 of the 65 years after he was crowned emperor, until his assassination in 3E 433.

During his rule Uriel VII wed Princess Caula Voria, and sired four legitimate heirs: Ariella, Geldall, Enman and Ebel.[3][4] He additionally fathered at least two sons outside of wedlock: Calaxes (who was publicly acknowledged)[5] and Martin (who was secreted away and unacknowledged).[6][nb 2]

Biography[edit]

Early Life[edit]

Shortly after Uriel's father, Pelagius IV, was crowned Emperor of Tamriel, Queen Barenziah and Prime Minister Symmachus attended a dinner with the Septim Royal Family. At that youthful age, Uriel insisted that a place be set at every meal for his imaginary female playmate, Justin. Of course, Uriel would soon grew out this. However, it would inspire a long running joke between Symmachus and Uriel throughout the monarch's reign; Symmachus would inquire into Justin's health whenever he met with the Emperor, and Uriel would respond mock-seriously on every occasion. One time Uriel elaborately explained to Symmachus that Justin had met an adventurous, though incorrigible, Khajiit youth, married him, and settled down in Lilandril to raise fire ferns and mugworts.[7]

Emperor of Tamriel[edit]

When Emperor Pelagius IV died in 3E 368 after an astonishing twenty-nine year reign, Tamriel was closer to unity than it had been since the days of Uriel I. His son, Uriel VII, succeeded him. According to historians, Uriel had the diligence of his grand-aunt Morihatha, the political skill of his grand-uncle Uriel VI, and the military prowess of his great-grandfather Uriel V. For sixty-five years he reigned and brought justice and order to Tamriel.[1]

Imperial Simulacrum[edit]

Emperor Uriel during the Simulacrum

In 3E 389, Uriel VII was betrayed by Imperial Battlemage Jagar Tharn, who imprisoned him in an Oblivion plane of his own creation.[8][1] Tharn then used illusion magic to assume the Emperor's identity. As the Amulet of Kings would warn the Elder Council in the event of Uriel VII's death, Tharn held Uriel VII in a dimension where time ran slower, ensuring it would take centuries for the true Emperor to die.[9] For the next ten years, Tharn abused imperial privilege but did not continue Uriel VII's schedule of reconquest. It is not entirely known what Tharn's goals and personal accomplishments were during the ten years he imitated his liege lord.[1]

Tharn was eventually defeated in 3E 399 by the Eternal Champion, who freed Uriel VII from his other-dimensional cell.[10] After his release, Uriel VII worked diligently to renew the battle to reunite Tamriel. Tharn's interference broke the momentum, but the following years proved that the lauded golden age of Tiber Septim could return to Tamriel once more.

Later Life[edit]

The Emperor is assassinated

Uriel took considerable personal interest in the Nerevarine Prophecy in Morrowind, and in 3E 427 he dispatched an agent of obscure origins to Vvardenfell to fulfill the legend, with apparent success.[8][11]

Uriel VII was troubled all his life by dreams that showed him visions of the future, including his assassination and the start of the Oblivion Crisis that followed.[12] It was said that the dragon blood possessed by members of the Septim Dynasty allowed them to see more than lesser men.[13]

On the 27th of Last Seed, 3E 433, the three heirs of Uriel VII were assassinated by a Daedric Cult called the Mythic Dawn during Crown Prince Geldall Septim's Engagement Ball. Shortly after 1:00am of the 27th, the Mythic Dawn assassinated Uriel VII himself while he was attempting to escape through the tunnels beneath the Imperial Prison.[4][14][UOL 1] This left only the secret son Uriel VII named Martin Septim to claim the throne.[14]

Gallery[edit]

  • Uriel Septim VII stands with General Talin Warhaft
    (Arena)

  • Betrayed by Jagar Tharn and entrapped within Oblivion
    (Arena)

  • Rescued from his dimensional prison
    (Arena)

  • Moments after Tharn's demise
    (Arena)

  • Rescued from his dimensional prison
    (Arena Deluxe Edition)

  • Portrait of Uriel Septim
    (Arena Deluxe Edition box art)

  • Uriel Septim VII sending the Agent on his mission
    (Daggerfall)

  • An engraving of Uriel Septim VII
    (Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition)

  • Uriel Septim VII shortly before his death
    (Oblivion)

  • Activating the Amulet of Kings
    (Oblivion)

  • Standing atop the White-Gold Tower
    (Oblivion Trailer)

  • Uriel Septim VII shortly before his death
    (Oblivion)

  • Uriel Septim VII ruminating at the Temple of the One
    (Oblivion Remastered)

  • Uriel Septim VII ruminating
    (Oblivion Remastered)

  • Uriel Septim VII shortly before his death
    (Oblivion Remastered)

  • Uriel Septim VII (Oblivion Remastered)

  • Uriel Septim VII
    (Oblivion Mobile)

  • Uriel Septim VII
    (middle right)

Notes[edit]

  • ^1. Sources from Daggerfall state that Uriel VII is the "twenty-first Emperor of Tamriel", which is consistent with the number of prior Septim Emperors presented in Daggerfall's Brief History of the Empire.[15][16]:3 However, Morrowind sources states that Uriel VII is the "24th in the Septim line".[2] Whether or not this number was used in error or was altered intentionally is unknown.
    • Additionally, some Morrowind sources (the new edit of: Brief History of the Empire and a new book The Arcturian Heresy) seemingly retconned that Pelagius I was the grandson of Emperor Tiber Septim rather than being Tiber Septim's son as Daggerfall indicated, additionally some instances of "Tiber Septim" were changed to "Tiber Septim I"[7][17] —which may have impacted the count.
  • ^2. In Daggerfall, the player character is given a personal Background History determined by their chosen class. In certain scenarios—such as those for the Bard or Rogue—the player character encounters an Imperial Prince, the son of the Emperor and heir to the Empire. There are six possible names assigned to this prince, chosen from a unique pre-designed list: Cassynder, Cephorus, Pelagius, Trabbatus, Uriel, and Voragiel. In the Ranger background, the prince you met mentions that his brothers are also on the run; the use of the plural "brothers" suggests the existence of at least two, and possibly up to five additional siblings—matching the total number of alternate prince names. These figures precede the later introduction of Geldall, Enman, and Ebel, the Emperor's sons coined in Morrowind. Ultimately, no information on the canonicity of the preceding princes following Daggerfall is available. However, it is noteworthy that none of these princes are referenced in Morrowind or Oblivion.[18]
  • The name "Septim" as originally coined for The Elder Scroll: Arena presumably comes from the Latin "Septimus", meaning "Seventh" in this original language.[LANG 1] This would mean that Uriel Septim VII means Uriel the Seventh the Seventh, and/or that "Septim" is a synonym for the Seventh.
  • According to dialogue from Arena, Uriel VII's real birthday is not on the 30th of Frostfall as the holiday description for Emperor's Day implies, instead, Emperor's Day represents a symbolic celebration of the Emperor.[19] The Arena intro implies that Uriel VII's true birthday is sometime prior to the 1st of Hearthfire (which is the day the game begins).[20]
  • During his tenure as the Emperor, Uriel VII had two known secretaries. The earliest known secretary was Lomegan Mariel, who was also the Emperor's personal liaison to the Battlespire prior to its destruction.[21] The next one after that was Glabrio Bellienus, who sent a correspondence to the Blades Spymaster on Vvardenfell, Caius Cosades about his task on the island.[11]
  • The voice actor for Uriel in Arena is unknown, although Ted Peterson believes he was a local acting student. The actor for Uriel in Daggerfall was John Gilbert. The voice actor for Uriel in Oblivion was Patrick Stewart. In the Oblivion Remaster, Uriel's face is more heavily modeled after Patrick Stewart's likeness.
  • Lead Designer Ken Rolston had this to say about Uriel VII's portrayal in Oblivion: "[Patrick Stewart] was selling the product like a reverend... standing in front of his flock... which is exactly the tone I wanted."[22]
  • Uriel's five appearances make him tied with Staada for the most recurring character in the series, barring Daedric Princes.

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Brief History of the Empire v 4 — Stronach k'Thojj III
  2. ^ a b Uriel Septim topic during Morrowind
  3. ^ French version of Arena Player's Guide Intro Story
  4. ^ a b Assassination!
  5. ^ Words and Philosophy
  6. ^ Events of Oblivion
  7. ^ a b The Real Barenziah — Anonymous
  8. ^ a b A Life of Uriel Septim VII — Rufus Hayn
  9. ^ Arena Player's Guide
  10. ^ Events of Arena
  11. ^ a b Decoded package — Glabrio Bellienus, Personal Secretary to the Emperor
  12. ^ Emperor Uriel Septim's dialogue in Oblivion
  13. ^ Baurus' dialogue in Oblivion
  14. ^ a b The Oblivion Crisis — Praxis Sarcorum, Imperial Historian
  15. ^ Brief History of the Empire — Stronach k'Thojj III
  16. ^ Daggerfall User's Guide
  17. ^ Biography of Queen Barenziah — Stern Gamboge, Imperial Scribe
  18. ^ Player Background History in Daggerfall
  19. ^ Arena Holiday Descriptions and Related Rumors
  20. ^ Arena Introduction Sequence
  21. ^ Paxti Bittor's dialogue in Battlespire
  22. ^ The Making of Oblivion documentary

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.

  1. ^ Ted Peterson's posts in War of the Wormgod

Note: The following references are derived from fan translations of terms and phrases in The Elder Scrolls which are seemingly derived from real world languages, and thus are entirely unauthoritative in nature.

  1. ^ Wikitionary.org: Septimus
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