With several millennia of recorded history,The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimsees the consequences of many historical events playing out. There are 200 years betweenOblivionandSkyrim, and a lot of major events happened in that time, one of which is the Accession War.
RELATED:Skyrim: Best Mods For Mage Gameplay
This war, possible due to the fallout of the Oblivion Crisis, devastated an entire country and saw hundreds flee their homes, and the player can learn a lot about this inSkyrim. The war had a direct effect on the politics of the country and may continue to have an effect inThe Elder Scrolls 6.
7It Took Place at the Start of the Fourth Era
Years in Tamriel are tracked similarly to how they are in real life, with 365 days consisting of a year. However, where the real world has B.C.E and A.D, Tamriel segments their history into “Eras”. Who exactly defines the start and end of an era isn’t always clear, but it usually centers around a landmark historical event.
In this case, the Third Era came was declared over at the same time as the Oblivion Crisis. This event which almost saw the world overrun by the Daedra, it’s ending was significant enough to start the fourth era. Whilst the causes of the war spill back into the Third Era, the war officially began in the year 6 of the Fourth Era, or 4E 6.
6It Was Fought Between Morrowind and The Black Marsh
The two nations that sit along the Eastern edge of Tamriel, Morrowind is the homeland of the Dunmer population, and was the setting ofThe Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, making it a nation that has beenthoroughly explored by long-time playersof the franchise.
The Black Marsh, however, is more on the unknown side. Whilst spin-off games andElder Scrolls Onlinehave ventured there, it is yet to be the centerpiece of a main-seriesElder Scrollsgame. However, it is known to be the homeland of the Argonians.
5The Direct Cause of the War Is Disputed
Various historical accounts of this war tell very different stories. Some frame it asthe Argoniansseeking revenge, as Morrowind would often invade The Black Marsh and take slaves towards the end of the Third Era, thus making the war seem justified.
RELATED:Skyrim: Reasons Stormcloaks Should Win The Civil War
Others claim there were less noble purposes behind it, with some sources claiming the enslavement was a flimsy way to justify the Argonians' desire for territorial expansion. Then, as is always the way in Tamriel’s affairs, some claim it’s all the Thalmor’s fault, and that they somehow incited the war for unknown reasons.
4Morrowind Was Weakened After the Oblivion Crisis
One of the major reasons the war happened when it did is due to the different states the two nations were in following the Oblivion Crisis. Morrowind was caught unprepared by the crisis like most nations were, and thus were crippled by the effects as their armies struggled to mount a defense.
The Black Marsh fared much better, though. The mysterious Hists of The Black Marsh were able to give a warning of the coming crisis, and the Argonians were able to rally their armies and wereprepared for the Dremora arrival. They are even said to have pushed into the plains of Oblivion and made minor gains there before the gates were sealed. This meant that a full-strength Black Marsh saw the opportunity to trample a weakened Morrowind.
3The Argonians Took a Large Portion of the South
As was established, Morrowind was in no state to fight a war after the Oblivion Crisis, and the Argonians unsurprisingly steamrolled through the country upon their arrival. They met meager defense, and barely shed any blood in the skirmishes that occurred.
RELATED:Skyrim: Reasons Imperials Should Win The Civil War
Although they never officially annexed any territory, these regions of Morrowind still see significant Argonian popularity 200 years later, with several clans choosing to settle there during the war. It helped these settlements that many of the surviving Dunmer would flee the country during the war.
2House Redoran Eventually Stopped Them
Under normal circumstances, the Imperial Legion would have intervened to help the Dunmer, being a state under the Empire’s protection. Unfortunately, this was impossible during the war, as the Red Mountain had erupted the year before, leaving much of the territory inaccessible from Cyrodiil.
This left the nation’s sole defenders to be House Redoran, who controlled the western portion of Morrowind. Their success in preventing the extinction of the Dunmer saw them gain greater political power than ever before, and afterthe old capital had been sacked by the Argonians, House Redoran’s base-city of Blacklight was named the new capital.
1Dunmer Refugees Fled To Skyrim
Although Skyrim has no direct involvement in the war, they saw a huge portion of the fallout. As the majority of Dunmer refugees could only flee via the sea to the north, Skyrim was the first destination they would reach. To stop Skyrim from taking on more than it could handle,the High Kingof the time granted them the island of Solstheim to live.
Whilst the majority of Dunmer madetheir home on Solstheim, some remained in Skyrim, and their presence can be most heavily felt in Windhelm. The city has an entire section known as the “Gray Quarter”, where Dunmer live, although they experience a great deal of racism from the local Nords.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Special Editionis available on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X/S.
MORE:Skyrim: Best Side Quests Most Players Have Never Seen (And Where To Find Them)
