The “Missing Legions”

Praise Stendarr! Praise Reman! I’m Blackfyre and I’d like to talk to you about…the Imperial Legion. Specifically, the alleged withdrawal of the Imperial Legion from the Provinces to defend Cyrodiil during the Oblivion Crisis.

What I am discussing today is a topic I’ve had to wrestle with considerably in my writing of Through Eastern Eyes, a history of the East and Empire during the Fourth Era, told from the perspective of the Eastern Peoples (Nords, Dunmer, Argonians, Nibenese and, I suppose, due to their military nature, Colovians). This is, in part, the extent to which the Imperial Legion withdrew to defend Cyrodiil at the expense of the Easterners (and other provincials). But it is more than that. In truth, this is really the question of what constitutes a strong, verifiable and useable source. My background is in History and Classical Studies, and I studied law (very badly) as well, and I so I think I can give this endeavor a decent shot.

THE WITHDRAWAL THEORY

This theory, which has led to much fury among both Stormcloak supporters and among Dunmer-philes and lovers of the Saxhleel, states that the Imperial Legion withdrew from the provinces to defend Cyrodiil, betraying the trust of the people of the Empire.

In the wake of this withdrawal, House Hlaalu was stripped of its great house status. It is, so far as I am aware, Adril Arano who is chiefly responsible for this bit of information- and indeed, for the notion that the Legion did in fact withdraw. There may be others who forward bits of info like this, but I believe this notion chiefly comes from Adril. There may be other individuals who say similar things.

Similarly, during one of his many interactions with Annaig, Mere-Glim of Lilmoth tells us that “the Empire didn’t beat Dagon in Black Marsh” and that he is absolutely convinced that this was entirely due to the actions of the An-Xileel.

Also, we are told, in relation to the Great War, that “the Empire all but turned a blind eye to the other provinces”, which may further indicate that the Empire was willing to leave its citizens to rot to save Cyrodiil. It does need to be noted that Cyrodiil is the heart and wealthiest part of the Empire. It would be folly to leave it defenseless.

This theory is typically considered as gospel, and perhaps it has elements of truth. But the more I have considered it (and I have considered it a great deal), this theory does seem to lack merit.

THE EVIDENCE AGAINST

The first, and most blistering argument against this theory is that retelling of the history of the Fourth Era, especially military history, is, even to a generous historian, remarkably vague, with the narrative approaching the point of myth or folklore. More accurately, it would be fair to say that only three things happened in the Fourth Era: the Red Mountain Erupted, the Thalmor took power, then the Great War occurred.

Even in the case of the Great War (including Markarth and Hammerfell), there are so many contradictions and differing accounts of the matter that at times it seems, at times, like a couple of skirmishes around Lake Rumare, and others, as though the end of days of Tamriel was occurring.

Of extremely significant contrast against the withdrawal is the outright refusal by Ocato, Chancellor of the Empire, to levy any active legion support in the most crucial battle of the Oblivion Crisis (the Battle of Bruma, Quest: Allies for Bruma). Of course, the Chancellor could be lying, misinformed, plotting for the throne himself or planning on a big Imperial Legion cookup with his buddies on that day. But this goes rather against the chancellor’s character. He was generally reckoned a trustworthy servant of the Empire, and Uriel VII had left him in charge of the government for 30 years. If he were plotting to take over, he had more than ample opportunity before and afterward.

The Imperial Legion (sans town guard) is effectively absent from Oblivion. The Blades and their supporters are the sword of the Empire here. Admittedly, this is also good reason to think that troops might have excellent reason to return to Cyrodiil.

But, at no point in the Black Horse Courier, one of the biggest pro-Imperial propaganda sources available, do the publishers of the newspaper mention “Triumphant return of our heroic troops from the provinces to save the prosperous heart of the Empire”. Surely a beleaguered province would be beset by news of this sort to aid morale of the people? But no rumors, rumors which mention the rise of the Thalmor and the return of the Saxhleel to Black Marsh, mention any troops returning to Cyrodiil.

Also, the Imperial Legions are not merely Nibenese and Colovians. A cursory glance of the list of legionnaires in Morrowind shows a substantial number of Orcs, Nords and Redguards. And Dunmer are present too. The Legion is not simply an imported body, but has local elements too. The Oblivion Crisis occurred in all provinces of Tamriel. Pehaps the Legion simply dispersed. But if Imperials returned to Cyrodiil, and other folk to their home provinces, surely Dunmer legionnaires and those who were resident in Morrowind would have stayed to defend their homes and families?

Well, this isn’t an entirely accurate picture of the situation either. Because unlike the Stormcloaks and the Redoran Guard etc, etc, the Legion is not a seasonal militia that musters to fight then retuns home to till the field. They are a professional army. They do not stop being legionnaires after battle. The Legion is a life. If one considers both modern and ancient professional soldiers, a legionnaire’s family and property would more than likely be in their assigned province with them. Their reason to fight, if not for the Emperor and Empire, would be with them. Assuming that rumors in Oblivion, aside from those concerning Mudcrabs and Goblins are indicative of some level of knowledge among the commons, we might presume some awareness of the rest of Tamriel. And if the commoners had some knowledge of the other provinces (something that seems conspicuously lacking in Skyrim), the Legion would almost certainly have greater knowledge than the commoners; they would be aware that, considering the global nature of the Great Anguish, Cyrodiil is not necessarily a safer bet than Morrowind or Black Marsh or more or less in need of aid.

Might the Legion have disintegrated without pay? Well, perhaps; this definitely happened in Greece and Rome. The Legion is a patriotic force, but they are also professional soldiers. But Ocato definitely seems to suggest that the Legion was fully committed and that the Elder Council was a fully active, and continuously functional government. For example, in Morrowind, surely if Adril Arano’s suggestion that Hlaalu were powerless without the Empire is true, Hlaalu would have bankrolled and taken control of the situation to ensure that the foundation of their house did not collapse. Greedy Hlaalu may have been, stupid, they are not. Also, House Redoran had a respectful relationship with the Legion, and letting good soldiers ship out when a horde of Dremora are screaming for your blood is not wise. The same principles could be applied to those client vassals in each province that were Imperial aligned- Daggerfall, Sentinel, Orsinium, Solitude- these groups would have assuredly made some effort to shore up the Legion.

Additionally, the fact that the Oblivion Crisis was everywhere connects to the theory that the Legion abandoned the Reach during the Great War. The Legion shipped to where it was needed. Which, at the time, did not seem to be the Reach. In the context of the Oblivion Crisis, that was happening everywhere. Thus, the Legion was needed everywhere.

Additionally, the Legion mentions that they have “always” been in Skyrim. Not necessarily true, because the legion is hardly going to say “except for that one time we abandoned the Nords, Dunmer and Argonians to save Cyrodiil”. But it bears thought that the Legion does not consider itself a body that abandons the provinces in need. Moreover, Legion military history, as shown in Report: Disaster at Ionith shows that Legion protocol does not put itself in positions where it would allow the Empire to collapse in its wake.

Also, in reference to Mere-Glim’s point, it is worth noting two things; firstly, both Annaig and Glim are blind drunk at the time they are having the conversation about what the An-Xileel and the Empire have, respectively, done. Second, Annaig even retorts back to Glim that he has been reading/absorbing way too much An-Xileel propaganda.

Moreover, with regard to Adril Arano, it does need to be taken into account that he is part of a ruling government. A politician. He is a Redoran of Raven Rock. It must be taken into account that at some point, perhaps after the Ebony Ran out in the late fourth era, the East Empire Trading Company did abandon Solstheim. One look at Raven Rock, and you can see the penury to which this withdrawal has reduced the people of the town to. They are reliant on goodwill from traders like Gjalund to meet their need for supplies. They are impoverished and have very little coin (for an example, see House Redoran’s Reply). All regimes need to shore up their legitimacy, and one of House Redoran’s claims is that they (not the Empire) rescued Morrowind. We need to take the gung-ho pride of Adril Arano with a dash of salt.

CONCLUSION

Of course, people will still have their “headcanon” (I dislike that term) and their own interpretation of sources and the events. But this is simply my interpretation. And that is that, quite simply, it does not add up that the Imperial Legion would simply up and leave because of a horde of Dremora and that much military history we are given in Skyrim is rather unreliable.

As always, I look forward to hearing the views of my peers and discussing the matter.