Afterthoughts on the Stormcloak Rebellion in light of the death of Titus Mede II

Author Notes: As a former Tribune of the Imperial Legion, a Son of Colovia and an amateur scholar on Imperial History, I have tried to put together a picture of what happened to lead up to, during and after the Stormcloak Rebellion, without accepting the prevailing view of the scholars who scoff at my writings; that the Nords of Skyrim are simple barbarians. If anything, the actions of Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak, suggest that their nature is far more sinister when their desire and anger have been stirred.

In the year 201 of the 4th Era, the Jarl of Windhelm, Ulfric Stormcloak, a former Imperial Legionnaire famously known for his ability to utilize the ancient Voice of the Nords after what is known as the Markarth incident, officially started what would be called the Stormcloak Rebellion by murdering the High King Torygg by shouting him apart. When Imperial Authorities tried to arrest him, he fled the Blue Palace and was let out the gates by a man named Rogvir, who was imprisoned and later executed for being a traitor to the Empire.

Many scholars have wondered how it could be that a renegade barbarian, just as famous for putting the White-Gold Concordat, and thus the safety of not just the Empire, but also Skyrim itself, in jeopardy during the Markarth Incident for his use of the Voice, could have amassed a rebellion strong enough to wrestle Imperial control away from all the eastern holds of Skyrim, but the answer, which I was given by one of the Thanes who served under High King Istlod ‘til his death and beyond, appears to be that Ulfric Stormcloak is not the renegade barbarian he is made out to be.

Ulfric Stormcloak, true to his Legion training, is a cunning and manipulative political and military leader, who had been sowing the idea of dissent from the Empire in the minds of the Jarls and Thanes of Skyrim already by the time beloved High King Torygg was chosen to rule Skyrim in the Moot. A storeowner in Falkreath, who made no qualms about being a former Stormcloak and still holding to the idea of a free Skyrim, told me that what was to be known as the Stormcloak Army, was founded many years before the war started, allowing Ulfric to build the basis for the fighting force that would give the Legionnaires left in Skyrim as much trouble as they have. True to what I assume to be Ulfric’s plan all along, his ranks swelled immensely after the murder of the High King and the people with ties to the government had to take a side in the conflict.

Salof, the before mentioned storeowner from Falkreath, and Hadvar, an Imperial Legionnaire born of Nordic Blood, together pieced together a picture for me of what was going on in Skyrim quite different from what popular belief among the people and nobles of Cyrodiil would have you believe. The Jarls who remained loyal to the Empire, despite their best efforts, were losing the beginning stages of the civil war leading up to the death of Torygg.

As best I could see it, with superior numbers and scores of former Legionnaires at their disposal, the Stormcloaks were spreading their influence across the countryside and managed to establish well-defended and well-hidden camps in Holds unsupportive of their cause, no doubt knowing that they would be needed when the Empire’s attention was forced on Skyrim, just as the Thalmor wanted.

To respond to the murder of the High King, the Emperor sent General Tullius to Skyrim to take control of the war effort and bring Ulfric Stormcloak to justice. In the first few months, according to Imperial reports and hearsay, he managed to put an end to the Stormcloak’s victories. He reportedly captured Ulfric by ambush, but couldn’t finish the job since the legendary Alduin of Nordic myth intervened. Whether this is true or it is an excuse made up to cover for the General not being able to keep Ulfric captured long enough to take his head remains to be proven, but what is known is that after Helgen, reportedly being attacked by Alduin, but some believe that it is far more likely to assume that a group of Stormcloaks freed their leader, the war went to a stalemate and became a war of attrition.

The General, not having the benefit of proper Legion resources due to the constant danger on the southern Cyrodiil border, found himself with scarcely more Legion trained men than what was reported under Ulfric’s banner, having to recruit a local militia from town guards and the common populace. The soldiers also reportedly couldn’t afford to all be given the standard sword-and-shield and studded leather for combat, making for diminished effects of Legion training on the battlefield against the Stormcloaks. And with Ulfric’s cause becoming more and more popular after the Empire sent in a Legion to settle the unrest, the General was faced with a dire issue. He had to end the war fast, or risk losing enough support among the Nords, despite Legate Rikke’s and Jarl Elisif’s best efforts, to maintain a presence in Skyrim with his limited resources. Skirmishes were fought, but both sides knew that advantage in the war hinged on Whiterun.

Jarl Balgruuf the Greater of Whiterun had managed to stay neutral in the conflict thus far, but it was commonly known that it couldn’t last. His hold was caught between the Empire and the rebel forces. From what I’ve been able to gather, Balgruuf eventually proved loyal to the Empire, which was his downfall when the news of the death of the Emperor by the hands of the Dark Brotherhood, who was thought destroyed by the Penitus Oculatus, reached the Elder Council and the Legion forces in Skyrim and High Rock were recalled to Cyrodiil on the order of many members of the Elder Council, led by Lord Amaund Motierre, to ensure that there was no outbreak of a civil war in the Empire in this time of constant threat and that the succession would go smoothly.

Without the backing of the Imperial Legion, the supporters of the Empire among the Jarls and Thanes were left with little choice. They had to surrender or face the wrath of Ulfric Stormcloak alone with no military commanders left in the province to challenge his armies. Stormcloak supporters were placed as rulers in the cities and in prominent positions such as captain of the city guard.

Ulfric himself marched with his men to Solitude, who had surrendered, and put a garrison in Castle Dour. Jarl Elisif, former wife of High King Torygg and Ulfric’s chief political enemy, was given the choice to swear fealty to him and forego her claims to the High Throne of Skyrim or if she wanted to be exiled from Solitude and replaced by someone more sympathetic to his cause. She accepted.

According to Falk Firebeard, the steward of Solitude, the real power of Solitude lied with Ulfric, ruling the city from Windhelm. Erikur, a wealthy merchant lord and Thane, claimed that the Thanes would continue to serve Jarl Elisif, as long as the orders she gave them was given to her by the Jarl of Windhelm.

This course of action, made from the Markarth Incident and to present time, shows that the man who now holds the title of High King in Skyrim, a murderer, traitor and ethnic cleanser of the Reach, was no barbarian renegade. He was, in fact, something much worse. He was, and is, the cold, calculating, self-serving and undeniably ambitious man who now holds the fate of Skyrim and its people in his hands. Many nobles have expressed fear that now the northern borders are not safe from invasion, but only time will tell what now happens. And may the Eight Divines forgive us and spare the Empire the wrath of both Skyrim and the Aldmeri Dominion.