There has been some discussion as to whether or not Titus Mede and his descendants are/were "legitimate" Emperors. A Colovian Warlord who grabbed power through strength of arms, what right does he have to rule the Empire?

Lets start with the Septims. If you believe the Arcturian Heresy, Tiber Septim was little different from Titus Mede. Born Hjalti Early-Beard, he became a general of King Cuhlecain. With assistance from The Underking he won battle after battle, was recognized by the Greybeards as Dragonborn, and went on to conquer all of Tamriel through shrewd diplomacy, brilliant strategy, and a giant robot. At teh end of his life he ascended to godhood as Talos. Even disregarding the Arcturian Heresy, many of these facts remain. Most importantly, the Greybeards recognizing him as Dragonborn. Annointed by Akatosh, Tiber Septim had the Divine Mandate to rule.

Fast forward to the end of the 3rd Era. The last descendant of Tiber, Martin Septim, sacrifices himself to end the Oblivion Crisis. The Septim Bloodline has fallen, and Chancellor Ocato, the Imperial Battlemage, is named Potentate in lieu of electing a new Emperor. Ostensibly this was a move by the Elder Council to hold onto as much of the power for itself as possible. Despite the secession of Black Marsh, the destruction of Morrowind during the Red Year, and the reformation of the Aldmeri Dominion, the Third Empire founded by Tiber Septim lives on under the authority of the Elder Council and the Potentate. And then Ocato is assassinated. 4E10 marks the beginning of the Stormcrown Interregnum, where the Elder Council is absorbed in petty infighting over who will sit on the Ruby Throne. For seven years puppets, warlords, and pretenders rise and fall, tearing Cyrodiil and the Empire apart.

And then, in 4E17, Titus Mede marched into the Imperial City with a thousand men. Under the urging of his Nibenese allies, the Elder Council crowns him Emperor.Both Tiber and Titus rose to prominence as generals during at the time of a fractured Empire. The primary difference between the two is that Titus had no Divine Mandate. Titus Mede was not Dragonborn. Many point to this lack as a blow to his legitimacy as Emperor.

My question is this; If not Titus Mede, than who?

The Empire was broken. The Septims were no more. Without a strong leader to hold Cyrodiil together, and later rejoin with High Rock and Skyrim, Tamriel would belong to the Dominion by now. The Elder Council had proven itself incapable of ruling on its own. Titus Mede rose to the challenge, and healed a broken Cyrodiil. Reforged a shatterred Empire. Let those who oppose his reign supply a better candidate. Let those who doubt the legitimacy of his heirs produce their own. You don't need a Divine Mandate, an annointment of the gods, to rule. And when there is no Divine Mandate, any man is just as worthy as another. Titus Mede and his successors proved themselves capable and legitimate Emperors.

In times of crisis, right is might, and by Talos Mede had might.