So while reading the UESP I came across this tidbit.

"However, this was not to be. Orsinium was once again sacked by the combined forces of Hammerfell and High Rock in the early http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Fourth_Era, and many Orc refugees fled east into http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Skyrim. The kingdom reformed, but has relocated; it is now in between Skyrim and Hammerfell.http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Orsinium_Area#cite_note-Loading-0" -UESP, http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Orsinium_Area

This puzzled me, as before I had read this page and thought that Orsinium was rebuilt in the Wrothgarian Mountains, smack dab in the middle of High Rock, and was existing in peace as, "Gortwog proved to be a diplomatic as well as a political genius." -UESP, same page

Naturally I was critical of the accuracy of this information, being interpreted, written, and cited by someone editing the UESP. The citation in consideration, that little "[1]", was referencing this quote from Skyrim's loading screens.

"http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Orc, also known as Orsimer, are natives of http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Orsinium, a small mountain kingdom between Hammerfell and Skyrim. It has been sacked and rebuilt many times."

Now I can see that the "many times" implies another siege, as does the location moving to "between Hammerfell and Skyrim". However, I remain skeptical. Could this not have just been an error in one tidbit out of hundreds? Did Orsinium actually move so far East, from the Wrothgarian to, presumably, the area between Dragonstar and Elinhir?

So I have come to the lore masters of the lore forums, seeking clarification. Don't get me wrong, you're lore masters, not ideal masters, so you certainly won't get my soul as payment, but you will have my sincere thanks.

And with that, I ask you, Where in Tamriel is Orsinium now? (4E 201)

The real meat of the update on Orsinium's status comes from the novels, most specifically the http://www.imperial-library.info/content/lord-souls-lore-notes:

Great, so that is proof of the second siege of Orsinium, the one in the early fourth era?

Orsinium appears to have been built, razed and rebuilt more than once.
It seems to be a pattern, and Orsinium itself a sort of unatainable pipe dream for the Orsimer, as Aetherius is for the Altmer.
I think it would be logical for refugees to try and establish this mythical homeland somewhere else, after being driven out of their homes by malignant humans, be they Nord, Breton or Redguard.
All we can say for sure is that it keeps being built somewhere in the mountains between the territories of these three powers.
Thats my take on it anyway.

The "relocation" idea stems from a skyrim loading screen claiming Orsinium is in the DragonTails. Once again, UESP summarizes anecdotal evidence as gospel truth.

Proof? Well yes, at least of the sack in the early 4th Era. Lord of Souls takes place forty years into that Era, so that would put the sack around or before the year twenty, considering Mazgar is an advlt and serving in the Legion.

The loading screen is the only source that we have that suggests Orsinium is now somewhere other than the Wrothgarian Mountains, so it could be a mistake. But its not completely unprecedented that the orcs might try someplace else. While there have only ever been two Orsiniums (Torug gro-Igron's Orsinium and Gortwog gro-Nagorm's Nova Orsinium) there have been similar attempts at the same idea elsewhere, as stated in the Third Pocket Guide:

Skyrim loading screens do have the 'appearance' of being valid lore.
Not only do they sometimes quote in-game books verbatim or summarise what we already knew, sometimes they add new information as in this case.
I propose that the loading screens are treated as a source of lore in these cases.
Also, for the life of me I cant remember where but I seem to have the recollection of hearing about the sack of Orsinium from somewhere other than a loading screen.
Either dialogue or a book.

Edit: I guess Im wrong on that other source.

I suppose... It's just hard to comprehend, as orcs have technically been citizens of the empire for hundreds of years, since what transpired in Daggerfall. Now, I know that the Empire has relinquished Hammerfell in recent years, but High Rock was relatively unaffected by all of this. It's just hard to see a regular war party forming up for relatively no reason, especially since the orcs seem to be relatively isolationist.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:High_Rock seems to have contradictory information, even saying that a Breton queen formed an alliance with the leader of the orcs.

Yeah but they were also promised an Orsinium by the Daggerfall Covenant during the interregnum of the Second Era.
And we know that did not happen even though it was their sole reason for joining with the Bretons and the Redguards.
They are the ostrasiced, the outcast.
I think they build an Orsinium and then it gets razed, with depressing regularity.

If its any consolation, at least we know it cuts them into better shapes.

Your hunch is right, but your supposition of the contents is wrong. Orsinium is mentioned by Hadvar at the very beginning of Skyrim, saying that your ashes will be returned there (pretty presumptuous of him, if you ask me), but he makes no mention of where Orsinium is located.

Certainly, but that alliance was relatively recent in the Pocket Guide, and might have ended with Elysana's death. She might have even betrayed her newfound allies, if she smelled the way the wind was blowing after the Empire collapsed. Remember that, at the time, Orsinium was being considered for proper Provincial Status, which in all likelyhood would have gone through if the Empire under the Septims had persisted. But the events of Oblivion changed a lot of things.

That wasn't Hadvar, but rather a nameless "imperial captain". And he just name checks your racial homeland.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Hadvar. Someone's been hitting the skooma a bit much I see.

Whoa...

Are the Orsimer the Jews of Tamriel?

No, they are dungmer.

No, I recently rerolled, an altmer, not a khajiit I'll have you know. When looking at the guy reading it his name wouldn't show in the UI. I suppose it's just a UI thing...



Fix'd

Awww crap, Orsinium just got razed again guys!!!

Heh yeah orcs get treated like crap and the fact that the redguards and the bretons pretty much hate them yeah it really svcks to be an orc.