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"The first mistake the Thalmor made was assuming they could defeat the Empire without the Orb of Vaermina. The second was taking Anvil." - General Tullius
The Second Great War, also known as the Blood Year, was a conflict between the Aldmeri Dominion and Tamriellic Empire which saw a swift and devastating loss for the Tamriellic Empire, and the beginning of a period of Aldmeri dominance in Tamriel.
History[]
Background[]
Prior to the beginning of the Second Great War, Emperor Tidus Mede II was assassinated by the Dark Brotherhood, a contract that had been arranged by key members of the Imperial Nobility.
Following his death, the young Causus Mede, who was opposed by over half of the the nobility, ascended to the throne. Despite the relatively safe and stable transferring of power, a large amount of opposition to Causus's reign began to take place following the Walk of the Robes, in which approximately 70% of the Elder Council under Amaund Motierre protested his ascension to power by publicly voicing their discontent in the Imperial City, causing civil unrest.
Alongside the new turbulence in Causus Mede's reign, Skyrim had broken free in a rather decisive Stormcloak victory, with the Dragonborn personally leading Stormcloak forces in the final engagement during the Siege of Solitude. General Tullius managed to escape the city
Map of Tamriel on the onset of the Second Great War
alongside a number of his advisors, however the city did fall. Tullius made it back to the Imperial City, where he was reassigned to lead two legions in the reconquest of Skyrim. With minor issues relating to supply problems and weather not being enough to stop the legions, Tullius's forces crossed into Skyrim
Mere days after Tullius's entrance into Skyrim, the Aldmeri Navy attacked the Imperial Navy in Topal Bay. Despite the attack's failure, it lead to the explosion of hostilities between the two factions.
Second Great War[]
The first engagements of the war began as the Aldmeri Dominion took advantage of the withdrawal of the two legions under Tullius, managing to break through the Imperial border defenses in the West Weald and laid siege to Skingad. Alongside these victories, the Aldmeri Dominion's navy managed to blockade Topal Bay.
Causus Mede I attempted to introduce conscription, however Amaund Motierre's faction blocked the move, causing Causus to temporarily dissolve the Elder Council, which caused the Elder Council to declare Causus's rule illegitimate, beginning a short rebellion under Motierre in Colovia. With only the support of a few disgruntled peasants and mercenaries paid for using personal funds, the rebellion's forces were engaged and wiped out decisively by the Imperial Legion. Despite a decisive victory against the rebellion, it proved to be a major distraction for Imperial resources, as the Aldmeri Army continued to exploit the lack of true resistance in the South-West.
Skingrad eventually fell, and Causus Mede recalled Tullius from Skyrim, admitting defeat in the Civil War. Aldmeri forces engaged the Legion and won during the Battle of the Gold Road, cutting Anvil off from the rest of the Empire and isolating Imperial forces in the Gold Coast. Soon after, Aldmeri forces under Lady Arannelya captured Leyawiin and began to advance north towards Bravil, but were stalled by Tamos Decianus. Aldmeri forces began to converge on Anvil, aiming to take the entire Gold Coast in preparation for an advance on Kvatch. However, the arrival of Imperial forces from High Rock late in the offensive saved the city of Anvil and allowed the legion to hold off the Thalmor. The Aldmeri Navy advanced up the Niben River and defeated the Imperial Navy in several skirmishes, but were ultimately stopped from entering Lake Rumare. The war at this point began to look as though it would devolve into a stalemate.
General Tullius arrived with his two legions, creating a land-route into the Gold Coast with brute force and evacuating what remained of the Imperial Army in the region, alongside many civilians. The Gold Coast then fell, along with Anvil, as the evacuated forces were distributed to multiple points along the front.
Dominion controlled areas in Cyrodiil following the fall of Anvil
Knowing that it would be impossible to truly defeat the Thalmor with the current turmoil within the Empire, Causus Mede called for Tullius to retake Anvil, and began to secretly negotiate with the Thalmor for a favorable outcome, hoping that the recapture of Anvil would sway their opinion. Tullius's offensive was ultimately victorious, with his forces decisively retaking the Gold Road and advancing on Anvil, alongside the rest of the Gold Coast being retaken. Causus Mede was proven right, and the Thalmor now began to realise how the war could not be truly won. They gave lenient terms - demanding that the Empire allows the Aldmeri Dominion to occupy several areas of southern Cyrodiil, and that they withdraw all forces from the other provinces, effectively granting Morrowind and High Rock complete independence, alongside monetary reparations and hundreds of minor conditions. Causus signed the treaty, which would become known as the Treaty of Anvil, and hostilities promptly ceased - however some Imperial and Aldmeri forces continued to fight for days afterwards.
Aftermath[]
In the wake of another defeat, the Imperial people began to blame Emperor Causus Mede, and General Tullius openly expressed disdain for him. Not knowing of the true political situation of the realm, and how it would have prevented any form of victory, Tullius and other military commanders believed that the war was definitely winnable, and that Causus Mede had only furthered the interests of the Thalmor for personal gain. Tamos Decianus and General Tullius began military actions against Causus Mede with their legions, with the primary goal of deposing him and his collaborators, beginning the Imperial Civil War.
Gallery[]
Tamriel prior to the Second Great War
Initial Thalmor advances
Aldmeri holdings following the Fall of Anvil
Tamriel directly after the Treaty of Anvil and the beginning of the Imperial Civil War. Blue denotes rebellious regions.