Like any great fantasy setting, the world of The Elder Scrolls is filled to the brim with lore. Hundreds of books are scattered throughout the game worlds of Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim, and Online. Fans can potentially learn a lot about the history of Tamriel and its environs through a host of secondary material.
As a medieval fantasy, The Elder Scrolls lore is packed with stories and references of bygone kings and queens of old. Many of these individuals, along with their corresponding tales, prove just as intriguing as the main events of any of the games. These monarchs played an important role in shaping the settings that players love to explore.
7 Umaril The Unfeathered
In The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, players have ample opportunity to learn more about the land of Cyrodiil. This particular province is located in the central heart of the continent, where the Septim monarchs reside in the impressive Imperial Palace. However, before the Imperials came to dominate the area, a race of elves, known as the Ayleids, actually ruled the surrounding region.
One of the most powerful and infamous of the Ayleid kings was Umaril the Unfeathered, a sorcerer and demi-god whose cruelty towards humans was legendary. He was eventually defeated by the Divine Crusader, Pelinal Whitestrake, in the First Era. Nevertheless, Umaril's power enabled his spirit to escape to Oblivion. Umaril threatened Tamriel once again in the Third Era but is defeated for good by the player character during the Knights of the Nine DLC.
6 Potema Septim, The Wolf Queen
In The Elder Scrolls universe, the Empire looms large. It's the most powerful political body in Tamriel and has experienced four separate incarnations throughout its history. Fans who want to know more about the Empire have a wealth of material to work with in the form of in-game books. As players will learn, not every monarch was a beloved individual.
Take Potema Septim, the Wolf Queen of Solitude, as an example. During the early years of the Third Era, Potema staged a coup against her niece, the empress, and placed her own son on the throne. Potema was a notorious necromancer whose substantial powers, in the end, couldn't save her from eventually being overthrown. During the events of Skyrim, however, players can witness a cabal of necromancers attempting to resurrect the infamous Wolf Queen. Players, naturally, put a stop to her evil machinations for good.
5 Olaf One-Eye
Arguably, no other finest warriors exist in Tamriel other than the Nords of Skyrim. As fighters who revel in the honor and glory of battle, it's not surprising that Elder Scrolls lore is filled with examples of famous Nord kings. Fans, of course, get a first-hand look at most aspects of Nordic culture and history during Skyrim.
One of Skyrim's most famous High Kings was Olaf One-Eye, a character who plays a central role in the Bards College quest, "Tending the Flames." Olaf is legendary for good reason. With the aid of the Thu'um, Olaf was able to capture the dragon, Numinex. For this feat, Olaf's palace in Whiterun was renamed "Dragonsreach," a location that longtime Skyrim players are no doubt familiar with.
4 Lysandus
The politics of High Rock are a complicated affair. The region itself is broken up into several kingdoms that continually vie for dominance. Rivalries, alliances, and betrayals are commonplace at the courts of these royal Bretons. The tale of Lysandus, the King of Daggerfall, is explored in the aptly named The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall.
Lysandus was the powerful and well-respected ruler of Daggerfall. He was also a close ally to Emperor Uriel Septim VII. However, King Lysandus was murdered, an event that kicks off the events of the second Elder Scrolls game. Lysandus's spirit was unable to rest, sending an army of undead spirits and ghosts to haunt Daggerfall. The player is tasked with solving the king's murder and putting a stop to the chaos.
3 Wulfharth, The Underking
Wulfharth's history is intriguing, not to mention a little complicated. He was a High King of Skyrim in Tamriel's ancient days, where he sought to reimpose the Nordic pantheon of gods on his people. However, plenty of legends also swirled around Wulfharth, who was believed to be immortal.
Various stories claim that Wulfharth died on several occasions, only to be revived again after his "death." His seeming immortality allowed him to play a role in several major historical events, including the Battle of Red Mountain and aiding Almalexia in repelling an Akaviri invasion. Wulfharth's identity as the "Underking" is disputed. No one is quite sure how to separate the myths from the facts.
2 Queen Barenziah
Queen Barenziah is referenced many times in various pieces of Elder Scrolls lore. Veterans of Skyrim undoubtedly remember the quest where the Dragonborn must collect the gems that belong to Barenziah's crown. Barenziah herself was a Dark Elf and the first queen of Morrowind during the days of Tiber Septim.
Queen Barenziah, along with her husband, King Symmachus, ruled the province on behalf of the Septim emperors. She played a role in the War of the Red Diamond with the previously mentioned Wolf Queen and was eventually forced into exile. Later, Barenziah was instrumental in overthrowing the imposter emperor, Jagar Tharn, during the events of The Elder Scrolls: Arena.
1 Dumac Dwarfking
The Dwarves, also known as the Dwemer, are one of the series' most mysterious races. They were one of Tamriel's most advanced civilizations. The Dwemer built vast underground cities populated with strange machines and technology. However, toward the end of the First Era, the Dwarves disappeared without a trace.
Dumac Dwarfking was the last king of the Dwemer before he and his entire race vanished. He perished at the Battle of Red Mountain, fighting with his friend, Indoril Nerevar. The exact circumstances of Dumac's death are sketchy. Perhaps an explanation will be given in a future Elder Scrolls title regarding Dumac and his people.