Who Is Emperor Uriel Septim VII in Oblivion Remastered?

Uriel Septim VII was the emperor who ruled over Tamriel in the events of the first three Elder Scrolls games. He was the 21st emperor of the Septim Empire, which ruled over Tamriel until his death. He was a handsome and clever young man with a bright imagination. As he came of age as a prince, he was gifted with all the skills a future ruler should have. He displayed charisma, diplomacy, and military talents, which would come to serve him in his long reign.

The Septim bloodline descended from dragons, and their dragonborn blood helped keep a seal on the gates of Oblivion, which threaten to destroy the realm if the creatures who live within were ever unleashed. The Dragonfires in the Imperial City, as well as the Amulet of Kings, were the source of this magical seal, and only one of the Dragonborn is capable of lighting the flame of the Dragonfire.

Uriel Septim’s father was obsessed with his mission to unify the various realms of Tamriel under a more unified Imperial rule. Many of the provinces of Tamriel were largely independent and only a part of the empire in name. The last few emperors of the Septim dynasty wanted to achieve a more universal Imperial power and spread the religion of the nine gods across the lands.

Some of the provinces, such as Black Marsh and Marrowind, were more resistant, and Uriel Septim’s father, Pelagius Septim IV, would lead several military missions into these realms to quell the rebellions. This civil unrest would continue even after the death of Pelagius Septim IV and into Uriel’s reign as emperor. The people of Tamriel would see that early in his reign that Uriel Septim was a fair and diplomatic ruler, only taking military means when necessary. Over time, the devious influences of Uriel’s ambitious and cunning advisor as well as his equally ambitious and deceiving wife would come to influence Uriel and, in turn, the entire empire.

Emperor Uriel Septim VII in Early Elder Scrolls Games

Leading up to the events of the first game in the franchise, The Elder Scrolls: Arena, Uriel Septim VII finds himself betrayed by his closest advisor, Jagar Tharn. Once his most trusted advisor and personal spellsword, Jagar Tharn, would become known as “The Betrayer”. He used his magic to trap Emperor Uriel Septim VII in a secluded section of the Oblivion plane. Uriel would sleep there for 10 years and constantly experience nightmares.

Meanwhile, Jagar Tharn also used his magical abilities to change his appearance and take on the identity of the Emperor in secret. For 10 years, the progress made by the empire would be largely undone due to neglect by Tharn. In the events of The Elder Scrolls: Arena, the player character, The Eternal Champion, would uncover this plot. The Eternal Champion then defeats Tharn and rescues the emperor. However, Emperor Uriel Septim VII is forever more timid and cautious as his personality itself is forever changed by these events.

Emperor Uriel Septim VII would change his diplomatic and military approaches to rule as well in the coming years of his reign. He would be more cautious, using his secret service, The Blades, as well as other undercover means of dealing with issues across the realm. In The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, you are sent on a mission by Emperor Uriel Septim VII as an agent in his employ to settle some rising tensions in the province of High Rock.

In The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, you are a prisoner of the emperor sent to Morrowind to fulfill a prophecy, which has convenient political implications for the emperor and his plans of unification. In both cases, you are sent on a secret diplomatic mission outside of the greater public knowledge of Tamriel, as that was the way that Uriel Septim VII would rule from this point forward.

The End of the Septim Dynasty and the Dragonborn

Emperor Uriel Septim had a tumultuous marriage, which traumatized his children and was shrouded in violence and abuse behind the public’s view. While this marriage did bring forth four heirs, three sons and a daughter. Uriel Septim also had a reputation for having affairs with his aides. This led to two more illegitimate heirs from outside of his marriage. When the events that make up the prologue of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion occur, the agents of the Mythic Dawn had assassinated all of the emperor’s known children before hunting him down and killing him during his attempt to escape through the sewers.

Martin Septim was the last known son of Emperor Uriel Septim VII and became the 22nd and last emperor of the Septim dynasty. Martin would sacrifice himself and the Amulet of Kings to become the Avatar of Akatosh and seal the gates of Oblivion once and for all. The end of the Dragonborn Empire was foretold in the prophecy contained within The Elder Scrolls and would lead to the events in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Emperor Uriel Septim VII is the last acting emperor that the land of Tamriel would ever know, and his legacy would impact the rest of the land’s history for all time.