Lore:Imperial Navy
The Imperial Navy, also known as the Imperial Fleet,[1] is the Empire's aquatic force, complementing the land-based Imperial Legion. It is active during both wartime and peacetime, dealing with provinces such as Summerset in various wars and dealing with pirates in peacetime. The Navy's home port is the city of Anvil.[2] The Imperial Navy also has an Imperial Naval Consortium, where many scholars work, with one known study there being vexillology.[3]
Contents
History[edit]
First Era[edit]
By 1E 1033, the coastline along the east of Topal Bay had become notorious for acts of piracy, causing Empress Hestra to dispatch the Imperial Navy to deal with the region's most infamous pirate, Red Bramman. After several unsuccessful battles, the Navy discovered the pirate king's means of escaping capture: a narrow, winding river that emptied into Topal Bay near Soulrest, its mouth hidden by dense thickets of mangroves.[1] The Imperial Fleet tracked Bramman up the river east of Topal Bay, braving the thickets, pox-carrying insects, and humidity, eventually finding and beheading him in his bandit kingdom near the future Blackrose. Once the Navy returned, the crew members reported the culture of Black Marsh for the first time in Imperial history.[4]
One of the Imperial Navy ships that tracked down Bramman was the Dominus Fatum, a former House Indoril flagship. During the Battle of Tear Harbor in the War for Silyanorn, the Imperials captured the ship and rechristened it the Dominus Fatum to commemorate their victory. During the pursuit of Red Bramman, the Dominus Fatum braved the uncharted rivers of Shadowfen to prevent his northward escape, which caused the ship to become mired in the swamp. However, it was closer to Blackrose than any other ship, so its crew captured the pirate. The ship was still preserved atop a tree over one thousand years later in 2E 582. Despite being a Dunmer ship, the Dominus Fatum bore many similarities to other First Empire ships, including a unique banner that was suspended from a tall pole by a crossbar. The Dominus Fatum's banner, however, hung on a solid gold frame, a very rare privilege for Imperial Navy ships.[3]
The Imperial Navy was part of the All Flags Navy in 1E 2260, a fleet assembled from all Tamriel to attack the Sload of Thras.[5]
Second Era[edit]
During the Knahaten Flu, the Imperial Navy used warships to maintain order in the wake of the Flu that affected all of Tamriel. One known warship is the Bountiful Mara.[6]
In 2E 566, Emperor Leovic had the Navy patrol the Brena River and Strid River, both of which were crucial trade routes for the Empire. Prior to this numerous pirate clans had laid claim to both rivers, but the presence of the Imperial Navy ended this and allowed for goods-laden galleons to peacefully travel both rivers. His leadership and policies regarding the navy were considered visionary.[2]
After the outbreak of the Colovian Revolt in 2E 576, the Imperial Navy was dispatched to deal with the rebel forces to the north and east of Anvil. In 2E 577, exploiting its absence from Anvil, Fortunata ap Dugal led a fleet of merchant warships and pirate vessels, whose sailors and pirate warriors seized the city docks and overpowered the remaining troops loyal to Ephrem Benirus, the Prefect of Anvil. Ap Dugal then took control of the city as the Provincial Governor of Anvil.[7] The Imperial Navy was subsequently absent and unable to oppose the pirate fleet, and some citizens of Anvil believed that they would set their sights on other ports.[8]
Tiber War[edit]
During the Tiber War, which took place in the second half of the ninth century of the Second Era, the Imperial Navy was most likely active in much of Tamriel due to the nature of the conflict. One known part of the Imperial Navy was the New West Navy, active in the Abecean Sea dealing with pirates, and in Hammerfell.[9] Admiral Vasi Hadrach first led the New West Navy until a rebellious Reachman assassinated him in a Daggerfall brothel, and he was replaced with Amiel Richton. Richton's most distinguished success as captain was the command of a squadron that participated in the Battle of the Bjoulsae, which saw Wayrest's naval power crushed in a surprise dawn attack. Richton was therefore promoted to take Hadrach's place upon the latter's assassination. The new admiral's greatest victory was when he and the New West Navy defeated Prince A'tor's fleet at the Battle of Hunding Bay—largely due to help from the dragon Nafaalilargus.[10]
Following the conquest of Hammerfell, the Imperial Navy prepared its fleets in Skyrim for an invasion of Morrowind. By that point, it and the Imperial Legion were considered undefeatable, but Morrowind's swampy terrain made coordination between the Navy and Legion difficult. However, this was ultimately irrelevant as the Tribunal God Vivec appeared before Tiber Septim to sign the Armistice, following several imperial victories, one of which laid waste to the city of Mournhold.[11][12]
Third Era[edit]
In 3E 110, the province of the Summerset Isles was nearly lost to the Maormer in the War of the Isle.[13][14] The united alliance of the royal navies of the Summerset Isles and the Imperial Navy only managed to defeat the Pyandonean Armada, commanded by Orgnum, King of the Maormer, due to a freak storm.[13][15] Legend credits the Psijic Order with the magic behind the storm.[13][14][16]
In 3E 249, the Camoran Usurper's invasion began, and the Imperial Navy took every ship—including impressed private ships—to fight the Usurper. While the Navy was busy putting down the Usurper, pirates infested the Gold Coast, targeting supply ships that were heading to High Rock as the Navy could not defend them. One group of pirates, under Torradan ap Dugal, became known as the Red Sabre. After the Usurper's defeat, the Empire placed a bounty of forty thousand Septims on Dugal, but nobody in Anvil attempted to collect it as the city had become a den of thieves and sailors—all working for Dugal. Months after the Usurper's war had ended, Commodore Fasil Umbranox, now fully supplied by the Empire, turned his attention to the Red Sabre. Under Umbranox, the Imperial Navy searched hundreds of islands in the Abecean for Dugal's flagship, the Black Flag. Crews were landed on each, and the pirates found thereupon were treated harshly. Pirates who surrendered were jailed; pirates who did not were hung. It took Umbranox four years to find Dugal, with Umbranox constantly replacing lost ships and men. Eventually, Dugal attempted to deceive Umbranox with planted information to draw him out of Anvil; this distraction was to be used to capture Umbranox's ships in Anvil in the commodore's absence. The commodore, however, had anticipated this and had his men wait for Dugal at Anvil Bay. The Imperial Navy set Anvil alight to keep Dugal and the Red Sabres from fleeing onto land, and the main forces of both sides fought until only the flagships of both sides remained. Dugal eventually attempted to flee on his flagship, but battlemages stationed on Umbranox's brought a cliff down upon the Black Flag. Dugal was trapped within a cavern, where he later died. As a result of this victory, Umbranox was awarded Anvil, and his family ruled the city until at least the end of the Third Era.[17][18]
With the accession of Uriel Septim V in 3E 268, the Navy became part of his ambition to conquer. Roscrea's capture in 3E 271 was the first of several, with the islands of Cathnoquey, Yneslea, and Esroniet taken in 3E 276, 3E 279, and 3E 284 respectively. Uriel then began to assemble a large naval force in preparation for an invasion of Akavir. The Far East Fleet, based in Esroniet's Black Harbor, was said to be the most powerful in Tamrielic history.[19][20]
Between 3E 285 and 3E 286, naval expeditions were sent out to scout the sea lanes and coastlands of Akavir. Based on this scouting, the kingdom of the Tsaesci was picked as the invasion's initial target. When the fleet did arrive, it faced no naval opposition. The Fleet therefore simply dropped off the legions and sailed away to collect more soldiers and supplies. While it returned to Esroniet uneventfully, its departure from Black Harbor was delayed by unusual storms. A majority of the Battlemage Corps was thus assigned to the Fleet to combat the storms. The Far East Fleet's final action in the failed invasion of Akavir was the evacuation of the remnants of the Imperial Expeditionary Force.[19]
Fourth Era[edit]
During the Stormcrown Interregnum, which lasted from c. 4E 15 to c. 4E 22, the remnants of the Imperial Navy protected the settlement of Water's Edge.[21]:223
During the Great War in 4E 172, the Imperial Navy fought against the Aldmeri Dominion's navy in fierce naval clashes on Lake Rumare and along the Niben River as the imperial forces attempted to hold the eastern bank.[22] The Imperial Navy was unable to hold back the Dominion forces, and in 4E 173, they crossed the Niben and advanced up the eastern bank, surrounding the Imperial City on three sides.[22]
[edit]
Known Fleets[edit]
- New West Navy – Led by Admiral Amiel Richton during the Tiber War. Was victorious in the Battle of Hunding Bay against Prince A'tor's fleet with the aid from the dragon Nafaalilargus.[10]
- Far East Fleet – A navy that was created for Uriel V's invasion of Akavir.[19]
Gallery[edit]
-
Shattered ships from the All Flags Navy in Coldharbour
References[edit]
- ^ a b Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The War with the Trees: Argonia and the Black Marsh — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
- ^ a b Gold Coast Guide, Part One — Astinia Isauricus
- ^ a b Strillian Callidus' dialogue in ESO
- ^ The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel: Black Marsh — Flaccus Terentius, 2E 581
- ^ Journal of Tsona-Ei, Part Three — Tsona-Ei
- ^ Kuralit's dialogue in ESO
- ^ Pirate Queen of the Gold Coast — Midara Salviticus, Historian, University of Gwylim
- ^ Rise of the Red Sails
- ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: Cyrodiil — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
- ^ a b c d Amiel Richton's biography on Redguard's official website
- ^ On Morrowind — Erramanwe of Sunhold
- ^ Biography of Barenziah, v 1 — Stern Gamboge, Imperial Scribe
- ^ a b c Brief History of the Empire v 1 — Stronach k'Thojj III
- ^ a b Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Blessed Isle: Alinor and the Summersets — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
- ^ The Wolf Queen, v5 — Waughin Jarth
- ^ Fragment: On Artaeum — Taurce il-Anselma, 3E 400
- ^ a b Cap'n Dugal's Journal — Torradan ap Dugal
- ^ Guide to Anvil — Alessia Ottus
- ^ a b c Report: Disaster at Ionith — Lord Pottreid, Chairman
- ^ Brief History of the Empire v 3 — Stronach k'Thojj III
- ^ The Infernal City — Greg Keyes
- ^ a b The Great War — Legate Justianus Quintius
- ^ People of Morrowind — Various
- ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: High Rock — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
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