The Elder Scrolls series, renowned for its rich and expansive lore, features characters that run equally deep. Among them, the Septim Dynasty holds a position of immense power and influence, with Uriel Septim V, the seventeenth emperor, being a particularly intriguing figure.
While his reign is marked by both military triumphs and a fateful misstep, his story takes an even more surprising turn when considering his near inclusion as the main antagonist in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Uriel Septim V Led A Formidable, Conquest-Hungry Empire
Uriel Septim V’s claim to fame lies in his prowess as a warrior emperor. Upon ascending the throne in 3E 268 of the Third Era, he swiftly set about restoring the Empire’s military prestige. His campaigns were met with success, with conquests of Roscrea, Cathnoquey, Yneslea, and Esroniet broadening the Empire’s reach.
However, his ambition ultimately led him to a disastrous invasion of Akavir, a mysterious continent east of Tamriel. Despite amassing a formidable army, Uriel V fell in the Battle of Ionith (3E 290), marking a crushing defeat known as the ‘Disaster at Ionith’. This event not only forced the Imperial army to retreat, but also cemented Akavir’s reputation as an unconquerable land.
Interestingly, though, recent discoveries shed light on an alternative path for Uriel Septim V within The Elder Scrolls universe. According to a Todd Howard interview from PAX East 2019, the character was originally envisioned as the primary villain in Skyrim.
Uriel V’s Role As Skyrim‘s Potential Main Antagonist
This concept is quite a departure from the game’s actual main antagonist, Alduin the World-Eater. In this alternate storyline, Uriel Septim V would have returned from Akavir not as a fallen emperor, but as a conqueror wielding a fearsome army of dragons.
His own Dragonborn powers would have fueled his ambition, not for world destruction as with Alduin, but for the subjugation of Tamriel itself. The concept of a tyrannical Dragonborn emperor leading an army of dragons is undeniably compelling, and even Bethesda reportedly thought so.
While ultimately scrapped in favor of Alduin, this alternate vision for Uriel Septim V undeniably left its mark on the game. Miraak, the antagonist introduced in the Dragonborn DLC, bears a striking resemblance to the original villainous Uriel Septim V, with both characters wielding the power of the Dragonborn for personal gain.
As transformative an experience Skyrim already is, Uriel Septim V’s potential villain role in the game does sound tantalizing as well, drawing on his legacy of conquests. It also serves as a reminder of the series’ extensive lore, where even seemingly minor characters can set off domino effects that can last well into the future.
