What Was The Dragon War In Skyrim?

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Skyrim is an old realm steeped in vibrant tales, shaped by numerous battles and strife that kept the cycle of power ever-rotating. It has been a witness to significant events such as the ascension of the Nords and the decline of the High Elves, and it also bore witness to one of the earliest grand conflicts – the clash between Dragons and Humans.

Explore one of the pivotal moments in Skyrim’s past when Dragons held dominion, regarded as divine rulers. Yet, the mortal races, particularly the Nords, grew tired of their oppressive reign and instigated a revolt, igniting one of the longest and bloodiest wars that Tamriel has ever witnessed.

The Atmorans And The Dragons

Worship of dragons originated in the Merethic Era, when the Atmorans, ancestors of the Nords, Imperials, and Bretons, arrived. In accordance with their religious beliefs, the Atmorans considered dragons as the principal deities within their pantheon, viewing them as embodiments of the gods. Consequently, they were widely recognized as the followers of the Dragon Faith or simply, the Dragon Worshippers.

Dragons had taken to the skies above Skyrim long before the Atmorans arrived and began venerating them. According to game lore and as explained by Paarthurnax, dragons were considered the offspring of Akatosh, the deity representing time. Consequently, it was only natural that dragons saw themselves as superior beings and felt entitled to rule over mortal races.

This is bolstered by the fact that, at the time, only Dragons had mastery over the Voice.

Instead, it was these chosen Dragon Priests who took on the responsibility of governing the subjects, as the Dragons showed little interest in such matters. Not only were they given the duty of establishing a code of conduct for humans to adhere to, but they also enforced a requirement for tributes to be paid to the Dragons by their subjects.

It’s not surprising at all that the Dragons began ruling in an oppressive and overbearing manner, regarding those they ruled over merely as servants or slaves.

The Dragon War

In the pantheon of Dragons, Alduin stood out as the elder and mightiest, earning great respect among the Atmorans. Yet, Alduin’s role was not one of reverence but of a ‘World-Eater’, crafted by Akatosh with the purpose to bring about destruction for the birth of a new world. However, blinded by his thirst for dominance, Alduin abandoned his preordained duty and instead sought to rule over Skyrim.

For a long time, the Nords, spearheaded by legendary figures like Hakon One-Eye, Felldir the Elder, and Gormlaith Golden-Hilt, had been simmering with dissatisfaction under the Dragons’ rule. This led to their uprising, igniting what came to be known as the Dragon War. Initially, the Dragons’ powerful abilities, including the Voice, and their collective strength proved too much for the rebels in their initial attacks.

During the course of the conflict, it’s been noted that Alduin’s younger brother and right-hand man, Paarthurnax, aligned himself with the uprising. The reason for this shift in allegiance remains obscure, as Paarthurnax remained tight-lipped when questioned about it. However, it’s hinted that it was the goddess Kyne (or Kynareth) who commanded him to do so. This act of apparent betrayal ignited a chain reaction, causing other dragons to follow suit.

Under Paarthurnax’s tutelage, the trio of Nordic warriors picked up the skill to dominate the Thu’um (Dragon Language) and employ it effectively against the dragons.

The End Of The War

With their freshly acquired wisdom, the Nordic heroes join forces to develop a powerful roar called Dragonrend. This roar uniquely targets Dragons, causing them to become vulnerable by instilling in them the concept of mortality, a notion that is foreign and overwhelming to these eternal beings.

Regardless of their proficiency with Voice and Dragonrend Shouts, they couldn’t vanquish Alduin. But with an Elder Scroll, Felldir managed to send Alduin hurtling into the future. Consequently, without the massive casualties on both sides and the disappearance of Alduin, the Dragon War concluded in a win for humanity.

The surviving Dragon Priests either perished or fled and concealed themselves, while they also started interring the carcasses of dragons slain during the conflict into Dragon mounds. They held faith that Alduin’s emergence would trigger their reincarnation – an eventuality that the Last Dragonborn encountered as they embarked on their quest to ultimately vanquish Alduin.

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2025-02-24 14:04