Kydonius Therin

Emperor Kydonius Therin I, KCOL, Duke of Garlas Agea, was the Emperor of Cyrodiil, second from the Therin Dynasty in the end of the Fourth Era and in the beginning of the Fifth. His reign became one of the defining factors of the post-war period that followed the Covenant Wars. He was a polarizing figure, a brilliant strategist and a superb general by some, a paranoid madman by others. There were also many who saw his policies as harsh but justified. The truth lay, as the truth always does, somewhere in the middle.

He had a forceful personality and bright intellect, having accomplished much in his youth: he was a strong proponent for the Imperial Legion in Skyrim, the youngest Legate to ever represent a Legion in the Elder Council at eighteen years of age, and a member of the House Therin of Anvil. Years later, he was instrumental in the outbreak of the Covenant Wars, and was raised to the position of Chief of State, succeeding his father in that office.

Kydonius was educated in the Arcane University under Sabrina herself, although he resented her for her lack of Imperial sentiment. He founded the Imperial Academy of Anvil, and upon his graduation, pleaded the Elder Council for his realocation to Skyrim, where rebellions had started to grow. Although this would normally seem like a downgrade for someone of Therin's heritage, to him it was an opportunity of creating a name for himself in re-unifying the province to the Empire.

His campaigns in Skyrim had very little success, seeing as, although he was indeed trained in the arts of war, the troops that were deployed to Skyrim were generally undertrained and had little discipline. He found a kindred spirit in Imperial Governor Kaillus Sicarius, whom he had met at the Imperial City after their respective deployments to Skyrim and both worked together in many efforts of the resistance against the rebellions in Skyrim.

Eventually, both Therin and Sicarius were assigned to the protection of the final fortress in Skyrim, a holdfast to the Empire: Solitude. Due to both of them possessing a very strong anti-rebellious and Imperial personality, however, it couldn't be helped that they'd plan an offensive against Dawnstar, which, at the point, was the center of the rebellions under the guise of the Bandit Horde. During this time, he and the cohorts under his command were renamed Order of Light by him, and that sect of followers would praise Therin as their leader throughout the wars to come. Early in the plans of the offensive, however, both Sicarius and Therin were captured and charged with spying for the Empire in foreign lands. Their costly escape preceded the Retreat to Cyrodiil, which led to great controversy regarding if Therin and Sicarius did start the war or not.

Therin participated personally in many of the battles of the Covenant Wars, regarding himself and creating him a renown for his prowess in battle. He was known to wield a mace and a prominent suit of armor, and for his ruthlessness against the ranks of the Free Armies of the Covenant. He raged in war against the North for many reasons that spanned from his early youth to his adulthood, including the loss of his spymaster and romantic interest Elvyria Asteria to the ranks of the enemy courts, more specifically to his nemesis', Bor Roman.

In the aftermath of the war, Therin consolidated his power as Emperor of Cyrodiil, inherited from his father mid-conflict, and attempted expansions, conquering, at one point, the entirety of Tamriel except for Orsinium, which remained neutral. He married Countess Naerin of Leyawiin, but had offspring with two other women: Kylarius and Kayden Therin. In the course of his reign, the Kingdoms of Bretony, which encompassed Hammerfell and High Rock, seceded, but in a peaceful manner. Unbeknownst to Therin, these kingdoms were being ruled by the exact figures he had intended to eliminate in the Covenant War, which leads historical pragmatism to question whether the war was truly won or not. Later, nearly two decades after the end of the war, Therin gave his life by using the Elder Scroll of Time to avert the damages caused by the timely revenge of the Volkihar in the Daedric Invasion of the Imperial City.