Lore:War of the Red Diamond

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The War of the Red Diamond took place between 3E 121 - 3E 127.[1][2][3][nb 1]

Kintyra II became Empress on the death of her father, Antiochus, in 3E 120. Her uncles, Cephorus King of Gilane and Magnus King of Lilmoth, attended the coronation, but her aunt, Queen Potema of Solitude, was banished after insulting Kintyra in front of the Elder Council. Potema was scheming to obtain the throne for herself and her son, Uriel. Her schemes resulted in a civil war known as the War of the Red Diamond, the name coming from the symbol of the Imperial family. In early surprise attacks, Skyrim and High Rock were easily defeated by the force of Queen Potema. The war was highly contested, but was abruptly decided by the death of Potema's claimant, Uriel III, in 3E 127. While the end of the succession crisis ostensibly brought an end to the conflict, Potema held out in Solitude with an undead army for another decade.

During this civil war, the Knights of the Nine were fractured and later completely dissolved. The four Crusader's Relics of Pelinal Whitestrake that had been recovered by the knightly order were taken to war, and were subsequently lost.[4]

Major Battles[edit]

  • Battle of Ichidag, 3E 127. Forces under Cephorus defeated Uriel III, who was killed in the aftermath of the battle. Cephorus was crowned Emperor.[2][5]
  • Battle of Falconstar, 3E 127. Contemporaneously with the Battle of Ichidag, the forces of Queen Potema fought the forces of Magnus Septim in Skyrim. Upon learning of her son's capture, Potema flew into a rage and led a successful assault on Magnus' weakest flank, causing Magnus and his army to retreat. Word reached them soon after of Uriel III's death.
  • Siege of Solitude, 3E 137. The Wolf Queen, Potema of Solitude, was finally defeated after a month-long siege of her castle. Although not a full part of the War of the Red Diamond, the siege is best viewed as a postscript, as with the death of the entire royal family except Cephorus, Magnus, Pelagius and Jolethe, all possible argument over the line of succession was ended.[3]

Notes[edit]

  • ^  Cephorus and Magnus would continue to war with Potema until her death in 3E 137, and despite this decade of warfare being a direct continuation of the War of the Red Diamond, the war is considered to have ended with Uriel III's death in the aftermath of the Battle of Ichidag in 3E 127 and not with Potema's death in 3E 137.

References[edit]