On the one hand, the Argonian people had suffered from Dunmer racism, oppression and slavery for generations and probably wanted to avenge their losses. While the exact motivations behind the invasion are unknown, there are many reasons that can be inferred. The Argonian people finally felt in a position of strength while the rest of Tamriel was still recovering from the Oblivion Crisis, the An-Xileel began an invasion of the weakened Morrowind.
This counteroffensive was led by a faction of Argonians known as An-Xileel, who rallied the natives of the Black Marsh. Incredibly, the Daedra would close the gates themselves to save themselves from the relentless assault. The Argonians braced themselves for the crisis and ended up invading Oblivion itself when the gates opened, overwhelming the Daedra. RELATED: Skyrim: The Key to Infinite Levelsĭuring the Crisis of Oblivion, the Argonians were warned of the coming catastrophe by the mysterious sentient Hist Trees. Eventually some parts of Morrowind would cease trading Argonian slaves, but others, such as the areas controlled by House Telvanni, refused to follow suit. The war led the Argonians to lose many Black Marsh provinces to the Dunmer and to be seen as even lower than before. The Argonians began a war against the Dunmer known as the Arnesian War, which was lost to the more advanced race of Morrowind.
The Empire would outlaw slavery entirely, but Morrowind would ignore this edict and continue to enslave the race, as they were still viewed as lower-class creatures unworthy of the same respect they would show each other. The Empire would eventually grant them such recognition, giving the province its name Black Marsh, but the Dunmer continued to enslave its inhabitants. While under frequent attack by Dunmer raiding parties to acquire more slaves, the Argonians also fought the Empire both for their freedom and for the recognition of their homeland. When the Empire began to expand in the Second Age, the Argonians acquired an understanding of the concept of land and borders. The slavery of the Argonians began before the First Era and continued for generations, despite semi-frequent slave uprisings that were repeatedly crushed. The Dunmers began a long tradition of enslaving the Argonian people. When the first Dunmer explorers (originally called Chimer) ventured into the Black Marsh and encountered the Argonians, they saw them as subhuman creatures, but their ability to survive in the incredibly harsh climate of their homeland made them perfect for the job. The Argonian province of Black Marsh is located on the border of Morrowind, home of the Dunmer. RELATED: Who Is Really Right In The Skyrim Civil War? This bloody and brutal conflict occurs between The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Y The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and it relates to various aspects of the fifth title in the franchise. What little is known about the breed comes from its interactions with outside forces.Īn example of this is the Argonian invasion of Morrowind, also known as the war of accession. Much of its history, society, and traditions are completely unknown to both the player and the rest of the world of Tamriel. Within Ancient documents franchise, the Argonian race and its native province of Black Marsh are shrouded in mystery.