#gemile

The Heirs of Uriel Septim VII

In order of age:

Calaxes 3E 373 - 398 (Aged 25)

Calaxes Septim, the firstborn child of Uriel Septim VII, was beloved by his father and placed in the Temple of the One at a very young age. Sometimes called Calaxes Spurius (Calaxes the Bastard), was the Archbishopric of the Temple of the One. Rumors of his alleged rebellion against the empire to enforce a theocracy ultimately led to his assassination. He claimed to commune with Akatosh.

Ariella Septim 3E 374 - 398 (aged 24) 

The second eldest child and only daughter of Uriel Septim VII. She was also the oldest legitimate child, and original heir to the throne.

The circumstances surrounding Ariella’s death are mysterious as they occurred during the Imperial Simulacrum. Many believe, including her father Uriel, that her alleged illness was caused by Jagar Tharn. Her death was also an important aspect of the conspiracy concerning her three full brothers and the concept of royal doppelgangers.

Pelagius the Bard 3E 375 - 407 (aged 32)

Pelagius Septim, who was known as Pelly the Bard, was an illegitimate child of Uriel VII, who wandered much of Tamriel. He was killed in a bar fight. 

Cephorus 3E 376 - 410 (aged 34)

Cephorus Septim, also called Cephorus Cruentus (Cephorus Blood-stained). He was a fearsome warrior, whos disappearance is shrouded in mystery. It is said that he went to see his half-brother, Cassynder the Magus, right before his disappearance. Cassynder’s journals only say one thing about this meeting, “I could not save him. I am sorry, dear brother.” 

Cephorus Cruentus is the last living Septim. In 3E 405, he crossed a servant of Hircine who cursed him with Lycanthropy. He could not control himself when he turned into a wolf. He transformed under a full moon, and each time he transformed, the longer the transformation lasted. Until finally, he never turned back into his human form. However, as he became more used to his wolf form, he began to retain control. The other quirk of his lycanthropy was longevity. In 3E 410, he sealed himself in the cave systems below the Jerall Mountains. He survives eating rats, skeevers, and fish. 

His brothers and friends (*cough* the agent *cough*) called him “Cephy"

Uriel Legatus 3E 376 - 420 (aged 44)

Uriel Legatus was a successful imperial Military Commander and an illegitimate heir of Uriel VII. Well-loved by his troops, he was found assassinated in his tent in the Reach; it was never discovered who killed him. The official narrative is that the Reachmen killed him, and this was used as a cudgel to try to rein them in. However, those familiar with the Reachmen, including his own soldiers, blamed the Empress and legitimate heirs. Saying they had him assassinated to ensure their succession.

I'm not going to beat around the bush. Uriel Legatus (whom I will be referring to as Legatus for the sake of brevity and clarity) was not killed by the Reachmen. This could be determined in a number of ways. First off, he was killed neatly, considering he had fought back. His injuries were not consistent with the general style of Reachmen. Secondly, leading up to his murder, Legatus had grown increasingly paranoid towards outsiders, especially IMPERIAL outsiders. Thirdly, the Reachmen liked him and respected him, by and large. He was assassinated by the Dark Brotherhood. Who called out the hit? His troops were right, Caula Voria. Truthfully, the assassination of Legatus was a logical move on Caula's part.

Uriel Legatus was a popular general, well-liked by most everyone who met him, as opposed to the legitimate sons of his father, who were seen as "preening fools" (yes, that's a direct quote from UESP) and were quite unpopular as compared to his father. Additionally, Legatus did not always see eye-to-eye with his father; he had begun negotiations with the Reachmen, who had been pariahs amongst the rest of the Empire for centuries. Had Legatus grown more popular and had he been successful in bringing the Reachmen into the fold, there was the threat of a succession crisis and rebellion, one that would undoubtedly come out with Legatus on top. That being said, Legatus' mother, a servant in the imperial palace, Gemile, was the favored mistress of Uriel VII. Should Caula die, and Uriel VII marry Gemile, then Legatus and his full brother Cassynder could be legitimized, and Uriel Legatus was older than all three of Caula's sons. Why not kill Gemile instead? Gemile had been sent away following the Warp in the West. The only problem with this logic is that Legatus did not want the throne.

Geldall 3E 377 - 433 (aged 56), Enman 3E 378 - 433 (aged 55), and Ebel Septim 3E 380 - 433 (aged 53)

The three legitimate sons of Uriel Septim VII are not particularly interesting to me. They were considered "preening fools" and "the victims of their parents' unhappy marriage." Geldall was the smartest and was a suitable heir for his father. Enman was the most attractive, but the dumbest. Ebel was attractive enough and generally boring. (I put this all in orange, but this is partially my interpretation from the information on UESP) Following the Imperial Simulacrum, rumors spread stating that they were replaced by doppelgangers; these rumors eventually culminated in 3E 427 with the riots in the Imperial city.

Cassynder the Magus 3E 381 - 417 (Aged 36)

Cassynder Septim, often called Cassynder the Magus, was an illegitimate son of Uriel VII born to his favored mistress (allegedly a woman named Gemile). At the age of 17, he joined the mages’ guild and quickly flew through the ranks. Though he was known for being very private, his treatises on alchemy and astrology where renown amongst the guild. His death, rumored by some to be orchestrated by Caula Voria, at the hands of the dark brotherhood, is said to be the reason Uriel abandoned his mistress. Some said he was gay; others said, “He was far too interested in the stars for either man or woman.”

Cass was poisoned, btw. I love him so much, you don't understand, he would've been such a good big brother to Martin.

Voragiel 3E 383 - 407 (aged 24)

Voragiel Poietes, the poet son of the emperor. He was killed by his lover’s husband.

Trabbatus 3E 386 - 412 (Age 26)

Trabbatus Septim was a fighter in the imperial arena, known as more of a performer than a warrior. Despite this, he was actually incredibly strong. Although he won his last arena fight, he had been struck by a poison blade and died from it two days later.

Definitely conspiracy theorists who say he was also assassinated by the Dark Brotherhood and Caula Voria. Are they right? 🤷‍♂️

Caula Voria and Gemile

Caula Voria 3E 353 - 422 (aged 69)

Caula Voria was the Imperial Consort from 3E 372 until her death, who was beloved by the people but despised by her family. She was said to have had a hand in the deaths of many of Uriel’s bastards. She was considered very beautiful, and she was very shrewd.

The reason I said Caula had been involved with the deaths of Uriel Legatus and Cassynder is that she and Uriel, to quote UESP, "detested one another and went out of their ways to hurt one another." Uriel and Cassynder were the sons of Uriel VII's favorite mistress, so killing them and then Gemile was probably the best way to hurt him, without actually hurting herself (i.e., killing their shared children). This is partially why Uriel sent Martin away, though whether he actually knew Caula was going to have Uriel Legatus and Cassynder killed is unclear; however, he had watched her make the lives of his illegitimate children a living hell.

Gemile 3E 356/358 - after 417 (aged at least 59)

The most beloved mistress of Uriel Septim VII, likely named Gemile, she was a maid in the palace; little is known about her. She was his longest Mistress. She seemed to be aware of the Imperial simulacrum. She was his mistress from 3E 374 until 3E 417; after that, she was sent away, though it seems unclear why. She was believed to be the mother of Uriel Legatus and Cassynder the Magus. A Blade, Caius Cosades, suspected she was also the mother of Martin Septim. Gemile and Uriel seemed to have genuine affection for one another.

"Of course I remember you, my boy. It's like you never left."

"Who was his mother? Was it that Gemile girl you had put out of the way, right after the Warp in the West?"

a chronicle of the life of Gemile Marciana Caridenius, handmaiden to Empress Caula Voria, third-born to Marcus Aemilianus and Livia Iuliana of County Cheydinhal. Mother of Martin Septim.

“Who was his mother? Was it that Gemile girl you had put out of the way, right after the Warp in the West?"

a chronicle of the life of Gemile Marciana Caridenius, handmaiden to Empress Caula Voria, third-born to Marcus Aemilianus and Livia Iuliana of County Cheydinhal. Mother of Martin Septim.