

This counter-offensive was led by a faction of Argonians known as the An-Xileel, who rallied the natives of Black Marsh. Incredibly, the Daedra would close the gates themselves to save themselves from the relentless assault. The Argonians prepared themselves for the crisis and ended up swarming into Oblivion itself when the gates opened, overwhelming the Daedra. RELATED: Skyrim: The Key to Infinite Level-Upsĭuring the Oblivion Crisis, the Argonians were warned of the coming catastrophe by the mysterious sentient Hist Trees. Eventually, some portions of Morrowind would cease trading in Argonian slaves, but others, such as areas controlled by House Telvanni, refused to follow suit.

The war led to the Argonians losing many provinces of Black Marsh to the Dunmer and being seen as even lower than they were 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 still viewed them 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 of Black Marsh, but the Dunmer continued to enslave its inhabitants. While under frequent attack from Dunmer raiding parties to acquire more slaves, the Argonians also fought against the Empire for both their freedom and recognition of their homeland.

When the Empire began expanding in the Second Era, the Argonians gained an understanding of the concept of land and borders. The slavery of the Argonians began before the First Era, and continued for generations, despite the semi-frequent slave uprisings that were repeatedly squashed. The Dunmer began a long tradition of enslaving the Argonian people. When the first Dunmer explorers (originally named Chimer) ventured into Black Marsh and encountered Argonians, they viewed them as sub-human creatures, but their ability to survive in the incredibly harsh climate of their homeland made them perfect for labor. The Argonian province of Black Marsh sits on the border of Morrowind, home of the Dunmer. RELATED: Who Is Truly Right In Skyrim's Civil War? This bloody and brutal conflict occurs between The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and ties into several aspects of the fifth title in the franchise. One such example is the Argonian invasion of Morrowind, also known as the Accession war.

What little is known about the race comes from their interactions with outside forces. Much of their history, society and traditions are entirely unknown to both the player and the wider world of Tamriel. Within The Elder Scrolls franchise, the Argonian race and their home province of Black Marsh are shrouded in mystery.
