Black Marsh, also known as "Argonia", is one of the nine Provinces of Tamriel. It is the home of the Argonians, reptilian creatures of this swampland rainforest. The province is filled with "great inland waterways and impenetrable swamps" ^[1]. The Dunmer of neighboring Morrowind used to raid the region for slaves, particularly House Telvanni. ^[2]Some time after the Nerevarine left Morrowind, slavery was outlawed.

HistoryEdit

First EraEdit

Little is known about what occurred in Argonia during much of the First Era, as the few Argonians that left the province were very rare. ^[3]. The region itself stayed independent of the Tamrielic Empire until the twenty ninth century of the First Era. The Argonians were defeated by the Reman Empire in 2811 at the Battle of Argonia. ^[3]. Following this defeat, the Argonians retreated to Helstrom, where the Imperials would not follow them. Slave traders exploited the Argonians, and "entire tribes of Argonians were dragged in chains" to the Dunmer land.^[3] Warlord dynasties were formed by former Imperial officers, who earned a reputation for tyranny even in those dark times. ^[3]

Second EraEdit

In 2E 560, the Argonians responded. The Knahaten Flu epidemic began, ^[3] starting in Stormhold. ^[3] Several cultures, such as the Kothringi, were wiped out by this plague. ^[3] In 2E 572 the Argonians of Black Marsh joind the Ebonheart Pact along with the Nords and the Dark Elves, to rebel other kingdoms from taking over the homeland.

Third EraEdit

• Assimilation into empire
• Approx 3E 200: during the reign of Katariah, there was a massacre at the village of Armanias, due to a lack of sufficient armor. (The Armorer's Challenge).
• The Arnesian War uprising (which took place during the Imperial Simulacrum), saw the Argonians exact revenge for the slavery that they suffered from House Dres. ^[3][4]

Fourth EraEdit

Imperial rule had been lost in Black Marsh since the resolution of the Oblivion Crisis ^[5]. In the aftermath of the Red Mountain Crisis, the An-Xileel attacked the ruins of Morrowind in retaliation against the Dunmer. ^[6] The Argonians reclaim their origional homeland of Argonia.

GeographyEdit

The "Black Marsh" was the name given to the portion of Argonia that was conquered by the Imperial Empire in the First Era (2812) (PGE3?) even though the original Argonian homeland consisted of reaches into Morrowind. Like Morrowind, it was "never successfully invaded, but instead, peacefully incorporated" ^[7] The majority of this province is a swampy marshland. Little is known about the actual size of Argonia, except that Lilmolith is located fifteen miles from the Topal Bay. ^[8]

Cities Edit

Major cities of the Black Marsh include:

ArchonEdit

It appears on the Arena Map, and is mentioned in the game. In 4E 187, the Listener Alisanne Dupre mentioned to Rasha, a Speaker, about reinstating training for Shadowscale in Archon. The proposal was dismissed due to a lack of resources.^[9]

BlackroseEdit

Main article: Blackrose

A major Argonian city. Notably Nienolas Ulwarth, known as the mighty, hailed from this city. Murkwood is near this city, which is a forest the Eternal Champion visits to get a part of the Staff of Chaos.

LilmothEdit

Main article: Lilmoth

Lilmoth has been described as the "festering jewel" of the Black Marsh ^[10]

GideonEdit

A major city in Argonia, this city was first founded by the Ayleids (PGE3), and resides in the westernmost section of Argonia.

HelstromEdit

This city is in the center of Argonia. The city has never been reached by the Cyrodilic Empire (PGE3) and therefore seems to be the capital of non-Imperial Black Marsh.

SoulrestEdit

A large city where many go for their burial.

StormholdEdit

One of the major cities in Argonia. It was originally founded by the Ayleids (PGE3), and it is located in the northern part of Argonia.

SocietyEdit

A significant portion of Argonian history has to do with the Hist. (Use quotes, information from The Infernal City here). {C} In addition to the reptilian Argonians, who are today Black Marsh's most visible denizen, there were once tribes of men - Kothringi, Orma, Yespest, Horwalli - and tribes of mer - the Barsaebic Ayleids and the Cantemiric Velothi - and even a tribe who may have been related to the Khajiit of Elsweyr, the vulpine Lilmothiit. Some were sent to Black Marsh as refugees or prisoners, other settled along the coastal waterways and adapted to its strange and usually insalubrious environment. (PGE3:BM)

"In Black Marsh, for example, the Argonian King relies upon his Shadowscale Assassins to eliminate threats secretly, without the common knowledge of his people" - Skyrim's Rule.

"The Argonian people have, throughout Tamrielic history, been perhaps the most misunderstood, vilified, and reviled of all the sentient races. Yet, those who have taken the time to experience Argonian culture have gained a greater appreciation for this noble and beautiful people" - Brendan the Persistent

There are rumors of Argonians that have contracted a unique form of lycanthropy, and rather than becoming werewolves upon transformation, become creatures known as called Werecrocodiles. They lurk isolated swamps and spread the disease.

An-XileelEdit

A military or possibly a political faction in Black Marsh that was part of the conquering of Morrowind.

ReligionEdit

Not much specific information is known about the Black Marsh but more specifically, the Argonian religion. However some knowledge about these unique beliefs are known to non-Argonians. The most important thing to understand about their religion is the close bond between the odd Hist tree and the Argonians. The Hist is a unique type of tree that grows all around Black Marsh and is looked highly upon by the inhabitants. This tree, according to the Aronians, is intelligent and fully conscious. It produces a special sap that gives Argonians visions and enlightenment to their souls. In fact, Argonian hatchlings drink the sap of the Hist at birth and infancy. According to them, the sap of the hist tree, when drank, gives a hatchling its soul. When that Argonian dies, his soul travels back to its Hist tree and is stored until another hatchling drinks that hist. Thus, the Hist is giving its a soul, and so the cycle repeats. The Hist tree can telepathically talk to the Argonian that has drank the sap. It also should be noted that the Hist and Argonians acknowledge Sithis as their master. Along with worship of the Hist the Argonians, believe that the Sithis is the original, the creator, and the father. The Hist, in their eyes, is much like the Night Mother is to the Dark Brotherhood. To show respect and full loyalty to Sithis, since they worship the Hist as their god, every Argonian born under the sign of The Shadow is given to the Dark Brotherhood at birth and trained under the art of stealth and assassination. Therefore, one day, that Argonian can earn the rank of Shadowscale who serve Argonia as spies and assassins.

• Use information in "Varieties of Faith in the Empire "

SourcesEdit

• Provinces of Tamriel
• Varieties of Faith in the Empire
• Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition/Wild Regions
• Pocket Guide to the Empire, Third Edition: Black Marsh
• The Argonian Account.
• The Wolf Queen, Book IV ?

Text from PGE 1:Edit

These vast swamplands were once part of the Second Empire, which, in 1E2837, had seized a large portion of it to create the Imperial Province of Black Marsh. Many humans still refer to the region by that name, but the Elves call it Argonia, after some ancient battlefield where many of their ancestors fell [[|[1]]]. Thus, the native inhabitants of the swamplands, a collection of beastly tribes of "lizard-men," have become, in common parlance, the Argonians.

Argonians are rarely seen outside of their homeland, except for a relatively intelligent strain called the hist. Individuals of this strain are repulsive, but peaceful enough to be tolerated among the human kingdoms, and can be found as far from Black Marsh as western Hammerfell. The rest of the Argonians are primitive, reclusive, and practice heathen rituals of nature worship that necessitates a proximity to a certain type of spore-tree, which grows only in the interior of their native swamplands.

Black Marsh never regained its Provincial status after the dissolution of the Second Empire, though some parts of it are still considered Imperial territories. In CE560, the Knahaten Flu spread through greater Argonia, claiming the lives of the Kothringi tribesmen, the only humans to have persisted in the area for long. The hist proved immune to the effects of this plague, leading to wild rumors that they had, in fact, created it through a manipulation of their cherished spore-trees.

AppearancesEdit

• The Elder Scrolls: Arena (First appearance)
• The Elder Scrolls Travels: Stormhold
• The Elder Scrolls Online 

ReferencesEdit

1. ↑ Provinces of Tamriel
2. ↑ The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7} Pocket Guide to the Empire, Third Edition: Black Marsh
4. ↑ Lives of the Saints
5. ↑ The Great War (Book)
6. ↑ An Elder Scrolls Novel: Lord of Souls
7. ↑ A Short History of Morrowind
8. ↑ An Elder Scrolls Novel: The Infernal City
9. ↑ Cicero's Journal, Volume I
10. ↑ An Elder Scrolls Novel: The Infernal City