Lore:Alessian Order

The Alessian Order is a once-popular but now defunct monotheistic religion originating in the coastal jungle of southeastern Cyrodiil, in the Nibenay Valley. The order was started by the prophet Marukh, who had spoken to Saint Alessia (the Enlightened One) and began to question the Elven rule. Although the Order was led, initially, to believe in an abstract, unknowable but intrinsically single deity, they tolerated the worship of polytheistic pantheons as well, such as the animal gods of the Nibeneans. The repressive, militaristic empire of the Alessians was inexplicably charismatic and saw Cyrodiil to a position of great power both as a state and a theocracy. They were responsible for the sacking of Malada, an ancient Ayleid temple, in 1E 393. Although they ruled for "nearly one third" of the First Era, the Order undid itself within a decade during the War of Righteousness, caused by infighting among the order itself due to money and land. During this war, their great monastic complex at Lake Canulus was razed. A sect of the order, the Maruhkati Selective, is said to have caused The Middle Dawn, a Dragon Break spanning one thousand and eight years by attempting to exorcise elements of elven Auri-El from Imperial Akatosh.