Lore:Armistice

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Also known as The Treaty of the Armistice, the Armistice of 2E 896 created a lasting peace between Morrowind and the Cyrodiilic Empire, fulfilling Emperor Tiber Septim's dream of a united Tamriel, and thus marking the end of the second era. In an apparently surprising move, the Dunmer god Vivec initiated peace talks between the two nations which concluded in the peace accords. However, this cannot be considered a particularly shocking development when one considers that the Tribunal had lost a large degree of its divine power by 2E 896. In fact, ever since the awakening of Dagoth Ur and the loss of the Heart of Lorkhan c. 2E 882, the Tribunes had grown weaker and more isolated. Thus, Vivec was practically compelled to negotiate with Septim. Vivec has also expressed immense respect for Tiber Septim in his writings.

The terms of the Armistice were intended to make Morrowind a part of the Empire, while allowing it a large degree of autonomy. To succeed in this, Tiber Septim knew that he would have to severely limit Morrowind's military power. Accordingly, he successfully demanded Morrowind's surrender of Numidium to the Empire and its acceptance of a substantial Imperial presence in terms of Legion soldiers. In exchange, Morrowind was permitted to keep its autonomy, maintaining the power of the Tribunal Temple and the Great Houses, while being supervised by Imperial representatives in the capital, Almalexia, and in each of the six newly-created administrative districts. These representatives were carefully chosen to be acceptable to both the Emperor and the Dunmer people. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly in the minds of Dunmer elites, the practice of slavery in Morrowind was protected by the Empire. Dunmer religious practices were similarly protected.

The Armistice was supported most enthusiastically by House Hlaalu, and House Telvanni remained neutral and isolationist throughout the proceedings. House Redoran grudgingly followed Vivec's lead, while House Dres did so only with the strong provisions protecting slavery. House Indoril bowed to the will of the Tribunal, but remained hostile to the Empire. In fact, many Indoril nobles chose ritual suicide rather than rule an occupied nation. At this time, House Hlaalu seized the opportunity to settle old scores with Houses Indoril and Redoran, using its new alliance with the Empire to reclaim lost lands and to place Hlaalu nobles in positions of power within the new Imperial administration. House Indoril remained powerful in the capital, Mournhold, but quickly fell into disrepair elsewhere.

Following the Armistice, the island of Vvardenfell became a Temple preserve with some small settlements maintained by the Great Houses as well as scattered Ashlander tribes. However, the island was not opened to large-scale settlement by civilians or exploitation by the East Empire Company until 3E 416.