Orsinium

Orsinium is the The Elder Scrolls' fictional homeland of the Orsimer (Orcs) that currently resides on a mountain between the regions of Menevia and Wayrest, located in the Imperial Province of High Rock.

The creation of Orsinium

After the transformation of the Orsimer Deity known as Trinimac into the Deadric Prince Malacath, the Orcs, who transformed as well, fled to the northern wastes near Saarthal. After hundreds of orcs were set free by the Altmer during the Camoran Dynasty, they all converged together and decided to create a homeland named Orsinium, meaning "Orc-Town" in the early Aldmeri language. The Orcs then decided to create their city on an uninhabited mountain region close to Old H'roldan in High Rock.

The growth of Orsinium

Orsinium continued to grow and prosper in the First Era mainly due to the Orc refugees who were fleeing Hammerfell due to the Ra Gada invasion. After a while, the Orsinium army grew determined to capture the Bjoulsae River and force the kingdom of Wayrest to provide compensation for its services. Naturally, this did not settle well with their neighboring kingdoms, especially the Kingdom of Daggerfall, who was mostly responsible for the siege and destruction of Orsinium. In 1E 948, King Joile of Daggerfall sent a letter to Gaiden Shinji of the Order of Diagna, which proposed a joint attack on Orsinium. Agreeing to provide aid, an An alliance was formed between the Order of Diagna and the armies of Daggerfall (High Rock) and Sentinel (Hammerfell). The armies amassed and began a campaign for the destruction of Orsinium.

The siege and destruction of Orsinium

During the campaign, which became widely known as the Siege of Orsinium, the Breton armies of Daggerfall, the Reguard soldiers of Sentinel, and the Order of Diagna, invaded the Orc Homeland. The orcs gave much resistance and proved themselves, just as they did in the past, to be fearsome and brutal warriors. However, eventually, after a 30 year siege, the allied forces breached Orsinium and overan the city, completely destroying it. Although this marked the destruction of Orsinium, the Orsimer homeland would rise again.

The rebuilding of Orsinium

After the city's ruin, the land became an Imperial territory under the rule of Akaviri Potentate, but was shortly ended after the assassination of Savirien-Chorak in 2E 431.
The city was rebuilt on a mountainside between Menevia and Wayrest after the original city was destroyed in the Siege of Orsinium by of the Redguard army of Sentinel, Hammerfell, the Breton forces of Daggerfall, High Rock, and the order of Diagna. The land was then won back by an orc named Gortwog gor-Nagorm in E3 399, who was disputing claim over the land with a Breton noble who was known as Lord Bowyn. As the city harbors statues of Orc heroes such Mauloch and Torug, and is built of iron, Nova Orsinium was more than likely going to provoke the same reaction by its neighboring kingdoms, just as the first city did. However, the land prospered, as Gortwog proved to be a diplomatic as well as a political genius. Following the events of the Miracle of Peace, it now contains a substantial territory of central High Rock, and its application for elevation to Provincial status is being reviewd by the Empire. Orsinium's recent alliance with its former foe in Wayrest gives promise for a stable future and a lasting government.

Works cited

1.) "Races of Tamriel: Orc." "The Elder Scrolls Library." Bethesda Softworks LLC.
2.) "Orsinium." "Imperial Library." Bethesda Softworks LLC.