Lore:Borgas

King Borgas
King Borgas
Race	Nord	Gender	Male
Died		1E 369 Valenwood
Resided in		Winterhold
Appears in		Skyrim

Borgas of Winterhold was a Nordic High King and the last in the line of the Ysgramor dynasty and Harald's final descendant. He is also believed to have been the last monarch to wear the legendary Jagged Crown. During his reign, the traditional Nordic pantheon of deities was replaced in favor of doctrine based on the Alessian Order in Skyrim. This act would become known as the "shadow of King Borgas" and lasted for over a hundred years until it was violently reversed by High King Wulfharth.

He was also one of Marukh's chief supporters, however as the prophet's teaching began to spread, hostility grew between the Camoran Dynasty of Valenwood and the Empire. Borgas traveled to Cyrodiil to urge a joint war against the Bosmer, but fell victim to Valenwood's infamous Wild Hunt during this journey in 1E 369. He carried his horn, called the "Horn of Borgas", the moment he died. Eric of Guis wrote that he was killed for the "iniquities" of his Alessian faith. His body was presumed destroyed during the Hunt, but was secretly returned to Skyrim and buried with the Jagged Crown in the Nordic tomb of Korvanjund.

Following his death, a moot was held to determine his successor as he had no children. Supposedly, Jarl Hanse of Winterhold was the obvious choice for succession, however the Moot's failure to appoint him High King ultimately ignited the War of Succession. Skyrim would spend the next fifty years in turmoil.

In 4E 201, an officer of the Stormcloak rebellion, Galmar Stone-Fist, learned of Borgas' place of burial while searching for the fabled Jagged Crown. The Last Dragonborn recovered the crown from Korvanjund amidst a scramble for its recovery between Imperial and Stormcloak soldiers, who fought in the ruins. Deep within the ruin, old king Borgas was found slumped on a throne wearing the crown—his ancient corpse having taken the form of a powerful draugr. The crown was recovered from Borgas, but it is unknown whether the crown was given to the Stormcloak leader Ulfric Stormcloak or the Imperial claimant, Elisif the Fair. Whatever the truth, it was said that the crown would have been a potent symbol of legitimacy for either Jarl in their claim to the throne of Skyrim.