Usurper

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The "Usurper" was an aristocrat who, a few years before 1237, overthrew the Nilfgaardian Empire's Imperator, Fergus var Emreis, then seized the title for himself. He ruled until he was overthrown and summarily executed by Emhyr var Emreis' supporters in 1257.

After assuming the throne he granted nationwide amnesty, excluding the political prisoners. He also continued the conquests of neighboring lands in the north.

Quick Answers

Who was the Usurper before he overthrew the Nilfgaardian Empire's Imperator?

Before he became known as the Usurper, this character was an ordinary officer in the Nilfgaardian military. He was approached by Gaunter O'Dimm, another soldier in the same regiment, who convinced him of his potential and persuaded him to start his rise to power. He later led a successful revolt against the Imperator, Fergus var Emreis, and usurped the throne of Nilfgaard for himself.

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What actions did the Usurper take after assuming the throne of the Nilfgaardian Empire?

After usurping the throne of the Nilfgaardian Empire, the Usurper took several significant actions. He led a successful revolt against the Imperator and tortured Fergus, the previous ruler, in an attempt to force him to acknowledge the Usurper's rights to the throne. When Fergus resisted, he was ultimately killed. The Usurper also sought to diminish the rights of the cult of the Great Sun. In addition, he demanded the submission of the School of the Viper, and when they refused, he ordered the Nilfgaardian Army to destroy their keep, scattering the surviving witchers across the Empire.

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How did the Usurper's rule come to an end?

The Usurper's rule came to an end when an opposition rose to prominence with the sole purpose of dethroning the House of Emreis. This opposition was successful in their mission, and they managed to dethrone the Usurper. However, the joy of the people did not last long as Nilfgaardian ambassadors soon appeared and gave the new duke an ultimatum.

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What was the Usurper's relationship with Fergus var Emreis?

The Usurper had a complex relationship with Fergus var Emreis. Initially, he served in the army during Fergus' reign, even managing to transform Fergus' orders into brilliantly executed maneuvers. However, the Usurper viewed Fergus as a weak ruler and plotted to overthrow him. In the 1230s, the Usurper led a successful revolt against Fergus, usurping the throne of Nilfgaard for himself. After the coup, the Usurper tortured Fergus in an attempt to force him to acknowledge the Usurper's rights to the throne. Fergus resisted and was ultimately killed.

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What was the Usurper's real name?

The real name of the Usurper is unknown. He was an aristocrat who overthrew the Nilfgaardian Empire's Imperator, Fergus var Emreis, and seized the title for himself.

Provided by: Fandom

Biography

Accession

In the 1230s, an opposition rose to prominence with the sole purpose of dethroning the House of Emreis with a certain nobleman leading it. When he gathered enough strength, he led a successful revolt against the Imperator and usurped the throne of Nilfgaard for himself.

After the coup, he tortured Fergus in an attempt to force him to acknowledge the usurper's rights to the throne. Fergus resisted and was ultimately killed. Fergus' son Emhyr, who was thirteen at the time, was cursed by the mage Braathens into a humanoid hedgehog form, since Emhyr actually means hedgehog in the Nilfgaardian dialect, and banished from the capital of the Empire. Usurper presumed that he would be killed by hunters but Emhyr managed to hide with the help of Ardal aep Dahy and then fled beyond the borders.

Reign

Shortly after he stabilized the situation at court and therefore the Empire, he proclaimed overall amnesty concerning everyone sentenced by his predecessor, excluding only those "guilty of high treason" like Vysogota of Corvo.

In 1239, the Imperial troops annexed Ebbing and began what would be dubbed the Northern Wars. He continued this conquest by military onslaughts and political maneuvers, taking control of Metinna and Nazair. In the 1250s, Maecht was also conquered.

At some point during his reign, he diminished the cult of the Great Sun's rights.

Downfall and death

In 1257, an uprising led by Ardal aep Dahy, Vilgefortz, and Emhyr's other supporters broke out against the Usurper. They managed to rally several soldiers and cadets and, shortly after Emhyr himself reappeared, stormed the imperial palace, overthrowing and executing the Usurper in the process.

Following all the power struggles around the throne, Emhyr had all of his dead political enemies disinterred and used their gravestones to pave his ballroom, earning him the nickname "the White Flame Dancing on the Barrows of his Enemies" or in Elder Speech, Deithwen Addan yn Carn aep Morvudd.

After the death of the Usurper and all his adjutants, the scribes, by order of the new emperor Emhyr var Emreis, started to wipe out the Usurper's name from all the imperial archives, all the books, all the libraries; his name would no longer be mentioned or remembered by anyone. This task turned out to be very difficult, since even after the death of Emhyr, his successor Morvran Voorhis, was still continuing this work.

Trivia

• His name is never mentioned in the Saga or games. Curiously, in Wiedźmin: Gra Wyobraźni he is referred to as "Torres" - it is not known if it's authors' mistake whether he had indeed carried a name of one of the former Nilfgaardian emperors.