im torn between a few, the hist, lucien lachance, the night mother, pelagius the mad, N'Gasta, the underking (most incarnations of him) and azra nightwielder

This kinda belongs in TES General.

That being said, probably Divayth Fyr, for obvious reasons.

Cyrus the Restless took on the Empire, Vivec, and Tiber Septim; and, aboard the fleet Carrack, he still roams the void-streams. He's adventurous, because he hefts unresolved guilt, and he just wants a place to lay it down.

Has to be Tiber Septim, not even close.

Ysgramor is nowhere near as evil as Hitler was. He swept through Skyrim because his ruler ordered him to do it (I assume the king of Atmora) because the Falmer attacked Saarthal. Apparently you have not played the College Questline, or simply didn't pay attention to it, as it states that the reason for the Falmer attack was to take control of the Eye of Magnus. That artifact would give them unlimited power to do whatever they want, and considering most elves are so high on their own horse about being superior, they probably meant to kill other races off to transcend (as I suspect the Dominion is doing and why they went after the Eye).

Also, genocide is the eradication of an entire race. Ysgramor didn't do that -- not even close -- not with a mere 500 soldiers. He simply pushed them out of their territory and forced them to go to the Dwemer, who are the ones that destroyed the Falmer race with slavery. Get your facts straight bro.

This is like saying if colonists didn't annihilate the Native populations of the Americas then they would have advanced to the same level as we are today.

... and Uncle Crassius.

It's a tie.

Lorkhan

There's so many I like. Such as Tiber Septim, Dagoth Ur, Nerevar, the Tribunal, Mankar Camoran, Hircine, Sheogorath, Haskill and Divayth Fyr,

I always loved Uriel Septim VII as a character, as well as Martin Septim and Olaf One-Eye.

A lot of people value Ysgamor - the man who invaded Skyrim for the sake of it and drove away its native inhabitants - but still complain when the Thalmor are working to return Skyrim to elven rule. Hypocrisy much?

Well, not big on the lore, never finished Oblivion (and dont have the expansions for it) and not too far into Skyrim, but...

Nerevar, Master Aryon, Lucien Lachance and (to paraphrase Krusty in the Simpsons) "whosits, and whats his face, and that guy, always wore a shirt."

Paarthurnax, Ysmir, Kodlak and then finally... Khajro and then Ulfric

but my most favourite tamrielic figure... M'aiq

Arkay, Molag Bal, Ysgramor, Lorkhan, Barenziah and Parthuurnax.

Parthurnaax was Almost the only interesting character in Skyrim, tho :/

Of those characters who had a major influence on historical events in Tamriel I'd pick Vivec. Flawed heroes are so much more interesting. Dagoth Ur is quite an interesting tragic figure too.

Festus Krex and Cicero are two of my favourites in Skyrim.

Lucien Lachance is really cool too. Kind of a big fan of the Dark Brotherhood. They're just so darned loveable.

Also Paathurnax he's great, it's also pretty funny when I think about who voices him.

Paarthurnax, Caius, that "I'm just an old man with a skooma problem" dude. Vivec, and MEHRUNES DAGON!

ysgamor and the snow prince, such sad times for them both! I loved the way that he buried him and showed respect for his enemy. Loved reading about that battle and the fact the snow prince knew he was riding to his doom!

Barenziah, Divayth Fyr and Vivec.

The first two are just epic and the last one is Vivec.

Alduin, he is bad ass, and he saved me from a number 0 haircut.

Seconded. my character really hated the fact she had to kill her again.

Barenziah is cool too. Nerevar and his dwemer friend (Damoc? Damec?) were a fantastic tragedic (friendship) pair. Sheogorath is just insanely great. Ah, and then there is the Underking with all his alter egos too. Too bad I only know a few parts of his history, he seems live a very intelligent and fascinating guy. I've got a bit of an interest for Babette too, but I still have to play the DB quest line ...

I also looove Alduin's look, but I haven't had enough interactions with him to assess his behaviour. As far as I could find out until now, he doesn't really have a reason to swallow the world, unless he's really very hungry. So yeah, not much of a self-reflector that one I guess?

Armand Christophe and the Gray Fox.

Do Janus Hassildor counts?

Divayth Fyr, love the depth to his character. No doubt that guy is still alive somewhere.

Crassius Curio, always made me feel very "special".

Ra'virr definatly.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Morrowind:Ra%27Virr

He pretty much helped destroy Dagoth Ur.