User blog comment:MonkeydashUnderscore/Imperials Or Stormcloaks?/@comment-4712846-20120520035940/@comment-176.250.57.96-20120521010246

Im pretty sure the reachmen weren't always like the they are now. For a while they had accepted the Nords rule. When Markarth was left mostly undefended during the Great War the Reachmen started a Rebelion and captured the City (because of the nords poor treatment of them). With the war on the Empire didn't have the resources to stop the Rebelion. According to the book The bear of Markarth The Reachmen ruled peacefully (Only a few of the harshest nords landowners were put to death) And were largly successful as a Independant kingdom and were even trying to be reconized by the empire as a Independant kingdom. After the two years they were in power a Nord militia drove them out of the City. The survivors fled and became the Forsworn. I also wouldn't say the Reachmens Rebelion was as violent as the Nords as acording to The bear of Markarth many of the Natives were executed by the Nords if they didn't help them Retake the Reach while the Forsworn only put a few Nords to death. Madanach and Braig also claim many of the natives suffered the same fate after the nords took over.