Ancano
High Justiciar
He is Skyrim's last hope, in a nationalistic sense. With the Empire, Skyrim may very well survive, but it won't be "skyrim" if the Nords have turned into weak, submissive servants."With me, you kill Skyrim's last hope. Mark my words. You'll all be serving elven masters soon. And know then, that I would have stopped them." - Ulfric Stormcloak
Such vanity... He believes he's Skyrim's last hope and that only he can stop the Thalmor.
His ego will be the death of you all.
"But you're willing to sacrifice thousands for your own selfish ambitions." - General Tullius to Ulfric Stormcloak.
What about being oppressed by Ulfric and his 'cause'? Why should I trade one Tyrant a thousand miles away for a thousand tyrants one mile away?
Reachmen and Whiterun had their own nationalism which was forceably 'removed' by the Stormcloaks. If Ulfric is already forceably removing people's identity, what's the difference?