So I was reading a bunch of information, gleaned from Wiki’s, TES novels, the Pocket Guide to the Empire and from these forums on the state of the Empire. Basically, what’s happened between the end of Oblivion and the beginning of Skyrim. Tamriel is almost unrecognizable from it’s appearance during TES IV, with almost half of the Empire separating after the fall of Septims line. Vvardenfell is almost destroyed and the Dunmer land has been taken over by raiding Argonians.

Here’s what I know, if you see a mistake or want to add something please do. In places where I’m making assumptions or speculating, I try to be clear about it.

Fourth Era, Year 1. (4E 1) So Martin Septim, the last of the Septim bloodline dies while banishing Mehrunes Dagon, destroying the Amulet of Kings. This ends the Third Era and starts the Fourth Era.

Without an Emperor - With no Emperor to rule Tamriel, government falls to the Elder Council. Whenever the Elder Council becomes Regent to the throne, the Empire goes into a state of Martial Law under the councils direct control. This is supposed to last until the Council appoints a new Emperor. Lot of power here. The council is being led by High Chancellor Ocato, the same guy from the Mage Guild who was chilling in the Imperial Palace doing nothing during the events of TES:IV while the whole place was going to Oblivion.

The Empire Starts to Crumble - Sometime in the first 20 years of the Fourth Empire (Dates are speculation at this point) Black Marsh removes itself from the Empire. Since Black Marsh was never officially conquered or annexed into the Empire (It was added by way of a Provincial Treaty) it kinda makes sense that the Argonians would be the first ones to jump the sinking ship that is the Empire.

The Khajit neighors of Black Marsh in Elsweyr followed soon after. It can probably be assumed that the Mer retook the strip of land along their Eastern border, land lost to Cyrodil during the first Era, including the town of Leyawin. But this is just my conjecture, no solid info that I’ve seen.

The New Emperor - Sometime between 4E 1 and 4E 18, Titus Mede is crownded the New Emperor ( He is in power already in the book (The Infernal City) which happens around the 4E 40s. A former Colovian Warlord, he reportedly overtook the Imperial City by force with only 1000 men. By overthrowing the Regency of the Elder Council, he became the first Emperor to take the crown by force since the 2nd Era. (Correct me if I make mistakes here fellow Lore Scholars)

The Red Mountain Erupts – The Ministry of Truth ( The huge tunneled max security prison made in the floating rock above Canton that was stopped by Lord Vivic, seen in TES III: Morrowind) falls from the sky and crashes into Vvardenfell. This causes the volcano to erupt and most of the island is destroyed. What isn’t ruined is covered in ash and lava, and most of the vegetation and wildlife die off. This event is known as The Red Year.

Black Marsh invades Morrowind – The Argonians invade the mainland of Morrowind, crushing the reeling Dunmer who are still trying to recover from Vvardenfells lose. The fleeing Dunmer retreat to Sulstheim ( Sulstheim is the island from the TESIII:Bloodmoon expansion.)

Thalmor reclaimed Valenwood and the Summerset Isle. I’m having trouble finding information on Thalmor, but I know is has something to do with the Aldmeri Dominion (the birthplace of the elves)
The Birth of a Prince – Titus Mede fathers Attrebus Mede in 4E 18.

4E 40 – The Infernal City. The huge floating island with it’s city (Umbriel) is seen over Black Marsh, traveling towards Morrowind. It destroys the city of Lilmoth, which was recently reclaimed into Black Marsh following the secession from Empire.

There’s a huge gape here (150 years worth!!!) is missing. If anyone has any information please help me fill it in. I’m hoping a lot of this information will be revealed in the Skyrim books in Game. It’s safe to assume that much of the missing years is filled with war as Titus attempts to reestablish Tamriels Borders and reclaim lost territory from the Aldmeri Thalmos.

I’ve found little information on High Rock, Hammerfell or Orsinium. What I say here is mearly speculation on my part and if anyone has any solid info it would be much appreciated.

Hammerfell became part of the Empire during the Third Era after calling for help from Tiber Septim. Now that the Septim line has been broken, the Redguards may have split off like the Argonians and Khajit did. Imperial rule is not uniformly liked in Hammerfell, and it’s desert people were banished from the cities for their outspoken dislike of the Empire during the Third Era.

Orsinium was waiting for Imperial Review in order to become a True Province of the Empire before the fall of the Third Era. Whether the Province to be was acknowledged or not by Titus Mede will probably have a huge impact on where the Orc fall.

4E 200. Elder Scrolls V- The King of Skyrim dies, sparking a civil war among the Nords.

Thanks for taking the time to do this. Hopefully others will come in and fill in bits. I hope you update the OP when they do that.

Yeah, I'll update the OP.

looks really good. I feel like I read somewhere that the Mane was assassinated so now Elsweyr is kind of an anarchy, but I cannot remember where I read it so I'm not positive.

Wasn't the Ministry of Truth a prison not a city (ya I'm nitpicking)?

Yeah, it was, sorry. I'll change that in the OP.

This is a very nice compilation. Thanks for setting it up. I'll try to contribute what I can, but I'm a very unreliable source.



I believe Morrowind also seceded, and I'm unsure about this but possibly one of the human provinces. After the collapse of the Empire, it was every province for itself at that point. Mede helped reclaim the human provinces, though I think one had to be taken by force (possibly the one that seceded, if my facts are somewhat accurate). Morrowind remained distant from the Empire, but after Red Mountain erupted it ceased to be a real power. Southern Morrowind was annexed, or at the very least colonized by Black Marsh. Northern Morrowind was uninhabitable, not colonized by the Argonians but also abandoned by its Dark Elf natives. The lingering identity of Morrowind was left on the island of Solstheim.

I believe Cyrodiil also split in two for a brief moment, between Colovia and Nibenay. If that is true, it's not that important as Mede reformed the Cyrodiilic empire soon after.

As for the Thalmor, you are right in that it is essentially the Aldmeri dominion. I have no idea if they're on hostile terms with the new empire, but their separation at the very least means that they disagree on something. I also have no idea what the organization of it is like. It could be a unified nation with Summerset and Valenwood serving as two provinces of the whole, or if Summerset is the dominant nation and Valenwood is a protectorate/dominion such as how it was during the Aldmeri Dominion. It is not known if the two former provinces are reclaimed between the book and ESV.



Elsweyr is interesting. I don't think it's a province anymore, because it's ruled by the Mane (the emperor of Elsweyr). But there is still Imperial power in it, with cities run by imperial rule. It could just be that the empire held on to cities that were inherently Imperial, but cities with Khajiit culture may be separate. Evidence of this is in the Infernal City, where some Khajiit citizens are attempting to smuggle Moon Sugar into an Imperial-controlled town in Elsweyr. Elsweyr and Cyrodiil could be diplomatically friendly enough to allow Imperial occupation, the occupation could be hostile, or Elsweyr is a colony of the empire but not a province. I don't know.



Though not known for sure, it stands to reason that Morrowind has reclaimed its identity and at least part of its nation. 150 years is more than enough time for the region to have recovered (going by real-world examples), and the Infernal City destabilized the Argonians enough to let them potentially reclaim the Argonain-occupied southern lands.

The Empire is still around and semi-stable. I'm assuming this means the Imperial City is not destroyed by Vuhon in the next book. But the empire is weak at the time of Skyrim.

The King of Skyrim has died. It would seem that Skyrim has a figurehead cultural ruler despite remaining an Imperial province. A cultural identity plus the weakened empire provided opportunity for a pro-secession faction to call for Skyrim's separation from the empire. Another faction maintains that the Empire is good for all and worth preserving.

I'm fairly certain it was mentioned in the book that the mages guild no longer exists and now there is the college of whispers or something like that.
I can't confirm because i no longer have the book and don't feel like looking it up, to be honest though i don't even know if the Infernal City is considered canon or not.

there is the college of whispers and order of Synod? actually im wondering why MK even bothered with Whispers because it was a small discredited college in the Arcane university, Synod sounds more appealing.

your timelines starts from 4E even though alot of things happened during the last year of 3E, you also missed a few bits like Passwall? or rather the only village south of the IC was wiped off the map as well.


Morrowind Succeeded as well. no word on Skyrim/Highrock/Hammerfell.

Summerset original lost contact during the Oblivion crisis but this wasnt elaborated on in infernal city, alot of things werent elaborated on in infernal city and it would be best to wait for part 2 that comes out around summer.

As far as I know, it is considered canon, but I can't remember where I read that.

And the mages guild split into the College of Whispers and the Synod, according to http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:College_of_Whispers.

Of course the Infernal City is canonical, it is licensed by Beth.

Ok, it is, then. I just remembered reading some speculation/hoping that it wasn't canon somewhere...

There is already a pretty solid timeline of the 4th Era thus far (i.e all canon info thus far) at TIL http://www.imperial-library.info/content/fourth-era