Cyrodiil

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Cyrodiil is a fictional province in The Elder Scrolls series of games, homeland of the Imperials.

Contents 1 History 1.1 The First Era 1.2 The Second Era 1.3 The Third Era 2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 Politics 5 See also 6 References 7 Notes

[edit] History

[edit] The First Era

Cyrodiil, also known as the Dragon Empire, Starry Heart of Nirn, or Seat of Sundered Kings, is the largest region of Tamriel, and seat of the Empire, united by Tiber Septim at the end of the Second Era. Cyrodilic History begins around the time of Saint Alessia, when agriculture and rudimentary forms of government allowed it to become a power in Tamriel. The Alessian Priesthood, for a long while, was the dominant political force in Tamriel, binding the merchants and people to its monotheistic tenets. This order continued until the year 1220 of the First Era, when the Thrassian Plague decimated much of Tamriel's population. This led to the growth of wealth in the Colovian areas, which culminated in the War of Righteousness, and the end of Alessian rule over central Tamriel.

[edit] The Second Era

It was not until Reman Cyrodiil, in 2703, when the Akaviri invaded Tamriel, that the whole of Cyrodiil united against the attackers. By the end of this war, which culminated in the defeat of the Akaviri invasion force in the Battle of Pale Pass, on the Skyrim border. After vanquishing the Akaviri, the united Cyrodiil nation emerged as a powerful force in Tamriel, responsible for the protection of the northern regions against further invasions. At this point, the elves of Summerset Isles took note of Cyrodiil's increasing power and perceived imperialism, which caused the newly crowned emperor Reman I to recruit captured Akaviri warriors into the army. The armies of the Second Empire succeeded in conquering all of Tamriel except Morrowind, which eventually proved the end of the Reman Dynasty. Reman's dynasty lasted two-hundred years, until the rise of the Akaviri Potentate.

The Akaviri, having been taken into the army and culture of the Empire during the time of Reman I, gradually gained understanding and power in the Empire. The highest-ranking Akaviri in the Kingdom, and second-highest ranking person in the Empire, the Potentate, rose to power after the Morag Tong assassinated the last Reman Emperor. This rule lasted four-hundred years, and made a lasting impression on the people and culture of Cyrodiil, including the Dai-Katanas, Dragonscale armor, and Red Dragons. The Akaviri Empire, known as the Interregnum, became smaller and smaller, until the reign of Cuhlecain.

A year after the rise of Cuhlecain, due to the help of General Talos, more than half of the Cyrodilic Empire had been reclaimed. As Cuhlecain prepared to invade Cyrodiil City, the combined forces of Skyrim and High Rock faced him at Sancre Tor. The Nords of Skyrim quickly joined the side of Cuhlecain and General Talos, and the Bretons returned to High Rock, sending an assassin to kill Cuhlecain and General Talos. Cuhlecain was slain, and although Talos' throat was slit, he lived, and, being crowned emperor, took the name of Tiber Septim, thus beginning the Third Era.

[edit] The Third Era

The Third Empire, through various means, conquered all of Tamriel, although the region of Morrowind, the one province unconquered during the Second Empire, retained a great deal of self-determination by donating the Numidium to Septim's cause. Further, some of the other provinces, such as Daggerfall, Orsinium and Wayrest, have at various times given less than full recognition to the Empire's sovereignty over them (in some cases, extending to outright rebellion.) Today, Uriel Septim VII, twenty-first of that line, is of advanced age, and his heirs are considered by many to be false; put in during the reign of Jagar Tharn, who briefly assumed the throne after kidnapping Septim on his fortieth birthday. On the 27th of Last Seed, in the Year of Akatosh, 433, Uriel Septim VII was assassinated, along with his sons, sparking the Oblivion Crisis. One illegitimate son remained, and a massive effort was mounted by the Blades to recover the stolen Amulet of Kings and enthrone Martin. They succeed, but Martin promptly sacrifices himself to cast Dagon back into Oblivion, ending the line of Septim and the Third Era.

[edit] Geography

Cyrodiil is mostly an expanse of endless forest. Its heart, the Nibenay Valley, is a great vastland, enclosed by equatorial rain forests. Many rivers flow through this area, and as one ventures further down the rivers, the land slowly becomes more sub-tropical, eventually giving way to the swamps of the Black Marsh. The elevation rises gradually to the west and sharply to the north. The western part of the region is relatively dry, and the Velothi Mountains to the west have some roads, but mostly travel in Cyrodiil is dominated by rivers. Cyrodiil seems to be the most diverse province in terms of geography, climate and race.

The Nibenay Valley is the most prominent area of the land, a great grassland with a lake in its heart. Several small islands dot the surface of this lake, and between them stand great bridges. It is on these islands that Cyrodiil Imperial City stands. The rest of Cyrodiil also contains the cities of Anvil, Bravil, Bruma, Chorrol, Cheydinhal, Kvatch, Leyawiin and Skingrad.

Prior to Oblivion, and specifically in the Pocket Guide to The Empire,^[1] Cyrodiil was described as a vast jungle. Arena's maps of the region with a boreal green, fading into brown in the west and a richer pine green in the southeast, towards Black Marsh.^[2] Oblivion, however, found Cyrodiil to be completely lacking in any form of tropical climate. Former game developer Michael Kirkbride wrote a minor text rationalizing the change within the game, wherein Emperor Tiber Septim uses Talos Stormcrown to bring a temperate climate to the region. The Imperial Library refers to the text as a "retcon".^[3]

"'You have suffered for me to win this throne, and I see how you hate jungle. Let me show you the power of Talos Stormcrown, born of the North, where my breath is long winter. I breathe now, in royalty, and reshape this land which is mine. I do this for you, Red Legions, for I love you.'"^[4]

—From the Many-Headed Talos

[edit] Demographics

Most of Cyrodiil is Imperial, but the Nibenay Valley is largely multicultural, and is often the site of conflicts between rival Khajiit and Argonian. The northern city of Bruma is largely occupied by Nords. Elves are dispersed throughout Cyrodiil and the Count of Cheydinhal is a Dark Elf.

[edit] Politics

The dominant section of Cyrodiil, the Nibenay Valley, often overshadows the western Colovian areas, although often the Emperors come from this region. To add to this, many Colovians feel that their people are superior to the people of the Valley. Because of this, many Colovians become very proud of their region, and try to advocate its interests whenever possible. West Cyrodiils make up the majority of the Imperial Legions, and as such are often the most common Imperials in the other regions.

[edit] See also

• Tamriel
• The Elder Scrolls: Arena
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

[edit] References

• Pocket Guide to the Empire - Pamphlet that shipped with the Redguard game.

[edit] Notes

Important cities and locations in Cyrodiil
Anvil | Bravil | Bruma | Cheydinhal | Chorrol | Imperial City | Kvatch | Leyawiin | Skingrad