This is when the universe itself takes shape and where time is not yet a concept. The history of Tamriel is split into various eras, beginning with the amorphous Dawn Era. Elder Scrolls' Tamriel Before The First Empire: The Dawn Era While the Nordic Empire technically came first, the Alessian Empire changed Tamriel in such a fundamental way that the effects of Alessia's rule are still felt in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The effects that the Alessian Empire had on Tamriel earned it the coveted moniker and here is a breakdown of all The Elder Scrolls' lore and history leading up to Alessia's rise to power.

Related: How Elder Scrolls' Blades Changed, From Morrowind To SkyrimĪ perfect example of these nuances is discerning which of the two empires is The First Empire: the Nordic Empire or the Alessian Empire. This puts the player in the same spot as in-game historians, trying to track the major events that cannot be denied and fill in the blanks as best as possible. This overview of Tamriel's ancient history explores the broad strokes of The Elder Scroll s' timeline, but it is just the tip of a much more nuanced iceberg. Though every game is set in Tamriel's timeline, none have explored the continent prior to the First Empire.

In real life and in-game, Tamriel's ancient history is told through contradictory accounts and theories based on surviving records. With five mainline installments, multiple spin-offs, and The Elder Scrolls: Online, players have a lot to chew on and many have gone to great lengths to collect and document all in-game literature in order to piece together a cohesive timeline. Tamriel is filled to the brim with books that recount the stories, legends, and lives of those who have long since passed, but not every narrator is a reliable one as many groups skew history in their favor. One of the most impressive feats of The Elder Scrolls series is the depth and complexity of its lore.

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