Cyrodiil Cyrodiil , also known as Cyrod or the Imperial Province for much of its history , has been the capital province of three human empires in Tamriel , and is the homeland of the Imperial s and Minotaur s . It is situated in the center of Tamriel , and has had a varied climate throughout its history . Cyrodiil is a wealthy and powerful nation and is the center of the Empire . Cyrodiil serves as the setting for . The demonym is " Cyrodilic . " Government . Central government . The Elder Council functions as the primary legislative authority of the Third Empire of Tamriel . The Council convenes at its chambers in the White - Gold Tower , in the Imperial City . The Council passes a variety of legislation , and has the power to levy taxes from Imperial provinces . The Emperor possesses a veto power over any legislation passed by the Council . Appointed by the Emperor , the Council is typically made up of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the Empire . In times where the succession of the Empire is disputed , the Elder Council has both ruled as an interim government and confirmed the final choice of successor . Local government . Each major city has its own Count or Countess who rules over the city , and the surrounding county . The Imperial City doesn ' t have a Count as it is ruled directly by the Emperor . Military . As the Imperial Province , the region has unrivaled access to the Imperial Legion . The force itself comprises several Legions , and is the main fighting force in Cyrodiil and the Empire . Although the majority of the Legion ' s soldiers come from western Cyrodiil , the Legion is composed of many races from throughout the empire . The Legion ' s tactics and organization come , to a large degree , from Akaviri practices learned from slaves captured after the Akaviri invasion in the First Era . Its headquarters is located in the Imperial City ' s Prison District . Most of the Legion wears armor that is a combination of leather and chain mail , resembling Roman auxiliary armor called Imperial Light Armor . The Legion Legates , however , wear Imperial Armor which largely resemble Roman Lorica Segmentata armor or Roman Legionnaire armor . These show the status of each solider . Imperial legionnaires are trained in a variety of weapons , from polearms to all forms of blades , as well as having specialized cavalry , archers and healers . Imperial battlemages form a specialized corps within the Legion . History . Merethic Era . The earliest accounts of Cyrodiil are those of Topal the Pilot in the Middle Merethic Era , an Aldmer explorer who navigated much of Tamriel . The ballad mentions a range of creatures in the Nibenay valley , mostly birds and beasts . There are records of Nedic civilization in Cyrodiil during a similar period , however . This was apparently quite advanced , with a series of ruined cities containing catacombs built within mountains and other advanced structures . During this time the Ayleids migrated to Cyrodiil , enslaving the Nedes in the service of their empire . First Era . In 1E 242 , during a period of civil strife between the Ayleid lords , Alessia received a vision from Akatosh at Sancre Tor and began a revolt against the Ayleids . The Amulet of Kings was forged at this time , as a sign of the pact between them and a reminder that Akatosh would " hold fast the gates of Oblivion , " limiting Daedric access to Mundus . She was joined her revolt by Cyrodiil cultural heroes Pelinal Whitestrake and Morihaus . This rebellion overthrew the Ayleids in less than two years , aided by Nords and uniting the Colovian and Nibenese peoples into one , the empire of Cyrodiil . There also appears to be some revenant of the Ayleids holding land under Alessian rule for some years after the initial rebellion . Due to this patchwork of different cultures and beliefs , most particularly Alessia ' s Nord allies and the culturally merish slaves she had liberated , Alessia created the pantheon of the Eight Divines at this time as a compromise between merish and Nordic beliefs . In an alliance with Skyrim , the Alessian Empire pushed far west towards High Rock , which , at the time , was under the control of the Direnni , a clan of Altmer . This expansion , taking place in the centuries following the rebellion , also saw the rise of the Alessian Order , a monotheistic organization led by the prophet Marukh . These doctrines held sway over Cyrodiil for many centuries , and during this time a particularly fanatical sect , known as the Marukhati Selective , attempted to purge the merish elements from Akatosh . This resulted in the 1 , 008 year dragon break known as the Middle Dawn . Ultimately , the Alessian Order and the empire it supported fell to the War of Righteousness within ten years . In 1E 2703 the Akaviri invaded Tamriel . The Akaviri were defeated at the Battle of Pale Pass by Reman Cyrodiil , where the Tsaesci swore loyalty to him and became the dragonguard , forerunners to the Blades . Also from this point on until the end of the First Era , Tsaesci would serve in the Imperial government , most noticeably as the Akaviri Potentate . Under the new rule of Emperor Reman I , Cyrodiil became cosmopolitan , and incorporated architectural and geometrical aspects of High Rock , Colovian , Nibenese , and even Akaviri culture . The Reman dynasty ruled Cyrodiil for more than 200 years after the Akaviri invasion , and under Reman II brought all of Tamriel save for Black Marsh and Morrowind into the Empire . Reman II also began the inconclusive Four - Score War with Morrowind , which ended in a truce after with the death of Reman III . Second Era . Although the Reman Dynasty ended in the First Era , the Second Empire endured under the control of Akaviri Potentates . This period saw the outlawing of private armies , and the creation of the Fighters Guild from the Akaviri Syffim in 2E 321 as the weakening Potentate attempted to maintain its power . Savirien - Chorak , last Potentate , was killed by the Dark Brotherhood in the year 2E 430 . Throughout the rest of the Second Era , Tamriel was in a state of chaos known as the Interregnum which lasted four hundred years . Nibenay and Colovia split apart , and much Imperial infrastructure fell into disrepair . Many petty warlords tried to claim the Imperial throne . A warlord known as Cuhlecain arose and , with the help of Talos , his general , reclaimed much of the First Empire ' s territories . Following the Battle of Sancre Tor , which saw many Nords join Culecain ' s cause , he was assassinated , either by Talos or an unknown Breton assassin . Talos subsequently took the name Tiber Septim and was crowned Emperor by Zurin Arctus . In doing so , he declared the first year of his rule to the be the first of the Third Era . Third Era . After his coronation , Tiber Septim embarked on a period of restoration for Cyrodiil , in addition to solidifying the provinces of High Rock , Skyrim and Hammerfell under his rule for the first twenty years of his reign . He died in 3E 38 , and was succeeded by his grandson , Pelagius I . A succession of emperors and empresses followed , with Potema of Solitude attempting to claim the Ruby Throne for her son Uriel , beginning the War of the Red Diamond in 3E 120 . The Imperial City was invaded by Uriel in 3E 121 as part of the initial attack , resulting in the seizure of the city and his coronation as emperor . The tide was turned when Cephorus , another claimant to the throne , agreed to loosen centralised control over certain provinces in exchange for their support against Potema . Although some consider the war to have been over by 3E 127 , Potema held out for a further ten years , supported by undead and Daedric minions , before dying during a siege of her castle . A variety of crises in the following years continued to weaken the authority of the Empire , although only some of these touched the Imperial Province itself . The Imperial Battlemage Jagar Tharn imprisoned the Emperor Uriel Septim VII in 3E 389 . The time of the Imperial Simulacrum that followed resulted in a general decline in relations between Cyrodiil and its provinces , as Tharn ' s mismanagement caused provincial authorities to rise up against the Empire . In 3E 433 , Uriel Septim VII was assassinated by the Mythic Dawn cult , precipitating the Oblivion Crisis whereby Mehrunes Dagon attempted to invade Tamriel . Martin Septim and the Hero of Kvatch stopped this , by destroying the Amulet of Kings and defeating Dagon on the streets of the Imperial City itself . Following the Crisis , Chancellor Ocato , acting as Potentate , declared the end of the Third Era . Fourth Era . After the death of Potentate Ocato in 4E 10 , the Stormcrown Interregnum began , which saw a series of pretenders attempt to claim the throne of Tamriel . The Mede dynasty rose to power in 4E 17 when Titus Mede I , a Colovian warlord at the time , captured the Imperial City from the Nibenese pretender Thules the Gibbering , ending the Stormcrown Interregnum . Soon after the Imperial City fell to Mede another pretender , Eddar Olin , attempted to seize control but was swiftly defeated by the Emperor , solidifying the Mede dynasty ' s hold on the Empire . In 4E 49 Cyrodiil was under threat once again , this time by the floating city of Umbriel but Titus Mede I was victorious in the end thanks to his son , Prince Attrebus Mede . In 4E 168 , Titus Mede II ascended to the Imperial throne . By this time Cyrodiil ' s empire had been heavily weakened . Valenwood and Elsweyr were captured by the Aldmeri Dominion , and in Hammerfell a civil war was being fought between the Crowns and Forebears , though still part of the Empire . In 4E 168 , the Empire consists of Cyrodiil , Skyrim , High Rock , Morrowind and Hammerfell . Black Marsh had created its own state which later captured parts of southern Morrowind in the Argonian Invasion , and Morrowind was still rebuilding following the eruption of Red Mountain in the Red Year of 4E 5 . On the 30th of Frostfall , 4E 171 , the Aldmeri Dominion sent an ambassador to the Imperial City with a list of demands which Titus Mede II rejected , precipitating the Great War , which saw the invasion of Cyrodiil and the sacking of the Imperial City and occupation of Leyawiin , Bravil and Anvil before it ended with the White - Gold Concordat in 4E 175 . During 4E 188 , the city of Bravil erupts into violence as a result of a war between two skooma traffickers . Cheydinhal follows suit and falls to violence sometime during 4E 189 – 4E 200 . According to Cicero , he claimed that " The Imperial Province is ravaged by strife . Nowhere there is safe , at present . " It is implied that many cities in Cyrodiil fell to violence and chaos . Geography . The central region of Cyrodiil , the Nibenay Valley , has for much of its history been a temperate region that supports the crops and livestock which feed the remainder of the province . This is enclosed by forests and broken by the rivers which feed the plain . The North and West gives way to mountains , while the south becomes more thickly forested as moves to the borders of Valenwood and Black Marsh . The Valus Mountains are an extension of the Velothi Mountains to the east . While there is a road network , much travel in the province has historically been by river . Major cities in this area include the Imperial City itself , Bravil , Leyawiin , and Cheydinhal . The Nibenay Valley is the most prominent area of the land , a great grassland with Lake Rumare in its heart . Several small islands dot the surface of this lake , and between them stand great bridges . It is on these islands that the Imperial City stands . The rest of Cyrodiil also contains the cities of Anvil , Bravil , Bruma , Chorrol , Cheydinhal , Kvatch , Leyawiin and Skingrad . The west of Cyrodiil is named Colovia and includes the areas of the Gold Coast , the West Weald , the Colovian Highlands and the Imperial Reserve . This area includes the cities of Skingrad , Anvil , Chorrol and Kvatch . This area has rolling countryside and slopes down to a warm coastline to the West and rises to more rugged hills in the North . This area is also noted for its wealth and prosperity . Cyrodiil as jungle . For parts of its history , Cyrodiil has been described as being primarily composed of jungle . This has been noted by some as being a transcription error from ancient texts , while others consider that a climatic change took place , either as a result of the actions of a person with CHIM ( most likely Tiber Septim ) or through the White - Gold Tower adjusting the climate depending on who rules the land at a given time . County Capitals . Anvil . The port of Anvil is the westernmost city in Cyrodiil , located along the Gold Coast . The Chapel of Dibella dominates its skyline . It is divided into five districts , including several markets and Castle Anvil , which lies outside the town walls . Following a decree of the Elder Council in 3E 431 , the Anvil Mages Guild is responsible for the sale of Restoration spells . Bravil . Bravil is located in southern Cyrodiil on a small peninsula at the mouth of the Larsius River as it empties into Niben Bay . It has been thought to be one of the least well - off cities in Cyrodiil . According to one legend , it is the place where Sithis and the Night Mother had the encounter which began the Dark Brotherhood . In 4E 187 , it was also the place of the private residence of the Dark Brotherhood ' s Listener , until the almost total destruction of the Brotherhood in Cyrodiil in 4E 200 . Bruma . Bruma is the northernmost city in the province of Cyrodiil , located in the Jerall Mountains along the border to Skyrim . Bruma ' s northern latitude , combined with its high altitude , results in poor soils and harsh weather . The city is perpetually covered in snow , with clear , sunny days a rarity . The city , being heavily influenced by the Nords , has adapted to the climate with a much simpler , hardier way of life . Cheydinhal . Cheydinhal is the city closest to the Morrowind border near the Velothi Mountains . Being so close to Morrowind , Cheydinhal is populated and influenced considerably by the Dunmer . To the north is Lake Arrius ; to the south , the Reed River ; to the southeast , Lake Poppad . The city serves as the centre for Alteration magic for the Cyrodiil Mages Guild . Chorrol . Chorrol is a major city in Cyrodiil , located in the Great Forest , near the Hammerfell border . The city itself is heavily fortified as it serves as county seat for County Chorrol . Weynon Priory , a monastery of the Order of Talos , is located nearby . To the east is Castle Chorrol . Imperial City . The Imperial City , in the heartland of Tamriel , is the ancient seat of power and the capital of the Empire of Tamriel . It was once the center of an Ayleid city , noticeable in the gleaming white architecture and magnificent statues . Kvatch . Kvatch is a city located on the Gold Road between Anvil and Skingrad . The Count of Kvatch was Ormellius Goldwine , before being killed by the armies of Mehrunes Dagon , along with most of the citizens . The city was the site of the only Arena other than the one in the Imperial City . It is the location of one of the first Daedric incursions into Cyrodiil during the Oblivion Crisis . Before its destruction , Kvatch was the second largest city in Cyrodiil , in front of Skingrad and behind the Imperial City . Kvatch was rebuilt by the time of the Great War . Leyawiin . Leyawiin is a fortified coastal city and capital of County Leyawiin , in the Blackwood region of southern Cyrodiil . County Lewayiin is nestled around the Southern Nibenay Basin , bordered by Black Marsh to the east , Elsweyr to the west , and the Topal Bay to the south . Situated on the southern west bank of the Lower Niben Bay , the city of Leyawiin guards the passage up the Niben River from Topal Bay to the Imperial City . Skingrad . Skingrad is a large city located southwest of the Imperial City on the Gold Road , near the border with Valenwood . Skingrad is noted for its wealth and this is reflected in the appearance of the city and its citizens . The city is divided into two sections : North and South . The North contains many upper - class homes , shops and the guild halls . The South is where the chapel is located and many other residences . It is separated by a huge trench running through the city . Before Kvatch was destroyed , Skingrad seemed to have been the third largest city in Cyrodiil . Now it seems to be the second largest city . Most of the city can be viewed from the bridge . Economy . The economy of Cyrodiil is split between the different areas of the province . The center , focused around the Imperial City , is the wealthiest region , as it was here that merchants started to make their fortunes in the First Era . The west of Cyrodiil is very self - reliant , as reflected in the independent attitude of Chorrol and Colovia as a whole . Skingrad , Leyawiin and Anvil are some of the wealthier cities , whilst Bravil , in contrast , is the poorest . The economy of Cyrodiil has been used as the model for economies throughout the rest of the Empire . Rice and textiles are its main exports , along with more esoteric treasure - goods , such as hide armor , moon sugar , and ancestor - silk . Native races . Imperials . Also known by the deonym " Cyrodiils , " the natives of Cyrodiil that comprise the " Imperials " are divided into two ethno - cultural races ; the Nibenese and Colovians . Colovian Imperials in Western Cyrodiil have a less complicated outlook , and are more self - reliant and independent . Nibeneans are closer in heritage to pure Nedes than Colovians , and are generally more concerned with aesthetic and spiritual pursuits than their western brethren . Both groups reflect the Empire ' s culture ; a hybrid of Nordic , Aldmeri , and Akaviri culture . When there is a schism within the Imperial province , it tends to divide along Colovian - Nibenese lines . Ayleids . Ayleids , also known as Wild Elves or Heartland High Elves , were a race of Aldmer who immigrated to the province in the Merethic Era . Ayleids worshiped both Aedric and Daedric deities , and forced the Nede s in slavery . The Ayleids had many cities scattered across Cyrodiil , all now turned to ruin . In 1E 242 , the Nedic slave queen Alessia led a rebellion which overthrew the Ayleids . Following this , many Ayleids fled to neighboring provinces , most notably Valenwood . By the end of the First Era , most Ayleids were extinct , and the last Ayleid died in 2E 582 . Bird creatures . Topal the Pilot was said to have found an extraordinary race of " bird creatures " inhabiting what is now the City Isle in the Merethic Era . They could not be saved from the hands of the " cat demons , " believed to be ancient Khajiit . Religion . Divines . The Nine Divines combines the syncretic Eight Divines pantheon with the founder of the Third Empire , Tiber Septim ( Talos ) . There are six gods and three goddesses , each of which technically forms their own cult of worship . These cults are typically quite impersonal and the gods considered distant , although there are few exceptions , such as the cults of Akatosh , Dibella and Tiber Septim . There is a chapel in each major city in Cyrodiil , venerating one of the Divines . There are also wayshrines along the roads that are devoted to the Divines . These gods also tend to appear in various combinations in the pantheons of other cultures . Because Talos was not originally one of the Divines , in some religious sects they are referred to as " The Eight And One . " Following the signing of the White - Gold Concordat , Talos was effectively removed from the pantheon of the Gods and The Eight Divines worship resumed . The Cyrodiilic Pantheon . In addition to the Divines , Cyrodiils also worship a range of heroes . This is particularly common practice among the Nibenese , who are famed for their many small cults . Alessian Order . The Alessian Order was a once popular monotheistic religion created by the prophet Marukh in the early First Era . By the time of the Second Era , the religion had lost almost all of its followers . The Alessians were often said to be very strict , humorless people , with their reign over the Empire often remembered for its cruelty and follies , and sometimes referred to as a ' dark age ' . Daedra worship . Although technically legal , and referred to as the " acceptable blasphemies , " at least at one point in Cyrodiil ' s history , the practice of Daedra worship is frowned upon in Cyrodiil , meaning that those who do worship them tend to construct their shrines in remote places , away from major population centers . Culture . Education and wealth are broadly distributed across all social classes where Imperial culture has flourished . Many citizens are literate . As the seat of the Empire , Cyrodiil has absorbed the cutures of many places on Tamriel , as well as taking onboard several Akaviri elements . Cyrodiil ' s own native culture is split between the Colovians and Nibenese . The former are pragmatic and hardy in outlook , while the latter foster asethetics and lean towards religious mysticism . The Nibenese typically form the ruling classes of Cyrodiil and the Imperial City , although the Imperial line itself has often been drawn from Colovia .