Era The history of Tamriel is bloody and turbulent . There are six Eras of Tamriel , each denoting a significant time period and change . The Dawn Era . The Dawn Era is the Era in which time began and the world was created . It was a time of chaos and magic where gods walked Nirn . Elven history begins after the Cosmos stabilizes when Magnus leaves the world of Nirn and Lorkhan is condemned for creation of the mortal plane . It begins with the emergence of Anu and Padomay and ends with the Convention . The Merethic Era . The Merethic Era is the Era that begins when a linear timeline can be discerned . This Era begins in ME 2500 ; the earliest date to be recorded by King Harald ' s scribes , and goes backwards to 1E 1 ( the first year of the first era ) . Some notable events of the Merethic Era include the construction of the Adamantine Tower ( ME 2500 ) , the exodus of the Aldmeri peoples from their ancestral homeland of Aldmeris and the settling of the vast coasts of Tamriel , and later the exodus of the Atmorans from the continent of Atmora , the ancestors of the Nords , who begin settling the northern coasts of Tamriel . The Era ends with the founding of the Camoran Dynasty in Valenwood . The First Era . The First Era is a very long Era which lasts for 2 , 920 years and is marked by a visible shift in power between the Elven and Human races , with the rise of the Cyrodiilic Empire and the Alessian Rebellion . The Second Era begins when Reman Cyrodiil III and his heir , Juilek , are assassinated , ending the Reman line of Cyrodiilic Emperors , and the Tsaesci Potentate Versidue - Shaie takes the throne . The most notable events of the First Era include the formation of the first Orsinium , the first kingdom of Skyrim , the first empire of the Nord s , and the first " Empire of Man " led by Saint Alessia . The Second Era . The Second Era lasts 896 years , beginning with the death of the Reman dynasty at the hands of the Morag Tong , and ending with Tiber Septim ' s harnessing of the Numidium and bringing peace to Tamriel . The more notable of the events of this Era include the assassination of Potentate Versidue - Shaie and later his son Savirien - Chorak and all his heirs , ending the second Empire of Men and causing the Interregnum . This period was also marked by the Three Banners War between the Ebonheart Pact , Daggerfall Covenant , and the First Aldmeri Dominion over the Ruby Throne , while the elven necromancer Mannimarco ruled the Empire and worked with the Daedric Prince Molag Bal , who wished to drag the mortal plane into his own plane of Oblivion , Coldharbour . The Third Era . The Third Era is a rather short era which lasts 433 years ( it is the Era in which the first four main entry " Elder Scrolls " games occur ) . This Era began when Tiber Septim united all of Tamriel under the banner of the Empire and the Septim Dynasty begins . Since the beginning of the Third Empire of Men , there have been many civil wars and revolts against the Empire ' s rule . Notable events of the Third Era include the Nerevarine ' s victory over Dagoth Ur and the Akulakhan , the second eruption of Red Mountain , and the assassination of Uriel Septim VII , which would lead to the Oblivion Crisis . Martin Septim ' s sacrifice during the Crisis marks the end of both the Septim bloodline and the Third Era . The Fourth Era . The Fourth Era begins with the end of the Septim bloodline during the events of . It marks the rise of the Thalmor and the establishment and rise of the Third Aldmeri Dominion , as well as the Great War with the Third Empire . The last known year of the Fourth Era is 4E 201 , the year in which the Dragon Crisis occurred and the Last Dragonborn rose to combat the World Eater , Alduin .