Alinor Alinor is the capital city of the Summerset Isles and the heart of the Aldmeri Dominion . In an earlier age " before the ascendancy of man , " Summerset was called Alinor , which is the province ' s oldest and current name . Background . Appearance . Located on Summerset ' s west coast , human traders were only allowed at Alinor ' s ports , and they described the city as " made from glass or insect wings . " Imperial emissaries of the Reman Dynasty described the city as straight and glimmering , " a hypnotic swirl of ramparts and impossibly high towers , designed to catch the light of the sun and break it to its component colors , which lies draped across its stones until you are thankful for nightfall . " It is also described by the Alinori scribe , Alanya , as a well - lit city with a temperate climate . Citizens . Ambassadors of the Second Empire were only allowed in the capital of Alinor , and thus all descriptions of the Altmer and their homeland were confined to that city alone . The High Elves of Alinor are described as a homogeneous people who employ eugenics to themselves , and selectively breed their livestock and trees . Breeding outside the pure Altmeri line is a crime punishable by exile to the mainland , which is regarded as equivalent to a death sentence since there is no purpose in living outside their ideal society . They have a high regard for order , gravitate naturally towards wearing uniforms , and surround themselves with the works of great artists , and the finest riches and treasures . To the human ambassadors of Cyrodiil , the Altmer appeared cold and lacking in compassion , with speech full of riddles or enchanting spell - words . These attitudes and characteristics can be observed in Thalmor agents of the Third Aldmeri Dominion , such as Ancano , Ondolemar , and Elenwen . History . Merethic Era . As Aldmer i society grew and changed , so too did their religion . A group of elders rebelled against these changes , calling themselves the Psijics , and were exiled from Alinor due to the very unorthodox views they held for members of their race . These views included the suggestion that Auri - El ( sometimes referred to as the " Alinor Dragon " ) was formed in reaction to Padomay ' s influence . While the Prophet Veloth was not among those exiled , his teachings were eventually prohibited by the Sapiarch s of Alinor . Aetherial travelers in Alinor would use Sun Birds to gather celestial mineral during the Merethic Era . Their expeditions to Aetherius are among the most famous attempts in Tamriel ic history , and the Great Orrery at Firsthold is their only legacy . First and Second Era . Internal conflicts between Alinor and Lillandril often sparked into full war during the First Era and most of the Second Era . The Mages Guild came to Alinor not long after Vanus Galerion first founded the guild in 2E 230 . In the year 2E 486 , King Hidellith ordered his navy to follow a small Maormer i fleet that had been sighted off the coast of Alinor . Most of the Alinori navy was destroyed after they were ambushed in the uncharted waters of Pyandonea . Prior to 2E 864 , Alinor was a forbidden city for nearly fifty years . It is mentioned in the building plans of the High Elven architect , Neleminduure , that stone was to be imported from the Alinor region for construction of buildings on Auridon . The Surrender of Alinor . After conquering the human kingdoms of Tamriel , Tiber Septim planned to send his Battlemage , Zurin Arctus , to meet with the King of Alinor in order to make peace between the Aldmeri Dominion and the Empire . Although Zurin did meet with the King in 2E 864 , Tiber Septim would go on to invade the Summerset Isles using the Numidium , which lay siege to Alinor for one hour before the Altmer surrendered . The Thalmor was swept away by Tiber Septim ' s armies , the Dominion was ended , and the Throne of Alinor broke at the feet of Men . This event shook Altmer society to its foundation , and even in the closing years of the Third Era , was still remembered by many living Altmer with horror only partially diminished by time . The archives of Alinor still remained inaccessible to human scholars during the early years of Tiber Septim ' s reign . Use of the Numidium on Alinor broke time itself , causing the Brass God ' s siege to last from the Merethic Era until long into the Fifth Era . Some Altmer " Mirror Logicians " still fight Numidium , although their brethren know nothing of their purpose . Fourth Era . The Thalmor renamed the Summerset Isles back to Alinor after seizing total control of the nation in 4E 22 . Members of the Thalmor who make " inexcusable errors " are sent to Alinor for " punishment and reeducation . " Even under Dominion rule , ships from Alinor are known to travel as far as Solitude . Monarchs . The following are monarchs of Alinor , referred to by title if their names are unknown , and the years or era in which they are known to have ruled : There are no mentions of a King or Queen of Alinor during the Fourth Era , and unlike previous Dominion ' s , the Third Aldmeri Dominion was re - established by the Thalmor .