Imperial Imperials , also known as Cyrodilics , are a race of men and women from Cyrodiil , the province in the center of Tamriel . Members of the Imperial race are some of the most well - educated , wealthy , and well - spoken people in Tamriel . . Cyrodiil . Cyrodiil is the cosmopolitan heartland of Tamriel . It has served as the seat of power for several major empires , such as the Alessian Empire , the Reman Empire , and the Septim Empire , and as such is commonly known as simply , " The Imperial Province . " It is home to the Imperial City where the Emperor and his Elder Council live and rule . Physiology . Imperials can be differentiated from Breton s and Nord s by their fair to swarthy skin , as opposed to the typically fairer complexion of Bretons and Nords . However , Imperial skin tone is not as dark as that of Redguard s . Imperials also have slightly sharper faces than other races of men . They are descendants of the native Nedic and other Proto - Cyrod peoples that were enslaved by the Ayleid s . The phrase " Imperial Race " is a bit of a misnomer . The people of Cyrodiil are divided into two ethno - cultural groups : Nibeneans and Colovians . Both descended from the native Nedic and Cyro - Nordic peoples that were enslaved by the Ayleids , but diverged a bit after consecutive invasions and interactions with other races . Colovian Imperials in Western Cyrodiil are more Nordic , sharing similar beliefs such as a heavy martial and seafaring tradition . Nibeneans have an Akaviri and , to a lesser degree , Elven heritage . They have a greater appreciation for magic , art , commerce , and spirituality , in spite of being staunchly loyal to Alessian traditions . Both groups reflect the Empire ' s culture : a hybrid of Nordic , Aldmer i , and Akaviri culture . History . First Era . Imperials , like any race , have had their share of both internal and external conflicts in their native homeland . Due to relatively frequent invasions from various Elven civilizations and simply Cyrodiil ' s sheer size , unification of the region as a whole was proven a difficult task . The earliest known Empire in Cyrodiil was the Empire of the Ayleid s , which had ruled since before recorded history . The Fall of White - Gold Tower in 1E 243 is the year generally associated with the end of Ayleid rule over humans in Cyrodiil . In the same year of Alessia ' s rebellion came the Alessian Empire , created by the former human slaves of the Ayleids , including Alessia . The Empire , alongside the monotheistic religion that had grown to prominence during the same time , the Alessian Order , eventually collapsed in a war known as the War of Righteousness . Naming conventions . Imperial characters often have Latin names . Examples include , Sorex Vinius , Tullius , Camilla Valerius , Cicero , etc . , keeping with the overall Roman characteristics . However , starting with " Skyrim " , some Imperial names start to sound more Italian than Latin such as Viola Giordano , Severio Pelagia , Marcurio or Vittoria Vici , reflecting the change in language over time . Triva . The Imperials are based of the Romans because the much like the Roman Empire ruled over most of what was known of the world at the time , the Cyrodiilic Empire rules over much of Tamriel .