Cyrodiil

Cyrodiil is a fictional province in The Elder Scrolls series of games, homeland of the Imperials. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion takes place in Cyrodiil.

The First Era
Cyrodiil, also known as the Dragon Empire, Starry Heart of Nirn, Seat of Sundered Kings, or simply The Imperial Province, is the largest region of Tamriel, and seat of the Empire, united by Tiber Septim at the end of the Second Era. Cyrodilic History begins around the time of Saint Alessia, when agriculture and rudimentary forms of government allowed it to become a power in Tamriel. The Alessian Priesthood, for a long while, was the dominant political force in Tamriel, binding the merchants and people to its monotheistic tenets. This order continued until the year 1220 of the First Era, when the Thrassian Plague decimated much of Tamriel's population. This led to the growth of wealth in the Colovian areas, which culminated in the War of Righteousness, and the end of Alessian rule over central Tamriel.

The Second Era
It was not until Reman Cyrodiil, in 2703, when the Akaviri invaded Tamriel, that the whole of Cyrodiil united against the attackers. By the end of this war, which culminated in the defeat of the Akaviri invasion force in the Battle of Pale Pass, on the Skyrim border. After vanquishing the Akaviri, the united Cyrodiil nation emerged as a powerful force in Tamriel, responsible for the protection of the northern regions against further invasions. At this point, the elves of Summerset Isles took note of Cyrodiil's increasing power and perceived imperialism, which caused the newly crowned emperor Reman I to recruit captured Akaviri warriors into the army. The armies of the Second Empire succeeded in conquering all of Tamriel except Morrowind, which eventually proved the end of the Reman Dynasty. Reman's dynasty lasted two-hundred years, until the rise of the Akaviri Potentate.

The Akaviri, having been taken into the army and culture of the Empire during the time of Reman I, gradually gained understanding and power in the Empire. The highest-ranking Akaviri in the Kingdom, and second-highest ranking person in the Empire, the Potentate, rose to power after the Morag Tong assassinated the last Reman Emperor. This rule lasted four-hundred years, and made a lasting impression on the people and culture of Cyrodiil, including the Dai-Katanas, Dragonscale armor, and Red Dragons. The Akaviri Empire, known as the Interregnum, became smaller and smaller, until the reign of Cuhlecain.

A year after the rise of Cuhlecain, due to the help of General Talos, more than half of the Cyrodilic Empire had been reclaimed. As Cuhlecain prepared to invade Cyrodiil City, the combined forces of Skyrim and High Rock faced him at Sancre Tor. The Nords of Skyrim quickly joined the side of Cuhlecain and General Talos, and the Bretons returned to High Rock, sending an assassin to kill Cuhlecain and General Talos. Cuhlecain was slain, and although Talos' throat was slit, he lived, and, being crowned emperor, took the name of Tiber Septim, thus beginning the Third Era.

The Third Era
The Third Empire, through various means, conquered all of Tamriel, although the region of Morrowind, the one province unconquered during the Second Empire, retained a great deal of self-determination by donating the Numidium to Septim's cause. Further, some of the other provinces, such as Daggerfall, Orsinium and Wayrest, have at various times given less than full recognition to the Empire's sovereignty over them (in some cases, extending to outright rebellion.) Until recently, Uriel Septim VII, twenty-first of that line, was of advanced age, and his heirs were considered by many to be false - put in during the reign of Jagar Tharn, who briefly assumed the throne after kidnapping Septim on his fortieth birthday. On the 27th of Last Seed, in the Year of Akatosh, 433, Uriel Septim VII was assassinated, along with his sons, sparking the Oblivion Crisis. One illegitimate son remained, and a massive effort was mounted by the Blades, Amy Dragon and Amelon Dragon to recover the stolen Amulet of Kings and enthrone Martin, Uriel Septim's son. They succeed, but Martin promptly sacrifices himself to cast Mehrunes Dagon back into Oblivion, ending the line of Septim and the Third Era.

Politics
Each city has its own Count/Countess that rules over the city (the county seat),and the surrounding county, which has the same name as the city. Anvil County is a small area to the west of Imperial City, ruled over by Countess Umbranox. Bravil County seems to be the land on the west side of the Lower Nibel, and is ruled by Count Regulus Terentius. Bruma County, ruled by Countess Narina Carvain, is to the west of Bruma, and borders Cheydinal County, which is the land to the north of Cheydinal, it is ruled by Count Andel Indarys. Chorrol is County seat of Chorrol county, which is the area north of Chorrol, it is ruled by Countess Arianna Valga. County Kvatch is the land to the Northwest of Kvatch, it was ruled by Count Ormellius Goldwine, who died, with his death the job of assigning a new Count rests with the Elder Council. Count Marius Caro and Countess Alessia Caro control the land from the Panther River down to the Topal Bay. Skingrad's Count Janus Hassildor controls the land in between the Gold Road and the Green Road. The Imperial City doesn't seem to have a Count, it is possible it is either ruled by the Emperor, by the Imperial Legion, or some other force, such as the Elder Council. It has no accompanying county, but the Imperial Reserve is located to the west and the Nibenay Basin to the east.

Geography
Cyrodiil is mostly an expanse of forest. Its heart, the Nibenay Valley, is a vast plain, enclosed by equatorial rain forests. Many rivers flow through this area, and as one ventures further down the rivers, the land slowly becomes more sub-tropical, eventually giving way to the swamps of the Black Marsh. The elevation rises gradually to the west and sharply to the north. The western part of the region is relatively dry, and the Velothi Mountains (Valus Mountains, as the Imperials call them) to the west have some roads, but mostly travel in Cyrodiil is dominated by rivers. Cyrodiil seems to be the most diverse province in terms of geography, climate and race.

The Nibenay Valley is the most prominent area of the land, a great grassland with a lake in its heart. Several small islands dot the surface of this lake, and between them stand great bridges. It is on these islands that Cyrodiil Imperial City stands. The rest of Cyrodiil also contains the cities of Anvil, Bravil, Bruma, Chorrol, Cheydinhal, Kvatch, Leyawiin and Skingrad.

Prior to Oblivion, and specifically in the Pocket Guide to The Empire, Cyrodiil was described as a vast jungle. Arena's maps of the region with a boreal green, fading into brown in the west and a richer pine green in the southeast, towards Black Marsh. Oblivion, however, found Cyrodiil to be completely lacking in any form of tropical climate. Former game developer Michael Kirkbride wrote a minor text rationalizing the change within the game, wherein Emperor Tiber Septim uses Talos Stormcrown to bring a temperate climate to the region. The Imperial Library refers to the text as a "retcon".

Demographics
Most of Cyrodiil's population is Imperial, but the Nibenay Valley is largely multicultural, and is often the site of conflicts between rival Khajiit and Argonian. The northern city of Bruma is largely occupied by Nords. Elves are dispersed throughout Cyrodiil and the Count of Cheydinhal is a Dark Elf.

Culture
The dominant section of Cyrodiil, the Nibenay Valley, often overshadows the western Colovian areas, although often the Emperors come from this region. To add to this, many Colovians feel that their people are superior to the people of the Valley. Because of this, many Colovians become very proud of their region, and try to advocate its interests whenever possible. West Cyrodiils make up the majority of the Imperial Legions, and as such are often the most common Imperials in the other regions.