User blog comment:G0LD3NF1RE/E3 Elder Scrolls Online Roundup/@comment-94.211.132.195-20130616194906/@comment-3496379-20130616222158

Actually, if I remember the lore right, this game takes place in the middle of the Interregnum between the end of the Akaviri Potentate and the Second Empire (2E 430) and the start of the Third Empire and the Septim Dynasty (2E 854).

To quote from UESP: "During the entirety of Interregnum, petty warlords had attempted to seize control of Cyrodiil's capital and to reestablish the Empire. None of them lasted for long, until, in the year 2E 852 the king of Falkreath, Cuhlecain, sought to proclaim himself 'Emperor of All Cyrodiil'."

... Y'know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say ZeniMax and Bethesda were taking potshots at us.