Era

The history of Tamriel is bloody and turbulent. There are five 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 the earth. Elven history begins after the Cosmos stabilizes when Magnus leaves the world of Nirn and Lorkhan is condemned for creation of the mortal plane.

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The Merethic Era
The Merethic Era is the Era that begins when a linear timeline can be discerned. This Era begins in ME2500 and goes backwards to 1E1 (the first year of the first era). Some notable events of the Merethic Era include the construction of the Adamantine Tower (ME2500), the exodus of the Aldmeri peoples from their ancestral homeland Aldmeris and settling of the vast coasts of Tamriel, and later the exodus of the "Nedic" peoples 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.

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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 Cyrodiil Empire. The Second Era begins when the Reman line of Cyrodiilic Emperors is assassinated 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 and the first empire of the Nords and the first "Empire of Men" led by Saint Alessia.

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The Second Era
The Second Era lasts 896 years, formed with the death of the Reman dynasty of the Cyrodiilic Empire. 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.

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The Third Era
The Third Era is the current Era of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. 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.

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The Fourth Era
This era starts when the main quest of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is completed.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim also takes place during the fourth era at the dawn of its third century.

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All information on this page from The Imperial Library