User blog comment:Spritydove/Deeper Thought into the Civil War/@comment-152.133.14.7-20120621172237/@comment-5135631-20120623231239

Person above me, the Cyrodils had no idea that the Aldmeri were going to attack, especially how quickly and effectively they did. It was like a medieval Blitzkrieg; the Mer did well in Cyrodil, but when the Empire called the full force of their army they had what it took to beat the Aldmer in Cyrodil at least. When the Mer reattacked Hammerfell, they were beaten back slowly, due to the fighting spirit of the Redguard and the adverse geography of the land. The same would happen in Skyrim.

As for Argonia, Black Marsh seceeded from the empire after the Oblivion Crisis, as the Argonians, under the An-Xileel militant faction led one of the most successful resistances against the Daedra-they attacked so potently that Dagon had to close his own gates to avoid being overwhelmed and no one really bothered to stop them seceding; the Empire didn't send to any troops to reinforce the ones they had.

Furious with their xenophobic, elitist neighbours, the Dunmer (who in my opinion are almost as bad as the Aldmeri, so in a way I'm glad some Nords treat them like dirt, it's a form of unregulated justice for all the years of Dunmer slavery of any members of all races of Tamriel who have been unfortunate enough to wander defenceless into Morrowind, particularly Argonians. In fact, you could say the Nords are merciful to even give them homes, especially in Solstheim, as that is Nord land and the Nords treat the Dunmer far worse than vice versa.), the Argonians attacked Southern Morrowind, destroying the great house Telvanni except for one member, Brand-Shei, and enslaving much, if not most, if not all, of the local populace. Because Morrowind was devastated from the previous eruption of Vvardenfell and the Empire was receding from the loss of the Septim dynasty and civil unrest, there was nothing they could do. Despite this, the Empire still claimed parts of Vvardenfell and North-Western Morrowind and some small islands, and the Nords allowed many Dunmer homes in Eastern and Northern Skyrim as well as Solstheim, as we know.

That cleared it up for you?