This timeline of major events attempts to lay out the most important points in the history of Tamriel, based on dates and information given in the games, novels, and supporting material. For further detail, see Merethic Era, First Era, Second Era, Third Era, and Fourth Era.
According to tradition, the known history of Tamriel extends back over X thousand years, and sapiarchs speculate that the world itself may be X thousand years old or older. However, the oldest historic recounts in Tamriel were written after the Aldmeri arrival to the continent, as the Nedes used runes for carving on stone. Everything written about the Dawn Era originates from stories written down by priests thousands of years later. The accuracy of the legends and myths that recount much of this history is openly questioned by some scholars and laymen alike, amongst others.
Timeline[]
All dates are in relation to the five Eras (Merethic, First, Second, Third, and Fourth). Note, that 'ca' is an abbreviation for the Latin word 'circa', meaning around, or approximately.
Sundering of Aldmeris[]
Coming of the Aldmer[]
Age of the Ayleids[]
Dawn of Men[]
Eastern Invasions[]
Three Banners War[]
The Reign of the Dragons[]
The Fall of the Dragons[]
| 3E ???–433 | Assassinations of the Septims: |
| Oblivion Crisis: With the Empire weakened by the assassinations of the Septims by the Mythic Dawn cult, and with the Dragonfires unlit, the Daedric Prince Mehrunes Dagon commenced his invasion of Tamriel. Portals opened across the entire continent, spewing forth hordes of daedra with the sole purpose of conquering the land and slaying its inhabitants. Many peoples around the world tried to fight back, notable among them being the Argonians of Black Marsh, who claimed the Hist had warned them of the pending invasion, allowing them to better prepare for the event. Also notable were the Altmer of the Summerset Archipelago, whose kingdom was overrun, resulting in pockets of survivors holding out in various strongholds, castles, fortresses, and cities, even the Crystal Tower. Their absentee king left them leaderless, resulting in the rise of the Thalmor who organised counterattacks and eventually defeated the daedra on the field of battle and were well on their way to liberating the entire archipelago before the Crisis was ended by the sacrifice of Martin I in Cyrodiil, who gave is life to seal the gates to Oblivion and end the invasion. With the invasion ended, the Crystal Tower of the Summerset Archipelago was destroyed, which had been infused with daedric magic and collapsed after the gates to Oblivion were sealed. |