The Great War

Culture and Causes

The Great War was the defining conflict of the early Fourth Era, a brutal struggle between the Aldmeri Dominion and the Empire of Tamriel that reshaped the continent. It began in 4E 171 when the Dominion demanded the Empire outlaw Talos worship, cede lands in Hammerfell, and dissolve the Blades. When the Empire refused, the Dominion declared war.

The war’s roots lay in cultural and religious conflict. The Altmer of Summerset viewed Talos as a false god, a mortal unworthy of divinity, and saw the Empire’s worship of him as blasphemy. The Thalmor, rulers of the Dominion, also sought to weaken the Empire, exploiting its decline after the Oblivion Crisis and the end of the Septim Dynasty. For Imperials, Talos worship was central to identity, and yielding was unthinkable.

The Dominion prepared meticulously. Its armies, composed of Altmer battlemages, Bosmer archers, and Khajiiti cavalry, were disciplined and well-equipped. Its fleets dominated southern seas. The Empire, under Emperor Titus Mede II, was weaker than in centuries past but still vast, drawing soldiers from Cyrodiil, Skyrim, Hammerfell, and beyond. The war would test the resilience of both sides, not only militarily but culturally.

For the Nords, the war was proof of their bond to Talos, while for the Redguards, it threatened their independence. Bretons and Imperials debated loyalty versus survival, while Khajiit and Bosmer served Thalmor masters with mixed zeal. The war thus became not only clash of armies but of identities: godhood, sovereignty, and survival itself.

History

The Opening (4E 171–172):
The Dominion struck first. In 4E 171, Thalmor armies invaded Cyrodiil and Hammerfell simultaneously, overwhelming Imperial defenses. The southern legions collapsed, and cities fell quickly. The Dominion’s strategy was bold: seize Cyrodiil’s heart, decapitate the Empire, and secure Hammerfell’s deserts.

In Hammerfell, Dominion forces pressed deep, clashing with Redguard defenders in Alik’r Desert and southern coasts. In Cyrodiil, Thalmor armies advanced north from Elsweyr, threatening the Nibenay Valley. The Empire, caught off guard, fought desperate delaying actions.

The Sack of the Imperial City (4E 174):
The war’s turning point came in 4E 174. Dominion forces besieged and captured the Imperial City, sacking it brutally. The White-Gold Tower itself fell, and Titus Mede II barely escaped north to Skyrim. Thousands died, and morale collapsed. It seemed the Empire was finished.

But the Emperor had planned carefully. Retreat was strategic: the legions regrouped in Skyrim and Hammerfell, gathering strength for counterattack. Dominion forces, spread thin after their conquest, were vulnerable.

The Counteroffensive (4E 174–175):
In 4E 174, the Empire struck back in the Battle of the Red Ring, one of the largest battles in Tamrielic history. Imperial and Nord legions encircled the Dominion army around the Imperial City, retaking it in bloody fighting. The victory saved the Empire but at immense cost: tens of thousands dead, fields and villages burned, Cyrodiil scarred.

Meanwhile in Hammerfell, Redguards resisted fiercely. Though the Dominion advanced initially, Redguard guerrilla warfare bled them dry. By 4E 175, Dominion forces withdrew from much of Hammerfell, though southern provinces remained contested.

The Peace (4E 175):
The war ended with the White-Gold Concordat, a treaty between the Empire and Dominion. The terms were humiliating: Talos worship outlawed in Imperial lands, Blades disbanded, Hammerfell ceded to the Dominion. For Imperials, this was bitter survival. For the Dominion, it was victory short of conquest.

Hammerfell refused the treaty, breaking with the Empire. Redguards continued fighting alone, and by 4E 180, they expelled the Dominion entirely through the Second Treaty of Stros M’Kai. Hammerfell’s survival was a triumph, but it left the Empire weakened, fractured, and dishonored.

Other Information

Armies and Warfare:

  • The Aldmeri Dominion fielded Altmer battlemages, Bosmer scouts, and Khajiiti cavalry. Their armies excelled in speed, coordination, and magical superiority. Sea serpents and fleets controlled southern waters.

  • The Empire relied on disciplined legions, Nord heavy infantry, Breton auxiliaries, and Redguard warriors. Though weaker initially, their cohesion and resilience won Red Ring.

  • The war was marked by sieges, massacres, and scorched-earth tactics. It devastated Cyrodiil and Hammerfell, leaving ruins that lasted generations.

Magic and Strategy:
The Dominion’s reliance on magic gave it early superiority. Storms cloaked fleets, illusions confused enemies, and destruction magic decimated formations. The Empire countered with discipline, attrition, and battlefield fortifications. At Red Ring, coordination between Skyrim’s heavy infantry and Cyrodiilic legions proved decisive.

Cultural Impact:

  • Imperials saw the Concordat as betrayal, fueling unrest.

  • Nords resented outlawing Talos worship, sparking the Stormcloak Rebellion decades later.

  • Redguards distrusted the Empire after being abandoned, turning Hammerfell fiercely independent.

  • Altmer saw proof of superiority, the Thalmor claiming their vision of Elven dominion was destiny.

Naming and Memory:
The war is remembered by battles: the Sack of the Imperial City, the Battle of the Red Ring, and the Hammerfell Campaigns. Heroes include Titus Mede II (for survival), Nord and Redguard generals, and countless fallen. To the Dominion, Orgnum-like Thalmor leaders are celebrated; to the Empire, it is tragedy and resilience.

Aftermath:
The Concordat fractured Tamriel. The Empire survived but weakened, its authority questioned. Hammerfell stood independent, proof of Redguard strength. Nords questioned loyalty to an Empire that outlawed their god. The Dominion, though checked, remained powerful, biding time for future conflict. By 4E 201, the Great War defined politics: Skyrim torn by rebellion, Hammerfell proud and free, and the Dominion looming still.

Legacy of the Great War

The Great War was not just a conflict of armies but of identities. It decided survival of the Empire, but at cost of pride and unity. It exalted the Dominion, proving its strength, yet failed to secure total conquest. Its scars endured: Hammerfell’s secession, Skyrim’s rebellion, Imperial decline.

By 4E 201, the Great War remained the defining event of the era: a reminder that Tamriel was no longer united, and that the struggle between men and mer was far from over. Its legacy is unfinished war: one that set stage for rebellions, secessions, and perhaps a Second Great War yet to come.