The Elder Scrolls/Tamriel

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{|style="max-width: 400px; border: 2px solid #8B6914; background: #fff; margin: 0 auto;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);"
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!colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 12px; color: #8B6914; font-size: 1.3em; border-bottom: 1px solid #8B6914;" darkstyle="color: color-mix(in srgb, #8B6914 55%, #f5f5f7);"|Tamriel
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|colspan="2" style="padding: 0; text-align: center;"|![[Map_of_Tamriel.webp]]
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|colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 4px 8px; font-size: 0.9em; color: #555; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;" darkstyle="color: color-mix(in srgb, #555 55%, #f5f5f7); border-color: #2c2c2e;"|Political map of Tamriel
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!style="color: #8B6914; width: 35%; text-align: right; padding: 6px 10px;" darkstyle="color: color-mix(in srgb, #8B6914 55%, #f5f5f7);"|Type
|style="padding: 6px 10px;"|Fictional continent
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!style="color: #8B6914; text-align: right; padding: 6px 10px;" darkstyle="color: color-mix(in srgb, #8B6914 55%, #f5f5f7);"|Setting
|style="padding: 6px 10px;"|''The Elder Scrolls''
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!style="color: #8B6914; text-align: right; padding: 6px 10px;" darkstyle="color: color-mix(in srgb, #8B6914 55%, #f5f5f7);"|Planet
|style="padding: 6px 10px;"|Nirn
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!style="color: #8B6914; text-align: right; padding: 6px 10px;" darkstyle="color: color-mix(in srgb, #8B6914 55%, #f5f5f7);"|Provinces
|style="padding: 6px 10px;"|9
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!style="color: #8B6914; text-align: right; padding: 6px 10px;" darkstyle="color: color-mix(in srgb, #8B6914 55%, #f5f5f7);"|First appearance
|style="padding: 6px 10px;"|''The Elder Scrolls: Arena'' (1994)
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!style="color: #8B6914; text-align: right; padding: 6px 10px;" darkstyle="color: color-mix(in srgb, #8B6914 55%, #f5f5f7);"|Created by
|style="padding: 6px 10px;"|Bethesda Softworks
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'''Tamriel''' is a fictional continent that serves as the primary setting of ''The Elder Scrolls'', a series of fantasy role-playing video games developed by Bethesda Game Studios. Located on the planet '''Nirn''', Tamriel is home to a wide range of peoples, kingdoms, and cultures spread across nine provinces, each with its own dominant race, landscape, and history.

Every mainline Elder Scrolls game since 1994 has taken place somewhere in Tamriel, from the icy north of Skyrim to the volcanic ash lands of Morrowind. The continent's deep, layered lore — covering thousands of years of in-game history — has made it one of the most detailed fictional worlds in video games.

= Geography =

Tamriel is roughly diamond-shaped, with most of its landmass in the temperate to tropical zones of Nirn. The continent is bordered by oceans on all sides and contains a wide variety of climates and terrains: dense forests, frozen tundras, sun-baked deserts, marshlands, and mountain ranges. The most prominent geographic features are the '''Jerall Mountains''' and '''Velothi Mountains''', which separate the central Imperial province of Cyrodiil from its northern and eastern neighbors.

A handful of smaller islands lie off Tamriel's coast, most notably '''Solstheim''', a snowy island located between Skyrim and Morrowind that has appeared in several expansions.

= Provinces =

Tamriel is divided into nine provinces. Each has been ruled at different times by local kingdoms, foreign empires, or both.

== Cyrodiil ==

The central province of Tamriel and the heart of the '''Empire'''. Cyrodiil is home to the '''Imperials''', a human race known for their organization, diplomacy, and military strength. The Imperial City, built on an island in the middle of a great lake, has historically served as the capital of all of Tamriel. The fourth main game, ''The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion'', takes place in Cyrodiil.

== Skyrim ==

A cold, mountainous region in the north, Skyrim is the homeland of the '''Nords''', a hardy human race inspired by medieval Scandinavian cultures. Dragons, frost trolls, and ancient Nordic tombs are common sights. The fifth main game, ''The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim'', is set here.

== Morrowind ==

A volcanic, ash-covered land in the northeast, Morrowind is home to the '''Dunmer''' (also called Dark Elves). Its central region includes the giant island of '''Vvardenfell''', dominated by the active volcano '''Red Mountain'''. ''The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind'' is set on Vvardenfell.

== Hammerfell ==

A vast desert province in the west, Hammerfell is the homeland of the '''Redguards''', a human race known for their skill with the sword. Coastal cities like Sentinel and Hegathe sit alongside harsh inland dunes.

== High Rock ==

A hilly, temperate region in the northwest, High Rock is home to the '''Bretons''', a human race with a natural talent for magic. The province is made up of many small kingdoms and city-states.

== Black Marsh ==

A vast tropical swamp in the southeast, Black Marsh is the homeland of the '''Argonians''', a reptilian race adapted to the wet, hostile environment. Outsiders rarely venture far into the marshes.

== Elsweyr ==

A land of savannas and deserts in the south, Elsweyr is the home of the '''Khajiit''', a feline race whose appearance can vary dramatically depending on the phases of the moons at their birth.

== Valenwood ==

A dense rainforest province in the southwest, Valenwood is home to the '''Bosmer''' (Wood Elves). Many of its cities are built into giant, living trees that can walk.

== Summerset Isles ==

An archipelago off the southwestern coast, the Summerset Isles are the ancestral home of the '''Altmer''' (High Elves), one of the oldest and most magically gifted races in Tamriel.

= Races =

Tamriel is home to ten playable races across the Elder Scrolls games, traditionally grouped into three categories:

* '''Humans (Men)''': Imperials, Nords, Redguards, and Bretons.
* '''Elves (Mer)''': Altmer (High Elves), Bosmer (Wood Elves), Dunmer (Dark Elves), and Orsimer (Orcs).
* '''Beast Races''': Argonians and Khajiit.

The '''Orsimer''', or Orcs, do not have a full province of their own but have founded the kingdom of '''Orsinium''' multiple times in the mountains between Hammerfell and High Rock.

= History =

Tamriel's history is divided into a series of '''Eras''', each spanning hundreds or thousands of years.

== Merethic Era ==

The mythic age before written history, when elves dominated Tamriel and early human cultures began migrating from the continent of Atmora to the north.

== First Era ==

The age of the first great mortal empires, including the Alessian Empire of Cyrodiil — the first major human empire to unite much of Tamriel.

== Second Era ==

A period of political turmoil following the collapse of earlier empires. The Second Era ends with the rise of '''Tiber Septim''', who founded the Third Empire and united Tamriel under a single banner. ''The Elder Scrolls Online'' is set during this era.

== Third Era ==

The era of the Septim Dynasty and the height of Imperial rule. Most of the early Elder Scrolls games, including ''Arena'', ''Daggerfall'', ''Morrowind'', and ''Oblivion'', take place during this era.

== Fourth Era ==

The current era in Elder Scrolls lore, beginning after the '''Oblivion Crisis''', when gates to a hellish realm called Oblivion opened across Tamriel. The Empire is much weaker in the Fourth Era. ''The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim'' is set roughly 200 years into this era.

= In the Elder Scrolls games =

Each Elder Scrolls game has explored a different part of Tamriel.

![[Map_Coverage_of_Elder_Scrolls_Games.webp|center|frame|Regions of Tamriel that have served as the setting for Elder Scrolls games]]

* ''The Elder Scrolls: Arena'' (1994) — All of Tamriel
* ''The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall'' (1996) — Hammerfell and High Rock
* ''The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind'' (2002) — Vvardenfell, Morrowind
* ''The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion'' (2006) — Cyrodiil
* ''The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim'' (2011) — Skyrim
* ''The Elder Scrolls Online'' (2014) — All of Tamriel (massively multiplayer)

A sixth main game, ''The Elder Scrolls VI'', was announced by Bethesda in 2018 and is currently in development. Its setting has not been officially confirmed.

= Other wikis =

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamriel Tamriel on Wikipedia]
* [https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Tamriel Tamriel on the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP)]

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{{Nirn Navbox}} {|style="max-width: 400px; border: 2px solid #8B6914; background: #fff; margin: 0 auto;" darkstyle="background-color: var(--wiki-surface);" |- !colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 12px; color: #8B6914; font-size: 1.3em; border-bottom: 1px solid #8B6914;" darkstyle="color: color-mix(in srgb, #8B6914 55%, #f5f5f7);"|Tamriel |- |colspan="2" style="padding: 0; text-align: center;"|![[Map_of_Tamriel.webp]] |- |colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 4px 8px; font-size: 0.9em; color: #555; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;" darkstyle="color: color-mix(in srgb, #555 55%, #f5f5f7); border-color: #2c2c2e;"|Political map of Tamriel |- !style="color: #8B6914; width: 35%; text-align: right; padding: 6px 10px;" darkstyle="color: color-mix(in srgb, #8B6914 55%, #f5f5f7);"|Type |style="padding: 6px 10px;"|Fictional continent |- !style="color: #8B6914; text-align: right; padding: 6px 10px;" darkstyle="color: color-mix(in srgb, #8B6914 55%, #f5f5f7);"|Setting |style="padding: 6px 10px;"|''The Elder Scrolls'' |- !style="color: #8B6914; text-align: right; padding: 6px 10px;" darkstyle="color: color-mix(in srgb, #8B6914 55%, #f5f5f7);"|Planet |style="padding: 6px 10px;"|Nirn |- !style="color: #8B6914; text-align: right; padding: 6px 10px;" darkstyle="color: color-mix(in srgb, #8B6914 55%, #f5f5f7);"|Provinces |style="padding: 6px 10px;"|9 |- !style="color: #8B6914; text-align: right; padding: 6px 10px;" darkstyle="color: color-mix(in srgb, #8B6914 55%, #f5f5f7);"|First appearance |style="padding: 6px 10px;"|''The Elder Scrolls: Arena'' (1994) |- !style="color: #8B6914; text-align: right; padding: 6px 10px;" darkstyle="color: color-mix(in srgb, #8B6914 55%, #f5f5f7);"|Created by |style="padding: 6px 10px;"|Bethesda Softworks |} '''Tamriel''' is a fictional continent that serves as the primary setting of ''The Elder Scrolls'', a series of fantasy role-playing video games developed by Bethesda Game Studios. Located on the planet '''Nirn''', Tamriel is home to a wide range of peoples, kingdoms, and cultures spread across nine provinces, each with its own dominant race, landscape, and history. Every mainline Elder Scrolls game since 1994 has taken place somewhere in Tamriel, from the icy north of Skyrim to the volcanic ash lands of Morrowind. The continent's deep, layered lore — covering thousands of years of in-game history — has made it one of the most detailed fictional worlds in video games. = Geography = Tamriel is roughly diamond-shaped, with most of its landmass in the temperate to tropical zones of Nirn. The continent is bordered by oceans on all sides and contains a wide variety of climates and terrains: dense forests, frozen tundras, sun-baked deserts, marshlands, and mountain ranges. The most prominent geographic features are the '''Jerall Mountains''' and '''Velothi Mountains''', which separate the central Imperial province of Cyrodiil from its northern and eastern neighbors. A handful of smaller islands lie off Tamriel's coast, most notably '''Solstheim''', a snowy island located between Skyrim and Morrowind that has appeared in several expansions. = Provinces = Tamriel is divided into nine provinces. Each has been ruled at different times by local kingdoms, foreign empires, or both. == Cyrodiil == The central province of Tamriel and the heart of the '''Empire'''. Cyrodiil is home to the '''Imperials''', a human race known for their organization, diplomacy, and military strength. The Imperial City, built on an island in the middle of a great lake, has historically served as the capital of all of Tamriel. The fourth main game, ''The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion'', takes place in Cyrodiil. == Skyrim == A cold, mountainous region in the north, Skyrim is the homeland of the '''Nords''', a hardy human race inspired by medieval Scandinavian cultures. Dragons, frost trolls, and ancient Nordic tombs are common sights. The fifth main game, ''The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim'', is set here. == Morrowind == A volcanic, ash-covered land in the northeast, Morrowind is home to the '''Dunmer''' (also called Dark Elves). Its central region includes the giant island of '''Vvardenfell''', dominated by the active volcano '''Red Mountain'''. ''The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind'' is set on Vvardenfell. == Hammerfell == A vast desert province in the west, Hammerfell is the homeland of the '''Redguards''', a human race known for their skill with the sword. Coastal cities like Sentinel and Hegathe sit alongside harsh inland dunes. == High Rock == A hilly, temperate region in the northwest, High Rock is home to the '''Bretons''', a human race with a natural talent for magic. The province is made up of many small kingdoms and city-states. == Black Marsh == A vast tropical swamp in the southeast, Black Marsh is the homeland of the '''Argonians''', a reptilian race adapted to the wet, hostile environment. Outsiders rarely venture far into the marshes. == Elsweyr == A land of savannas and deserts in the south, Elsweyr is the home of the '''Khajiit''', a feline race whose appearance can vary dramatically depending on the phases of the moons at their birth. == Valenwood == A dense rainforest province in the southwest, Valenwood is home to the '''Bosmer''' (Wood Elves). Many of its cities are built into giant, living trees that can walk. == Summerset Isles == An archipelago off the southwestern coast, the Summerset Isles are the ancestral home of the '''Altmer''' (High Elves), one of the oldest and most magically gifted races in Tamriel. = Races = Tamriel is home to ten playable races across the Elder Scrolls games, traditionally grouped into three categories: * '''Humans (Men)''': Imperials, Nords, Redguards, and Bretons. * '''Elves (Mer)''': Altmer (High Elves), Bosmer (Wood Elves), Dunmer (Dark Elves), and Orsimer (Orcs). * '''Beast Races''': Argonians and Khajiit. The '''Orsimer''', or Orcs, do not have a full province of their own but have founded the kingdom of '''Orsinium''' multiple times in the mountains between Hammerfell and High Rock. = History = Tamriel's history is divided into a series of '''Eras''', each spanning hundreds or thousands of years. == Merethic Era == The mythic age before written history, when elves dominated Tamriel and early human cultures began migrating from the continent of Atmora to the north. == First Era == The age of the first great mortal empires, including the Alessian Empire of Cyrodiil — the first major human empire to unite much of Tamriel. == Second Era == A period of political turmoil following the collapse of earlier empires. The Second Era ends with the rise of '''Tiber Septim''', who founded the Third Empire and united Tamriel under a single banner. ''The Elder Scrolls Online'' is set during this era. == Third Era == The era of the Septim Dynasty and the height of Imperial rule. Most of the early Elder Scrolls games, including ''Arena'', ''Daggerfall'', ''Morrowind'', and ''Oblivion'', take place during this era. == Fourth Era == The current era in Elder Scrolls lore, beginning after the '''Oblivion Crisis''', when gates to a hellish realm called Oblivion opened across Tamriel. The Empire is much weaker in the Fourth Era. ''The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim'' is set roughly 200 years into this era. = In the Elder Scrolls games = Each Elder Scrolls game has explored a different part of Tamriel. ![[Map_Coverage_of_Elder_Scrolls_Games.webp|center|frame|Regions of Tamriel that have served as the setting for Elder Scrolls games]] * ''The Elder Scrolls: Arena'' (1994) — All of Tamriel * ''The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall'' (1996) — Hammerfell and High Rock * ''The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind'' (2002) — Vvardenfell, Morrowind * ''The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion'' (2006) — Cyrodiil * ''The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim'' (2011) — Skyrim * ''The Elder Scrolls Online'' (2014) — All of Tamriel (massively multiplayer) A sixth main game, ''The Elder Scrolls VI'', was announced by Bethesda in 2018 and is currently in development. Its setting has not been officially confirmed. = Other wikis = * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamriel Tamriel on Wikipedia] * [https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Tamriel Tamriel on the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP)]