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Tamriel
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Political map of Tamriel
Type	Fictional continent
Setting	The Elder Scrolls
Planet	Nirn
Provinces	9
First appearance	The Elder Scrolls: Arena (1994)
Created by	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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

• 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.

• Tamriel on Wikipedia
• Tamriel on the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP)