The Great War
The Empire bled to save its soul, only to sign a peace that damned it.
The Great War remains the defining catastrophe of the Fourth Era—a brutal resurgence by the Aldmeri Dominion against a fractured Empire of Cyrodiil. Ignited by political machinations and religious intolerance in the wake of the Oblivion Crisis, the conflict nearly severed humanity's grip on Tamriel entirely. It ended not with victory, but a humiliating armistice that would define the next two decades of history.
- Conflict Type
- Total War
- Primary Belligerents
- Third Aldmeri Dominion vs. Third Empire
- Key Figures
- Empress Potema (predecessor context), General Tullius, Lord Naarifin
- Major Outcome
- White-Gold Concordat
- Status
- Concluded (4E 175)
- Geographic Scope
- Cyrodiil, Hammerfell, High Rock
Lore & Background
Following the chaos of the Oblivion Crisis and Emperor Uriel Septim VII’s death, the Third Empire lay exposed. The Aldmeri Dominion—having hoarded strength in Summerset Isles and Valenwood for centuries—struck at this vulnerability. Departing from their history of measured diplomacy, they unleashed a total invasion that tore through Hammerfell and drove deep into Cyrodiil, threatening the Imperial City itself.
For four grueling years, southern Tamriel burned under brutal sieges. The Legion fought with valor but was ground down by Dominion forces whose ruthless efficiency and magical superiority dismantled traditional imperial formations. Facing total annihilation, the Empire signed the White-Gold Concordat in 4E 175. This treaty ceded vast territories, outlawed Talos worship, and granted Thalmor agents unchecked authority within the Imperial Court—sowing seeds of future rebellion.
In Their Own Story
The mud of the Red Ring Road churned black with rain and blood as the last line of the Imperial Legion held firm. Above, the sky was choked not by storm clouds, but by the smoke of burning farms stretching toward the horizon. A young soldier, his armor dented beyond repair, looked up to see the golden banners of the Thalmor cresting the hill, their faces hidden behind masks that seemed to mock the very concept of mercy. He tightened his grip on a broken spear, knowing that even if they survived this day, the peace treaty waiting in the capital would feel like a death sentence for everything he had fought to protect.
Reader's Guide
Hostilities erupted when the Aldmeri Dominion demanded territorial concessions and a ban on Talos worship. When Emperor Titus Mede II refused, they invaded with overwhelming force, swiftly conquering Hammerfell before pushing toward Cyrodiil.
For four years, the war raged across southern Tamriel. The Imperial Legion executed a desperate defensive campaign, holding key cities at the cost of heavy casualties. The invasion nearly succeeded in capturing the Imperial City, forcing the Emperor to retreat temporarily before rallying his forces for a final stand.
The conflict concluded with the signing of the White-Gold Concordat.
Did You Know?
- The war lasted exactly four years before the peace treaty was signed.
- Hammerfell eventually rejected the treaty terms and fought a second, separate war against the Dominion after the initial armistice.
- The ban on Talos worship established by this war is the primary catalyst for the civil war in Skyrim.
- General Tullius, who later commands the Imperial Legion in Skyrim, was a key commander during this conflict.