The beginning

This is the state of the empire in the beginning of the story. The Stormcloak rebellion is over, Hammerfell, Morrowind, and Black Marsh are independant kingdoms. The Aldmeri Dominion contains the provinces of Alinor, Valenwood, Elsweyr and is the direct challenger to the empire. The empire now only holds the provinces High Rock, Skyrim and Cyrodiil. The weakest it's been since the founding of the Septim Empire.