When playing a game like The Elder Scrolls, you have to make some pretty tough choices. This couldn't be truer when you have to choose between the Stormcloaks and the Imperials in Skyrim. On one hand, the Imperials did nearly kill you, but on the other, they seem to really have it together and aren't just a small band of rebels.
Nevertheless, this race and ideology is a pivotal part of The Elder Scrolls franchise. Despite this, it's clear a lot of lore goes unseen. Here's some of that lore that you might not know.
10 Where They Came From
The Imperial race didn't begin as the diplomatic and powerful race many see them as throughout Oblivion and Skyrim. They are actually descendants of the native Nedic and Proto-Cyrod people who lived in Cyrodiil centuries ago.
Interestingly, these descendants were actually slaves of a group known as the Ayleids. These were High Elves who ruled over Cyrodiil in the first era. Luckily they escaped and overthrew their captors, and then became the Imperials everyone knows and (somewhat) loves.
9 There's More Than One Type
Since the Imperials descended from two natives, it would be pretty obvious to assume there are two types of Imperial. And you'd be right. They're called Colovians and Nibenese. It's important to mention that these aren't completely different races and can only really be divided by their preferences and way of life.
The Colovians serve as the muscle of the Imperials. They make up the soldiers and fishermen and pretty much the navy and the army; whereas the Nibenese have a greater appreciation for magic, art, commerce, and spirituality, opting for politics rather than swords.
8 They Hate Vampires
Most of the living hate Vampires, but the Imperials hating them as much as they do is a little ironic considering the number of vampires that exist in the Imperial tradition!
The Imperials consider blood vampires to be the worst type of vampire — they think they're monsters that should be killed on sight. But the notion of noble and good vampires is prevalent throughout Imperial aristocracy and the Mages Guild! They may hate Vampires but it seems they still respect them.
7 They're Not Fighters
It goes without saying that the Imperial inhabitants of Cyrodiil aren't exactly good fighters. After all, the Nords and the Redguards are trained to use a sword as soon as they can walk. In contrast, the Imperials are taught to read, write and persuade, making them a pretty important political power throughout Tamriel. After all, if they didn't excel in these areas, then the Empire might not be as large and powerful as it is.
The fighters who take control of the Imperial army are the Colovians who will be loyal to the Empire as long as a strong Emperor sits on the throne.
6 For Diplomats, They're In A Lot Of Wars
While the Imperials seem to be diplomats first and fighters second, this race has been in a considerable number of battles, moreso than most races in Tamriel! They've been in the War of the Red Diamond, War of the Isle, the Imperial Invasion of Akavir, the Battle of the Red Ring, and so many more.
Obviously, the Imperials were extremely weak after all these wars, so the Empire was taken advantage of. After ending all their conflicts by signing the White-Gold Concordat, the Imperials turned to politics while building an army in the background. This seemed to prove useful when Ulfric Stormcloack came onto the scene.
5 Their Emporer Can Be Killed
Some races have a Jarl and some prefer to rule themselves, but in true Imperial fashion, they have an Emperor. The Emporer ruling really depends on what game you're playing, but in Skyrim, it's Titus Mede II.
Interestingly, during the Dark Brotherhood questline, you actually get the opportunity to assassinate the Imperial Emperor to force the Empire into a vulnerable position. It's not as simple as it sounds, but, depending on your allegiances, it can be quite satisfying.
4 The Empire Will Attack The Thalmor Next
The Imperials don't really scream "trustworthy," especially since they try to kill you just because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, that willingness to manipulate and not care when it means they get something positive couldn't be more obvious at the end of Skyrim.
If the Empire is victorious in their war, you'll see General Tulius saying that the majority of the Imperials want peace but he thinks it's likely that there will be another war against the Thalmor. This is a bit of a betrayal, but in their opinion, the Thalmor need to be stopped.
3 They Didn't Exist In Earlier Games
During the first Elder Scrolls games, namely Arena and Daggerfall, the likes of Orcs and Imperials were actually not playable! While Orcs did appear as enemy mobs, the Imperials are a bit unclear, as some characters existed that could be Imperials, but they weren't a separate classified race.
Interestingly, the Imperials still had an emperor, Uriel Septim VII but again, it was never specifically mentioned that he was an Imperial, although most can assume he was. It wasn't until Morrowind that the Imperials really came into their own and were classed as an official race.
2 The Thalmor Nearly Destroyed Them
While they may want to betray the Thalmor at the end of the civil war, these two were only actually working together to stop the entire destruction of the Imperials! During The Battle Of The Red Ring, the Thalmor were absolutely dominating the Imperials and it was only during that battle that they really turned the tides.
Ultimately, the Thalmor and Imperials never really got on and only really work together through fear of another war and therefore another potential destruction. The Thalmor and Imperials have been fighting for centuries so it comes as no surprise the Imperials would want to betray them.
1 The Imperials Had A High Elf Ruler
While the Imperials have a very particular stance on the way they act and look, they actually had a temporary emperor who was a High Elf. And he did a really good job, too.
If you've played Oblivion, you'll be aware of High Chancellor Ocato who took over when the Emperor was assassinated. Surprisingly, he was almost successful in fixing the problems surrounding the Empire, even negotiating with the Imperial subjects and nearly managing to make peace with their enemies. Unfortunately, Tamriel descended into chaos before he could fully restore the Empire. It's a shame, since he was well aware of and warned many of the dangers the rising power of the Thalmor posed to Tamriel as a whole.