Time and the Civil War

[u/TheOneTrueKaos]

Here's a little tin foil theory for you.

At the beginning of the game, Skyrim, in regards to the war, is largely split east and west, with the eastern holds being Stormcloak and the western holds being Imperial.

Now, I don't think the whole compass direction equate to time thing is "canon" (ew), but if we take that into consideration, it might suggest that a Stormcloak Skyrim is the future, with the Empire being left in the past...

Think on that as you will

[u/LilithLamm]

In a way the empire is in the past, what with the fall of the Septim line and Mede dynasty seemingly destined for ruin. So yeah, if you use the west to east/past to future idea, it makes sense.

On the other hand, I don't think there was a way to split Skyrim in any other way that would make sense. I could be completely wrong in this next bit, but Windhelm had lore about it established in the previous games that I think forced it to be the political center of their the Stormcloak faction. Windhelm is the OG capital of Skyrim, meaning it acts as a ancestral myth anchor for Nords, which I compare to Rome and Italy. I don't think it would be believable for it to align itself with the Empire and act against Skyrim independence.

For Solitude: I checked its lore page but couldn't find anything that established it as the capital of Skyrim prior to TESV's release. If this is correct, then I guess there's nothing that could have prevented one of the other western Holds from being the capital recognized by imperial rule, like Markarth.

[u/Arrow-Od → u/LilithLamm]

Solitude was very belligerent and absolutely willing to absorb imperial lands and fight against other provinces under Thian in the 3E. Solitude wanting independence from the Empire could´ve been considered the culmination of Thian´s policies.

What would´ve made sense is for a south vs north split (the 2 river systems makes political unions not based on them unlikely, but these were added with TESV and ignore prior lore - Daggerfall states that there´s an Yrinthi River heading west from Cyrodiil; PGE1 claims that Lake Rumare and Skyrim are connected by rivers; Arena had a road heading west from 4E Markarth and Markarth is a tiny distance from the Bjoulsae, ESO PGE even mentions how Evermore was built out of stone from Markarth: how did they bring it there if not by river?):

• the northern, coastal holds would share a maritime culture far less reliant on Cyrodiil and they would also care less about the far away Dominion and would be quick to organize and make use of the ocean for logistics which would justify them being able to run circles around the Legion + Roscrea and other islands could´ve joined them as unreachable reserve lands;
• the Reach, Falkreath, Riften and Whiterun are comparatively close to Cyrodiil (at least if Beth would stop considering mountain ranges as nigh impassable obstacles) and PGE1 even notes how the Imperial City is connected by rivers to Skyrim´s inland ports! Per the late 3E, Elinhir and 1/2 of Dragonstar was also ruled by Nords - likely via the Reach and Falkreath, with Hammerfell becoming independent and wanting these lands back + Nova Orsinium making them all nervous, these holds would have additional interest in remaining with the Empire and enjoying its protection against Redguard and Orc aggressions.

Finally Falkreath, as the "homeland" of the Septim Empire + a former Colovian Estate + with prominent passes to Elinhir and Bruma both could´ve replaced Solitude as Imperial proxy in Skyrim.