The collapse of the (western) Roman Empire in 470 AD caused Europe to fall into the "Dark Ages", where the light of science, medicine, art and philosophy was extinguished for 1,000 years. Not until the advent of the Rennaisance around the 13th century did science, medicine, art and philosophy begin to re-emerge. Sure, it was corrupt, the leaders caring only for their own power. But the people were not better off without them!

Ulfric is just a barbarian that will tear it all down, so that he might more easily gain advantage. He is Odoacer, and cares not for the People! Fight for the Empire!

Cyrodiil is the Roman Empire. Just look at their armor! They have "legates" and "legions". Without Skyrim, the Empire can never regain it's strength, and defeat the Thallmar. Losing Skyrim would be the final blow to the Empire. If Ulfric wins it will only lead to a new Ayelid dominion!

Skyrim under Ulfric, as a kingdom, alone, could nevre protect the humans from the Altmeris. The People need the Empire!

Unless, you are an Altmer mage, then, um, nevermind.

FOR THE REBELLION!

*Arnold Schwarzenegger Voice*

"VIC-TOR-EE OR SOVNGARDE!"

I find it intriguing that Tamriel is moving from it's Classical Age to it's Dark Age.

Theres a few things wrong with your arguments:

1) Yes, the Empire is inspired by the Romans. That shouldn't suggest, however, that our history and Tamriels is parallel. Technology is still pretty basic, etc. For all we know, something better might replace the Empire

2) In the Thalmor dossiers on Ulfric, it reports that siding with either side will weaken the Thalmor

The empire has collapsed three times in the past.

Allessian empire ended. The Reman Empire ended. The Septim Empire ended.

There currently isn't an empire. There's a military coalition which controls 3 provinces. It's an empire in name only.

Like the Holy Roman Empire/

And in any case, playing an expansion set in a time when the Thalmor have complete dominion would be more interesting than a bunch of romans slapping each other on the back.

spoiler alert

"Plan" is the key word there. Like I said, more interesting.

Yes and no...

The "Holy" portion of the Holy roman Empire was used as a means to attempt a consolidation (under the banner of Christianity) of the various territories and as a means of seperating the new Christian empire from the old empire.

It was a new empire and not only in name; but otherwise yes the same.

Soooo... TESVI: Summerset Isle, where you get to stop the high elves from destroying the world, OR, play AS a high elf, and help END the world. Of course, some folks would complain: "I played a high elf, ended the world, and then couldn't continue playing the game."............

The "Holy Roman" Empire was all the German principalities and (for a short time) Spain and France. It was not the Roman Empire. It's name drew from the Pope Leo III proclaiming Charlemagne to be the Imperator Augustus of Rome. But this was honorary and the Pope had no authority to name anyone emperor of anything. The Roman Catholic church did not exist when the Western Roman Empire collapsed.

Christianity existed, to be sure, but it was Orthodox christianity, run by the Eastern Roman empire, the Byzantine Empire, in Constantinople. The Roman Catholic church broke off from the Orthodox church after the collapse of Western Rome. It was a seperate entity frome Western Roman Empire, coming about after it's demise.

Naming Charlemagne "Roma Imperator" caused much enmity with Constantinople, because the Byzantine emperor actually carried all the power and authority of Rome, being descended directly from Constantine the Great (just not biologically). To put it in modern terms, the Byzantine emperor felt that the Pope, "was just some dude in Italy". Or worse, a heretic.

The Pope didn't care, though, and except for a short break between the dynasties of Charlemagne and Otto, kept proclaiming the protector of Catholic church as "The Emporer of Rome", until the 19th century.

Any connection to the actual Roman Empire, was in name only.