Covenant

The Covenant, also known as the Bandit Horde, was a partially recognized interprovincial government that controlled a portion of Tamriel at one point in history. Formed by dozens of secessionist cities on the grounds of excessive military intervention and corruption within the Empire, the Covenant was led initially by the warmongering militia leader Dex, who served as the Horde's Head of State. In addition the Covenant was secretly supported by several corporations, including the Flower Crown Trading Co., headed by Jarl Bor Roman.

The secessionist movement that began in 4E 225 would lead to a political crisis in which tensions escalated between the newly-formed alliance and the reigning Cyrodiilic Empire. In 4E 226, the Covenant and the Empire went to war using their respective military forces—the barbarian army and the Imperial Legions of Cyrodiil—resulting in a continental conflict for the first time in thirty years.

The following eight years would see the Covenant Wars rage across Tamriel with the Covenant rapidly attempting to bring the Empire to its knees. Unknown to the majority of the participants, however, the war was merely a ploy—orchestrated by General Naarifin of the Aldmeri Dominion, who controlled the Covenant through Neo. By 4E 234, the Covenant suffered several major defeats in the Padomaic Sieges as the end of the war approached. After Roman's disappearance in the Battle of the Imperial City, and the defeat of Mariber Sicarius in Senchal, the Covenant was formally dissoluted in Whiterun. With the subsequent surrender of the barbarian army, the state rapidly collapsed as the war came to an end. Following the end of hostilities, trade groups that had supported the cause were nationalized, and most of its remaining cities rejoined the Empire of Therin, whether voluntarily or under threat while some elements fragmented into several holdouts.