For me the empire is much better resembled by Victorian Great Britain in the 19th century than Rome. Mutual Welfare through trade, albeit taking the slightly larger part, colonies with some independence, but if they get any ideas, and they consider the colony valuable, their force gets there. Also until Christianity very late Rome was very free and open to religion. Whenever they claimed a new region, they took the gods that the natives had as new ones and accepted them into their god-heaven. Thats why eventually they got multiple gods for the same thing. It only failed big time on Christianity, because of the very concept of Monotheism. In particular the problems started since in Rome, one payed his taxes as sacrical offering - which was refused, not accepting those gods, while Rome was pissed not what people believed, but because they didn't pay their taxes. One could probably find similarities between the TES Empire and the way ancient Egyptians run their empire. Or the Persians. Your pints are valid enough but outwardly the British Empire has not much in common with TES empire because there is a huge gap in technology. The main being gunpowder. It's hard to picture the British without canons and muskets. The Roman empire on the other hand fits rather well. With their onagers. And it's not just a more or less similar stage of technology but look at how the soldiers are dressed. They look like Roman legionaries. General Tullius, even a Roman name, is like a roman general. For at least the past decades the Roman empire has been a very popular theme for movies and TV series. Always very heroic, bloody and raw. The men are all strong and brutal and the women all beautiful and sexy. It appeals to a large audience. 300 takes the crown in that regard although that one is a few centuries before Rome but you get the idea. Just reading the boards the past couple of months gives me the impression many 'imperial-fans' project this image onto the TES empire. Thats my feeling anyway, could be wrong. To me the struggle for freedom and independence is a much more appealing story, rather then that of a conquering empire. It's unfortunate that Beth made the Stormcloaks so stereotypical and hollywoodesque. We have enough of that already. The second WW is not the standard to measure all things with. They culd have taken a more 'Braveheart approach' or made some associations with the American Revolution, instead of this heavy handed racism. Reality is frustrating as it is wherein any valuation for anything white is deemed racist. Anyway, the logo of Skyrim also makes it rather clear who's side one is -according to Beth- supposed to choose.