No they haven't. During the reign of Titus Mede I, there were no less than 18 full Legions and possibly more. The Empire has been trying to recover from its losses for less than a generation
During the reign of Uriel VII, Legions unable or unwilling to protect villages within Skyrim. Fort Moonmoth in Morrowind claiming to have no one to spare to deal with bandits.
This isn't Cyrodiil, or even Third Era Morrowind. It seems pretty clear that in Skyrim protecting the citzenry in the ordinary course of business is the duty of the Hold guards, and the Imperial Legions do protect the citzenry in the Holds in which they establish control during the Imperial Legion quest line. I've never encountered a single instance of Legionnaires shirking from their duties in Skyrim.
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Imperial_Deserter
The Legion is protecting the citizenry after open rebellion.
Edit: Hammerfell was also plagued with infighting between Crowns and Forebears before the Great War even began, what were the 18 Legions doing all that time. They allow Hammerfell to fight each other but step in the Nord Civil War because the High King was killed.
"The savages are killing each other." "Lets watch." *High King dies* "Alright break it up."
The Imperial Legions suffered huge losses during the Great War. What would you have them do with such limited resources afterwards? Anyone can bitch and moan about the status of things, but if they don't have any better alternatives it's nothing more than pointless bitching and moaning. The Empire has been moving at the best pace it can in regaining military strength lost to the Great War. Do you think that waging a civil war and drawing in Imperial Legion resources makes things better or worse? Do you think reducing the overall viable population to constitute the military for both the Imperial Legion and the Stormcloaks and the decimation of resources that could otherwise aid in the recovery of both the province and the military regardless of the victor makes things better or worse?
The Imperial Legions did suffer large losses, but if they still had the 18 Legions, with say 5000 in each Legion. They lost three Legions, and did not have more than half in each Legion. So we'll say 2000 soldiers in each Legion. 30,000 Legionnaires give or take, twenty six years slowly recovering their losses. The Legionnaires you come across in Skyrim speak of joining the Legion recently, with it being something more of a militia as Rikke's dialogue suggests. The resources from the war effort are coming from Solitude's stockpiles as mentioned in the guide for Legion officers and Elisif's dialogue.
So which
Legion resources are we talking about? Technically the only two people who mention coming from Cyrodiil who are part of the Legion is Legate Fasendil and General Tullius. Tullius himself also mentions he is being denied the man power and resources he's requesting, the Empire isn't throwing in large resources into crushing the rebellion.
Speaking with Ralof and Hadvar seems to suggest Cyrodiil isn't paying much attention.
"You haven't heard of the civil war in Skyrim? I guess down in Cyrodiil people have other things to worry about." Yes... like worrying about violent outbreaks and death.
Cicero says it isn't safe within the Imperial province.
What are you even talking about here? Neville is a random citizen of the Empire. His bigotted views have absolutely nothing to do with the Empire's views.
Neville is an ex Legionnaire. Not exactly your random citizen.
Being Pro Stormcloak is hard
Stop raping me Dags.
