Here's what I think.
Covenant was the old capital. The 20 Years War of Succession was fought in and around it some 100 years before the Great War (not to be confused with the War in the West, or the War in the North) even began, in 2331 AE.
Covenant was sacked in 2469, at time during which the Regent was ruling in young Alric's stead. The royal family moved north to Madrigal, where we pick up the tale of Alric ruling over the Nine and the rest of the Province, and follow it through until he's ruling the Empire as well.
