The Cities of Skyrim
Haafingar (Solitude)
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(Haafingar (Solitude))
And she also knew where Solitude was, how cold it was there, in this heart of northern winds.
The Wolf Queen, Vol. 1
Solitude ("Solitude"), as Haafingar is also called, fully deserves its name. The northernmost city of Tamriel, it is relatively isolated from all other major cities of Skyrim, located on a vast cape that juts into the icy waters of the Sea of Ghosts. But that did not prevent it from becoming the largest port city in the country – cargo departs from here to Wayrest and even Senchal, which is on the opposite shore of the continent. Solitude has always been the wealthiest and most influential city in Skyrim, and over time it has only increased its influence.
But it did not enter history thanks to the Bard College located within its walls nor to the expeditions the city outfitted to explore far-off areas of the Sea of Ghosts. The War of the Red Diamond from 120 to 127 3E began in Solitude, marking the greatest threat to the unity of the Septim Empire in all its history. It was here that Potema, the Wolf Queen of Solitude, honed her craft of intrigue and made deals with the powerful of this world - those displeased with the Emperor's rule and those who simply wanted a price. The granddaughter of Uriel II, she was married to the king of Solitude, Mantiaarco, but the ambitions of a kingdom at the edge of the world were clearly not satisfying enough.
A bloody civil war tore Tamriel apart and ended only with the capture of Potema's son, who had already declared himself Emperor Uriel III, at the Battle of Ichidag in 127 3E – and the swift death of that at the hands of an enraged mob.
But it took another ten years of continuous battles for Emperor Sefforus I to conquer Potema. Losing allies and territories, she found herself another army, calling upon daedra and undead for aid. Solitude became a kingdom of death.
Potema died during the siege of her city-state in 137 3E, and her nephew, Pelagius, was proclaimed the king of Solitude. For the heir prince of Wayrest, this siege was the first battle in his life – a battle for the city where he decided to summon the daedric prince of knowledge, Hermaeus Mora. But even such noble plans for acquiring knowledge can be thwarted. When summoning the Lords of Oblivion, one must always remember that there is a minuscule chance that the Prince of Madness, Sheogorath, may respond to your call.
It is also said that her madness permeated the castle of Solitude so much that it infected the following kings who ruled there. Ironically, the next was her eighteen-year-old nephew, Pelagius III. He quickly became known as Pelagius the Mad. There are even rumors that he killed his father, Magnus.
The Wolf Queen, surely, laughed one last time.
Biography of the Wolf Queen.
After the war of Bend'r-Mahk, which broke out in 396 3E between Skyrim and the united forces of Hammerfell and High Rock, the first significantly expanded its borders. Solitude gained control of a significant portion of the northern coast after King Tiaan married Makalla, the Queen of Dawnstar. He even annexed imperial territories – such as the island of Roscrea, directly governed by the Emperor since it was conquered in 271 3E by Uriel V Septim.
Rifton
(Rifton)
Barenzia stood on the city wall and gazed into the distance, towards the range of snowy mountains, the guardians of Morrowind, looming over the deep gorge that separated them from Rifton.
The Real Barenzia, Vol. 1
Rifton (also used as Riften) is located in southeastern Skyrim, not far from the border with Morrowind. It is the capital of one of the Old Holds called Rift ("Rift"). The next settlement that an eastbound traveler will encounter will be the Dunmer settlement of Silgrad, grown around an ancient watchtower.
Dawnstar
(Dawnstar)
Dawnstar ("Morning Star") is a garrison town on the northern coast of Skyrim. In 283 2E, the fortress was destroyed by the armies of rebellious kings contesting their claim to ultimate power. The reason for the tense situation was that the throne of the Empire was occupied not even by a human, but by a tsaesci from Akavir, the potentate Versidju-Shai. The fall of Dawnstar led to the Bardmont Council – a gathering named so after the town located south of the fortress where it took place. The outcome was a declaration of martial law and an order to all rulers of Tamriel to disband their armies. Thirty-seven bloody years, legions, and nearly all of the imperial treasury were spent to ensure that there was only one army in the Empire – its army. What led to the ruling lords being left without troops served as a catalyst for the creation of the Sifim, the precursor to the Fighters Guild that protected civilians from the rampant crime that arose during the war.
Dawnstar's troubles with sieges did not end there. These walls had to withstand the onslaught of mysterious ice tribes, possibly related to the legendary falmer, the snow elves. Four defenders of the fortress tried to resist the tribes in their own way – negotiating, launching attacks against them, and even seeking help from the Emperor. But they continued to attack, and Governor Vintikay expelled these four defenders from Dawnstar, justifiably fearing that one of them had betrayed their homeland. The tribes were preparing for a final attack when a disgraced hero arrived to help. Vintikay promised to restore his good name if he found the traitor. With the prophetic abilities of the city healer, Eastasia, the hero found the four defenders in the snow and tundra and, questioning each, revealed the traitor. Using the artifact Starry Cold, he was able to triumph in the final battle and save the city.
At the end of the Third Era, the Queen of Dawnstar, Makala, married Tiaan, the King of Solitude, which led to an expansion of the latter's influence.
- These events are from The Elder Scrolls Travels: Dawnstar.
Windhelm
(Windhelm)
Windhelm is located in the northeastern Skyrim. While Rifton stands guard over the southern part of the border with Morrowind, Windhelm controls its northern part and serves as a base for imperial troops guarding the leading road to the eastern Dunmer valley. The only city in Eastmarch, one of the Old Holds, it was once the capital of the First Empire of the Nords. Evidence of this is the Palace of Kings, belonging to the Isgramor dynasty – which can still be admired in the center of the Old Town. The city was looted and destroyed twice – during the War of Succession and by the Akaviri army led by Ada'Sum Dir-Kamala, a snow demon defeated at Red Mountain only by the combined efforts of Almalexia and the Underground King. Despite this, the Palace of Kings survived and maintained its original appearance.
Winterhold
(Winterhold)
He taught her to wield the orc's weapon,
With a six-foot axe from Winterhold,
With western elves' axes,
That beheaded foes with a swoosh.
The Third Door.
Winterhold ("Winter Fortress") is the capital of the eponymous hold, a kingdom located on the northeastern coast of Skyrim. Like its ancient rival Solitude, it is located on a cape, but its history is much older – as the Song of Return states, this patch of Tamriel was first stepped upon by a human foot. At Hsaari Head, the northernmost tip of Broken Cape, Isgramor landed with his companions, fleeing from the glacial-covered continent of Atmora. For a time they lived in peace with the snow elves inhabiting these snows, until they decided that their new neighbors were too dangerous. Only the newly established city of Saarthal was burned in the Night of Tears, and only Isgramor and his two sons escaped from the slaughter committed by the elves. But over time, the elves were pushed back and defeated, and the ruins of Saarthal were opened to the world by imperial archaeologists near Winterhold.
It is one of the so-called Old Holds, those isolated from the outside world geographically and culturally, and therefore still adhere to ancient traditions. In particular, power is inherited here, rather than subject to local Councils. Ironically, considering what events once led to the transfer of power here.
King Borgas of Winterhold was extremely captivated by the Alessian faith. But the injustice of the latter greatly dissatisfied the wood elves, and in 369 1E, Borgas had the misfortune of encountering the dark side of this short people. An encounter with the Wild Hunt, a whirlwind of forest demons and beast gods destroying everything in their path, cannot be called a pleasant event – not least because it will be the last event of his life.
The heir to Borgas, who was the last representative of the Isgramor dynasty, was chosen by a Council of representatives from all holds. However, his choice fell not on Jarl Hans of Winterhold, the most popular of the contenders – and the War of Succession broke out. It only ended in 420 1E with the signing of the Pact of Chieftains and the loss of lands in High Rock and Morrowind. Since then, there have been no civil wars in Skyrim.
Currently, a new rise of Winterhold is taking place. Located near the border with Morrowind, it has become a refuge for refugees from there. They have injected new blood into the city’s veins, reviving trade and enriching culture. Thus, the core of the College of Winterhold became a library saved from destruction in the east - the Community of Ismira.
Whiterun
(Whiterun)
Whiterun ("White Pass") is a city in the central part of the country, located at the foot of the Throat of the World. This area was formerly called the Imperial City of Skyrim, but dynastic quarrels and attacks by snow trolls, along with harsh winters alternating with droughts, floods, and fires, completely devastated Whiterun. The group known as the Hürme – a legacy of the Wolf Queen – contributed its part here. Believing that Potema and her son Uriel III were the last pureblood descendants of Tiber Septim, they do everything they can to thwart the Empire's plans and interests in Skyrim.
Currently, the county is ruled by the head of the local coven of witches, J'sasha, the self-proclaimed priestess of Lorkhan. Initially blamed by the people for all the calamities that befell the city, she was suddenly elevated by them to the position of ruler. Perhaps in the hope that such powerful magic would allow the city to regain its former glory.
All of this occurs in the shadow of the Throat of the World – the tallest mountain in Skyrim, rivaled only by the Red Mountain of Morrowind across all of Tamriel. Nords believe that here the sky breathes upon the earth, shaping and changing it, and it is here that humans were born. At its peak live and achieve harmony in absolute silence the Greybeards, the Tongues of Skyrim, the last mortals who master tu'um, the ancient art of expressing spiritual power through the shout. In this place, voice and sky mingled - the most important things for the worldview of the Nords. Pilgrims make a long journey to these lands to ascend the Seven Thousand Steps to High Hrothgar and hear the voice of the heavens.
Falkreath
(Falkreath)
Falkreath is a city in the southwestern part of Skyrim, located not far from the borders with Hammerfell and Cyrodiil simultaneously. It is just a stone's throw from the Elinhir belonging to the Redguards. Perhaps it is this proximity that contributed to the city's extremely weak resistance to Skyrim's forces in the Bend'r-Mahk war.
It is known for certain that as far back as the end of the Second Era, Falkreath was part of the lands of Western Cyrodiil. Its king, Culekain, was the one who initiated the restoration of the Empire, torn to shreds in the Era of Interregnum. It all began with the fortification of the northern boundary of the Colovian Territories – through signing a treaty with the Nords in the Battle for Old Hrol'dan in 846 2E. A year later, the king, along with young General Hyalti, would unite western Cyrodiil under his rule and would go further in his plans – to the conquest of the Nibenay Valley and the Imperial City. And thus it would be, but in 854 2E a hired assassin would slit Culekain's and his general's throats and burn down the palace. Culekain, later dubbed the Null Emperor, would perish, but Hyalti would survive and in this fire forge the Third Empire, taking the name Tiber Septim.
Markarth Side
(Markarth Side)
Markarth Side, once known as Snowhawk ("Snow Hawk") – is a city in the west-central part of Skyrim. In gratitude to the Tongues, who declared his fate, Tiber Septim ordered the construction of the Imperial College of the Voice here, whose task was to restore the Way of the Voice to its ancient military path. However, at the time of its founding, some had a very low opinion of this institution – rumors circulated that the Great Master had previously earned a living as a street performer in Windhelm, and the students were all from families hoping to gain patronage from the new authority.
Thanks to Soth for proofreading.
Descriptions are given as of 433 3E.
Art and screenshots are "attached" to cities according to the currently available information.
Materials from the following sites have been used:
Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages;