Thane Quests: How to Become Thane in All the Holds

Thane Tasks

Thane of Haafingar

(N/A) Jarl Elisif the Fair – Solitude

To become Thane, you must complete the Side Quest: The Wolf Queen Awakened and a task the Jarl gives you, Elisif’s Tribute. This pretty much involves trekking through the wilderness.

Then you must complete five Favors (miscellaneous objectives) for the citizens of Solitude (including the Jarl). This does not include helping members of a guild, such as the Thieves Guild, or the Dark Brotherhood.

Finally, you may purchase a house in the city. Steward Falk Firebeard is able to sell you Proudspire Manor for 25,000 Gold.

Proudspire Manor: 25,000 Gold

Upgrades: Bedroom (2,000), Living Room (2,000), Alchemy Lab (2,500), Enchanting Area (2,500), Kitchen (1,500), Patio (500)

Bonus: Stone of Barenziah (Unusual Gem), Housecarl: Jordis the Sword-Maiden, Blade of Haafingar(sword).

Thane of Hjaalmarch

(Stormcloak) Jarl Sorli the Builder – Morthal

To become Thane, you must have captured Morthal in the Civil War Questline.

(Imperial) Jarl Igrod Ravencrone – Morthal

To become Thane, you must have completed Side Quest: Laid to Rest.

You must then complete three Favors (miscellaneous objectives) for the citizens of Morthal (including the Jarl). This does not include helping members of a guild, such as the Thieves Guild, or the Dark Brotherhood.

There is no house available in Morthal, however you receive the Blade of Hjaalmarch(sword).

Thane of the Pale

(Stormcloak) Jarl Skald the Elder – Dawnstar

You must complete the Daedric Quest: The Waking Nightmare as well as Jarl Skald’s favor.

(Imperial) Jarl Brina Merilis – Dawnstar

You must have captured The Pale Hold in the Civil War Quests.

You must then complete three Favors (miscellaneous objectives) for the citizens of Dawnstar (including the Jarl). This does not include helping members of a guild, such as the Thieves Guild, or the Dark Brotherhood.

There is no house available in Dawnstar, but your consolation prize is the Blade of the Pale(sword).

Thane of Winterhold

(Stormcloak) Jarl Korir – Winterhold

You must complete his Favor

(Imperial) Jarl Kraldar – Winterhold

You must capture Winterhold as part of the Civil War Questline.

You must then complete three Favors (miscellaneous objectives) for the citizens of Winterhold (including the Jarl). This does not include helping members of a guild, such as the Thieves Guild, or the Dark Brotherhood.

Instead of a house, Winterhold gives you…The Blade of Winterhold (sword)....

Thane of the Reach

(Imperial) Jarl Igmund – Markarth

You must have completed his Favor.

(Stormcloak) Jarl Thongvor Silver-Fish – Markarth

You must have captured Markarth in the Civil War Quests to become Thane of this Hold.

You must then complete five Favors (miscellaneous objectives) for the citizens of Markarth (including the Jarl). This does not include helping members of a guild, such as the Thieves Guild, or the Dark Brotherhood.

Then you can buy Vlindrel Hall from Steward Raerek (Imperial) or Steward Reburrus Quintilius (Stormcloak) for 8,000 Gold.

Vlindrel Hall: 8,000 Gold

Upgrades: Bedroom (800), Living Room (900), Enchanting Area (1,000), Alchemy lab (1,000), Entrance (500)

Bonus: Super Storage Room! Follower Argis the Bulwark, and the Blade of the Reach (which is an axe)

Thane of Whiterun

(N/A) Jarl Balgruuf the Greater – Whiterun

You become the Thane a soon as you get anywhere in the Main Quest (namely the Quest: Dragon Rising). Your Housecarl will wait in Dragonsreach until you buy Breezehome.

(Stormcloak) Jarl Vignar – Whiterun

If you side with the Stormcloaks in the Civil War, Vignar becomes Jarl, after you’re Thane.

You are immediately able to purchase Breezehome from Steward Proventus Avenicci (Imperial) or you can wait and buy from Steward Brill (Stormcloak).

Breezehome: 5,000 Gold

Upgrades: Living Room (250), Dining Room (250), Kitchen (300), Bedroom (300), Loft (200), Alchemy Lab (500)

Bonus: Housecarl: Lydia, Blade of Whiterun (axe), nice storage space, and a central location

Thane of Eastmarch

(Stormcloak) Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak – Windhelm

You must capture the holds of Whiterun and Falkreth in the Civil War Questline to become Thane.

(Imperial) Jarl Brunwulf Free-Winter – Windhelm

You must have captured Windhelm in the Civil War Questline (so like, finished it).

You must then do five Favors for the people of WIndhelm and complete Side Quest: Blood on the Ice. When it is completed, (Imperial) Steward Captain Lonely-Gale or (Stormcloak) Steward Jorleif will allow you to buy Hjerim (I’ve heard that the house can be bought while doing the side quest, but I would recommend against it because Hjerim, though lovely, has a lot of glitches). If you decide not to buy the house before completing the quest, I would advise that you buy the Clean Up Crimescene upgrade first!

Hjerim: 12,000 Gold

Upgrades: Clean Up (500), Bedroom (1,000), Kitchen (1,000), Living Room (1,500), Alchemy Lab (1,500), Enchanting Area (1,500), Armory (2000)

Bonus: Housecarl: Calder, Blade of Eastmarch (Axe), Hjerim’s secret room

Thane of Falkreath

(Imperial) Jarl Siddegeir – Falkreath

To become Thane, you have to complete the Jarl’s Favor and a Rare Item Hunt for him.

(Stormcloak) Jarl Dengeir of Stuhn – Falkreath

You must capture Falkreath in the Civil War Quests

You must then complete three favors for the people.

There is no home available in Falkreath, but there is a Blade of Falkreath (sword).

Thane of the Rift

(Imperial) Jarl Maven Black-Briar – Riften

Capture the Rift in the Civil War Quests! Then complete the Quest: Deal with the Skooma Trade.

(Stormcloak) Jarl Laila Law-Giver – Riften

You must complete the third part of Quest: Deal with the Skooma Trade.

Complete five Favors for the citizens of Riften and Steward (Imperial) Hemming Black-Briar or Steward (Stormcloak) Anuriel will allow you to buy Honeyside.

Honeyside: 8,000 Gold

Upgrades: Porch (400), Kitchen (500), Bedroom (600), Garden (800), Alchemy Lab (1,000), Enchanting Area (1,000)

Bonus: Housecarl: Iona, Blade of the Rift (sword), a Garden, an alternate way into Riften.