Becoming a powerful and impressive member of Skyrim society culminates in the title “Thane.”

Follow our advice, and your good deeds pay off in the form of a piece of property you can purchase (and decorate) in each of the five major Holds.

You also get the services of your own Housecarl. There is one Housecarl per Hold.

They wait for you in the same building as the Jarl or at your house (after purchase). Take one of them as a Follower at a time. For the “minor” Holds, there are no houses or Housecarls.

You can be a Thane of multiple Holds, but there is no bonus if you’re a Thane of Skyrim (that is, of all nine Holds):

Thane of Haafingar*

Please click to enlarge

Part 1

Friend of the Jarl: Jarl Elisif the Fair is the leader of Solitude. You must have finished Side Quest: The Wolf Queen Awakened, which is related to her Hold.

You must also have completed the task she set for you. See Miscellaneous Objectives: Elisif’s Tribute for more information...