Thane of Whiterun is usually the first Thane title a Skyrim character earns, and the easiest. In Whiterun Hold the title comes almost automatically through the main story: kill the dragon at the Western Watchtower and Jarl Balgruuf the Greater makes you a Thane on the spot. There is also a second, harder version if the Stormcloaks take the city and Vignar Gray-Mane becomes jarl.
How to start
- Default version (Balgruuf): complete the main quest Dragon Rising and report back to Balgruuf in Dragonsreach.
- Stormcloak version (Vignar): side with the Stormcloaks and win Battle for Whiterun. Any Thane title earned under Balgruuf is revoked, and you speak to Vignar about earning it again.
Walkthrough
Thane under Jarl Balgruuf (default)
After Dragon Rising, Balgruuf thanks you for dealing with the dragon and names you Thane of Whiterun. No favors for citizens and no house purchase are required first; the title is your reward for the dragon. Along with it you get:
- A weapon from the jarl’s armory as a symbol of the title, the Axe of Whiterun.
- A personal housecarl, Lydia, who is assigned to you right away and can follow you as a companion.
- Permission to buy a house in the city.
Buying Breezehome
Talk to the steward, Proventus Avenicci, in Dragonsreach to buy Breezehome for 5,000 gold. It sits just inside the city gates, near the Warmaiden’s. Proventus also sells furnishing upgrades for the rooms. Once you own the house, Lydia lives there when she is not travelling with you.
Thane under Jarl Vignar (Stormcloak alternative)
If the Stormcloaks win the Battle for Whiterun, Vignar takes the throne and his steward Brill replaces Proventus. To be named Thane again, Vignar uses the standard requirements:
- Assist five citizens of Whiterun Hold. Favors done earlier in the game usually count.
- Own a house in Whiterun. If you already bought Breezehome, this is already met.
The journal only tracks two objectives here: purchase a house in Whiterun, then return to the jarl. Vignar then grants the title and hands over the hold’s ceremonial weapon (some sources call it the Blade of Whiterun, but Whiterun’s thane weapon is the Axe of Whiterun).
Easy ways to help the people of Whiterun Hold
- Adrianne Avenicci: Greatsword for a Great Man.
- Farengar Secret-Fire: Salt For Arcadia, take frost salts to Arcadia.
- Erik the Slayer in Rorikstead: Erik the Slayer.
- Faendal or Sven in Riverwood: A Lovely Letter.
- Carlotta Valentia: convince Mikael to leave her alone.
- Uthgerd the Unbroken: beat her in a brawl at the Bannered Mare.
- Ysolda: bring her a mammoth tusk.
- Amren: recover his family sword from a radiant dungeon.
- Brenuin or Lucia: give a beggar a gold coin.
- Chop wood for Hulda or Hod, or gather crops for Alfhild Battle-Born, Lemkil, Reldith or Severio Pelagia.
Rewards
- Title of Thane of Whiterun
- Under Balgruuf: the Axe of Whiterun; under Vignar: the Blade of Whiterun
- Housecarl: Lydia
- The right to buy Breezehome (5,000 gold)
Tips and notes
- As a Thane you can mention your title to guards when caught for minor crimes in the hold.
- Under the Imperial side of the civil war, Balgruuf keeps his throne and your title stays as it is.
- Lydia can later be inducted into the Blades during Rebuilding the Blades.
- Other holds have their own versions, such as Thane of Haafingar and Thane of Winterhold.
