Windhelm Windhelm , or the City of Kings is one of the nine major cities in the province of Skyrim . It is the capital of both the Giant ' s Run and the Eastmarch region of Skyrim . Windhelm is one of the oldest cities in Tamrielic cities and is a shining example of how great the original Empire of Humans was in its prime . Description . Geography . Windhelm is one of the larger cities of Skyrim and is located in a rather strategic location . Windhelm is situated on the Yorgrim Estuary , which leads to the Sea of Ghosts . It is because of this , Windhelm serves a trading post and a gateway between the Sea transport and the mainland of Skyrim . Windhelm is built on the steep hills north of the Yorgrim River in Eastmarch , in a pocket area of the Winterhold Mountains , which shows just how amazing the Atmorans were in their architecture . To connect Windhelm , to the southern river edge , there is a large stone bridge that towers over the Yorgrim River . It is also the first line of defense in Windhelm . The Nords of Windhelm had utilized the frozen land around them for various purposes , ranging from a Nordic Tomb for the Windhelm Family with Morvunskar and the various farms along the road towards the Dunmeth Pass and Blacklight . Windhelm is one of the oldest cities in Tamriel , and it is surprising to see it withstand the test of time , looking the same as it did several million years ago . The Atmorans had also created caves and catacombs underneath Windhelm that is said to house the tomb of Ysgramor himself . Windhelm city itself is vast and easily coordinated . The central district of Windhelm is known as the Stone Quarter , which consists of southwestern Windhelm and the main street . The Stone Quarter houses the town square in front of Candlehearth Hall as well as the Hall of the Dead and the Temple of Talos . Various shops are held in this area among other businesses . The town square is in between each separate part of the city and leads to the outside and the Great Bridge of Windhelm . The Gray Quarter , formally known as the Snow Quarter , has currently been used by the displaced Dark Elves from the province of Morrowind . The Gray Quarter takes up the eastern portion of Windhelm and is considered the slums of Windhelm . As you through the streets , you see all sorts of Dunmeri memorabilia . The New Gnisis Cornerclub is one of the most well - known inns in the area . The district known as Valunstrad , which translates to the Avenue of Valor , is essentially the nobles district of Windhelm . The Nordic Clans of Eastmarch have a home in the Valunstrad Quarter , and other estates inhabit the area like Hjerim and the House of Clan Shatter - Shield . The Palace of the Kings is the seat of power in the city of Windhelm and is one of the most massive structures in the region . It was built as a Palace for Ysgramor himself . The Windhelm Docks are located along the Yorgrim River , just before the Sea of Ghosts . It is where the Argonian population lives in , all of them live in the Argonian Assemblage , one of the worst homes in Skyrim . Many different families are crammed into this large hall . History . Merethic Era . Atmoran Expansion into Skyrim ; Founding of Windhelm . With the destruction of Saarthal , Ysgramor and his people had traveled back to Atmora in an event known as the Return . In his hubris , Ysgramor amassed his Five Hundred Companions to purge the Snow Elves of the land for betraying their trust in this new land . During their voyage back to Skyrim , the Storm of Separation had occurred and in the end , Yngol , the son of Ysgramor had perished at the mighty hands of Kyne . The Companion Yngol would be buried in a tomb along the Yorgrim Estuary . After one of the last battles against Snow Elves , many of the Companion groups had separated , beginning to settle all across the province . Ysgramor , stricken with grief , looked south where the river met the sea and saw the site of a great city . Ysgramor declared that this city would be a monument to the glories of mankind and that his new palace would look over Yngol Barrow . He felt that his line would bring peace to the land , something that was denied to them on Atmora . The Construction of Windhelm , the City of Kings . The Elven captives would soon go to work for the construction of Windhelm . Many prisoners had died during the process , either through excessive work or by the hands of the Ylgermet crew . Ysgramor drove them to work harder by constructing the great bridge in between the city and the rest of Eastmarch . The Palace of the Kings was built with large spires jutting out of the clouds , to show its dominance over the province . Deep underneath Windhelm , there is a large tomb designed to house the deceased Five Hundred Companions and Ysgramor should they be called to Sovngarde . However , Ysgramor was buried in an ancient tomb along the Sea of Ghosts , so that the crypt would look towards Atmora . Although his spirit has passed , the heart of his dynasty yearns for the still - green fields of Atmora , before it had frozen over . And so , the city - state of Windhelm was created , and it lives on , even before its creator . First Era . The First Empire of the Nords & the Nordic Conquest . As time went on , the Ysgramor Dynasty had ruled out from the city - state of Windhelm . The 13th of the Ysgramor line , Harald had accomplished many things for the people of Skyrim and made the province what it is to this day . Harald ' s forces had eliminated the last Snow Elves located in the Rift and had relinquished all holdings from Atmora , then making the centralized Kingdom of Skyrim , naming Windhelm as the capital of Skyrim . As Harald became the first king of the Nords , the Atmoran Companions returned to their homeland , and the Nordic Kingdom expanded themselves as a militaristic power . The Nords finally looked towards their destiny and sought to conquer the whole continent of Tamriel . Within a few years , the Nordic Empire had conquered land beyond the traditional borders of Skyrim , to modern - day Daggerfall , to the Nibenay , and to the Western Front of Morrowind . As time went on , his youngest son , Vrage the Gifted had assumed the throne and established Windhelm as the capital of the First Empire of the Nords . Second Era . Rise and Fall of Jarl Elgryr the Unminded . Sometime during the Second Era , the city - state of Windhelm was ruled by Jarl Elgryr the Unminded , whose rule was despised throughout the land . While his people were freezing to death , the Palace of Ysgramor would be the place of hearth and revelry . Elgryr would give little to no attention to the denizens of Windhelm . The Court Wizard was mysterious and fear - inducing to the people , he would visit peoples homes at strange times , only to leave a bloody mess on the floor , murderous and demented . Windhelm ' s people were starving , growing insane with a lack of food . The people of Windhelm have demanded justice , taking arms and preparing the breach the gates of the Palace . The residents of Windhelm stormed the Palace of the Kings , it is unknown how the revolution had ended , but Elgryr ' s time as the Jarl would pass . The date of this is left unknown , but the letters detailing the events were recovered in the third era . The Kingdom of Eastern Skyrim & Queen Freydis . The Jagged Crown was an ancient helm that was created by King Harald , as a symbol of sovereignty in Skyrim . It was however lost to time when Borgas of Winterhold was slain by the Wood Elves during the Wild Hunt . The Crown was replaced by the Crown of Verity , a mystical crown that chooses the heir to the throne of the High King . During the reign of Versidue Shaie , High King Logrolf of Skyrim was assassinated , leaving the throne of the High King to his daughter , Freydis of Windhelm . But controversy would arise when Jarl Svartr of Solitude claimed that Freydis was an illegitimate heir to the throne , even though the Crown of Verity had chosen Freydis . Instead of a civil war , a moot was created where it ended in favor of Svartr . These contradictions caused a schism between the Nords of West Skyrim and the Nords of the Old Holds which resulted in the province separating into the independent Kingdoms of Western Skyrim and Eastern Skyrim . With the latter being ruled by High Queen Freydis . Her descendants would rule across the Kingdom for generations . The Second Akaviri Invasion ; Fall of Queen Mabjaarn . During the Interregnum in 2E 572 , the Kingdom of Eastern Skyrim was ruled by Mabjaarn Flame - Hair , who resided in the city - state of Windhelm and had three children . Around the same time , the Second Akaviri Invasion had commenced under the supervision of Ada ' Soom Dir - Kamal . It had begun with the Sack of Windhelm when the Akaviri army had besieged the southern gate for a brief second . After that , the city of Windhelm was razed by the invaders , resulting in the death of both Mabjaarn Flame - Hair and Princess Nurnhilde . One of the twin brother , Fildgor Strong - Prince , was present in the battle , showcasing his battle prowess alongside the Stormfist Clan . The other twin brother , Jorunn the Skald - Prince had arrived into Windhelm , joining the fray with his companions , the Pack of Bards . A new leader was needed to rule over Eastern Skyrim and to force the Akaviri Army out of Tamriel . Fildgor stepped in and claimed the throne , expecting Jorunn to comply . However , the Skald - Prince refused to accept such a man of war onto the throne of Eastern Skyrim . The Brothers ' War ; Enter Jorunn the Skald - King . Fildgor Strong - Prince did not take Jorunn ' s defiance lightly , so he rallied the Stormfist Clan to prepare for an attack . Realizing that a Civil War was being conceived before him , Jorunn challenged Fildgor to a Traditional Nordic Duel , whoever succeeded , would be crowned the High King of Eastern Skyrim . It was the most prolonged three - hour fight in history , being dubbed the Brothers ' War . The duel was brutal , weapons clashed , and blood was drawn but in the end , the newly - proclaimed Jorunn the Skald - King had garnered victory by shattering Fildgor ' s weapon during the battle and demanding him to surrender . Fildgor was forced to surrender , and he was exiled from Eastern Skyrim , the Stormfist Clan were also chastened for supporting him . Fildgor would live out in the territories of the Daggerfall Covenant , cursing his brother ' s name . Now that Jorunn was the leader of Windhelm , he gathered his forces and traveled to High Hrothgar alone , to seek aid from the Greybeards . The Battle of Stonefalls & the Ebonheart Pact . Jorunn traveled to High Hrothgar with the intent to seek aid from the Greybeards . However , the religious group were pacifists and did not help the Nordic Army in their battle , although , Jorunn did not leave empty - handed . The Greybeards summoned Wulfharth from the depths of Sovngarde , to aid Jorunn the Skald - King in his attack against the Akaviri . With everything in their grasp , Jorunn amassed a Nordic Army from the city - state of Riften , one that was inspired by Wulfharth ' s presence and fueled by anger against the Akaviri . Dir - Kamal ' s forces had traversed onto the Rift , besieging Fort Greenwall along the way , after witnessing the Nords at Riften , Dir - Kamal bypassed the city , entering the Stonefalls Ashlands , assuming the Nords would not follow . This was a fatal mistake . Dir - Kamal ' s forces would be cornered at Vivec ' s Antlers by the Nords to the west , the Dark Elves to the east , and the Argonians to the south . The Battle of Stonefalls would end with the utter devastation of the Akaviri Invaders and the formation of the Ebonheart Pact . Shadows over Windhelm & the Konunleikar . During the Interregnum in 2E 582 , the city - state of Windhelm celebrated the Konunleikar , an annual event celebrating the inauguration of Jorunn the Skald - King , ever since the Brothers ' War . Thane Mera Stormcloak had hosted the Konunleikar , all the while protecting the city from any threat . Oddly enough , the Stormfist Clan had begun to appear throughout Windhelm , raising suspicion for Thane Mera and the Windhelm Guard . Mera Stormcloak had tasked the Vestige , an Agent of the Ebonheart Pact , to uncover the reappearance of the Stormfists . Events during the Konunleikar have had various injuries and deaths , resulting in the search . It was revealed that Leimaer the Raven , an Agent of the Stormfist had planned an assassination attempt , by having members of the Clan win the events of the Konunleikar , to gain an audience with the Skald - King . The Vestige had uncovered caches that helped the Stormfist cheat in the games . Enter the Stormfist Brigade ; Fildgor ' s vendetta . At the Footrace of the Nine Holds , many competitors were severely injured , some of them were killed like Hadring the Swift , who passed away from a leg - related injury . Thane Mera Stormcloak had ordered the Vestige to travel along the outskirts of Windhelm , to seek the Stormfist encampment , where they would learn about their plot during the Konunleikar . When it was revealed that the Stormfist were to assassinate Jorunn from within the Hall of Trials , the Ebonheart Pact had intervened , seeking out Leimaer the Raven before she kills the High King . At the Hall of Trials , Jorunn and his entourage were ambushed by the Stormfist Clan , prompting a battle inside the Nordic Halls . Leimaer was defeated , but the struggle against the Stormfist would soon grow . Fildgor Orcthane had returned back to Eastmarch , to seek his revenge , by uncovering his eldest sister ' s corpse in the royal tombs of Fort Morvunskar , so that he can enter to the Nordic afterlife known as Sovngarde , to claim his supposed birthright . Third Era . Windhelm during the Imperial Simulacrum . During the Imperial Simulacrum from 3E 389 to 3E 399 , Emperor Uriel Septim VII was imprisoned along with Talin Warhaft in the Deadlands by Jagar Tharn . Tharn planned for months to capture the throne , and he was able to achieve so in the span of ten years . Tharn had a powerful weapon called the Staff of Chaos , and he split it into nine pieces and scattered them across Tamriel , the staff was the only thing keeping Uriel Septim and Warhaft in Oblivion . A warrior escaped his clutches and traveled all corners of Tamriel to retrieve the missing pieces . The hero was known as the Eternal Champion , and he assembled the staff and defeated Jagar Tharn at the Imperial Palace . The Eternal Champion had at one point visited the city of Windhelm in their quest to recover the pieces . Fourth Era . Ulfric ' s chronicles in Skyrim & Jarl Hoag Stormcloak . During the Great War around 4E 176 , the city - state of Windhelm was ruled by Hoag , who was known as the Great Bear of Eastmarch . Hoag was a member of the Stormcloak Clan , one of the most prominent Nordic Clans throughout Eastmarch and the Old Holds . His only son , Ulfric Stormcloak had an impressive record ranging from being a veteran of the Great War to being a former student of High Hrothgar . When the Forsworn of the Reach had captured the city of Markarth under the name of Madanach , Ulfric Stormcloak and his militia of warriors had retaken Markarth . He was able to do so without the Imperial Legion ' s aid . Amidst the conflict , both Jarl Hrolfdir of Markarth and Hoag Stormcloak of Windhelm had perished , leaving their sons , Igmund and Ulfric the throne of their respective cities . When Ulfric reclaimed Markarth , he demanded that the worship of Talos would be permitted , despite the laws set forth by the White - Gold Concordat . This was , however , put under the rug when the Imperial Legion was forced to imprison Ulfric and continue the ban over the worship of Talos , by order of the Thalmor . The Empire ' s failure to honor the agreement was one of the catalysts for Ulfric , for an impending conflict , believing that the Empire had abandoned the people of Skyrim . At Jarl Hoag Stormcloak ' s funeral , Ulfric was forced to read his eulogy as he inherited the throne of Windhelm . The Death of Torygg & the Skyrim Civil War . The High King of Skyrim at the time was Istlod , who ruled from the city - state of Solitude , located on the other side of the province , he passed away from old age , and new ruler needed to take his place . And so , a moot was held in Skyrim , which ultimately led to his son , Torygg to assume the throne as the High King . Jarl Ulfric of Windhelm was present at the moot , where he would make calls for independence , just shy of treason , which Torygg respected . Ulfric viewed Torygg as a symbol of the Empire , a symbol of the betrayal he felt after the Markarth Incident . In 4E 201 , Ulfric traveled to Solitude and sought an audience with the High King himself . In the aftermath of their meeting , Ulfric had slain Torygg and fled back to Windhelm . Several moments later , the Skyrim Civil War had commenced , Ulfric amassed the Stormcloak Army . As time went on , Jarl Ulfric would be captured at Darkwater Crossing and sentenced to death at Helgen , until the event was intervened by a large Dragon , causing the Civil War to continue . Racial Strife in Windhelm ; Dunmeri Discrimination . During his reign as the Jarl of Windhelm , Ulfric Stormcloak gave more compassion to his fellow Nords in Windhelm , rather than the Dark Elves or the Argonians in Windhelm . In the aftermath of both the Red Year , and the Accession War , the Dunmeri - folk traveled to the west , residing throughout the Old Holds and other border regions . Windhelm became a prime target for the Dark Elven Migration . Many of the immigrants took refuge in the Snow Quarter of Windhelm , a place that is considered the slums of Windhelm . Because of this , the Snow Quarter was delicately called the Gray Quarter , for the gray skin elves that inhabit the district . The Argonians were forced to live in poverty at the Argonian Assemblage but were more respected by the Nords , serving as dockmasters under the employment of the Shatter - Shield Clan and the Cruel - Sea Clan . The Dark Elves were treated poorly by the Nords , constantly being bullied and looked down on by the Nords of Windhelm . With the Civil War commenced , many Nords would accuse the Dark Elves of being supports to the Mede Empire . Blood on the Ice ; Murder Strings in Windhelm . During the Skyrim Civil War in 4E 201 , the city - state of Windhelm has experienced several murders that prompted a search by the Windhelm Guard . Jorleif , the Housecarl of Jarl Ulfric was in charge of the search , hiring anyone to uncover the murderer , including an estranged warrior from parts unknown . When the warrior arrived in town , the last person to be murdered was Susanna the Wicked , a barmaid from the Candlehearth Hall , her body was found outside of the Hall of the Dead in Windhelm . Whoever killed Susanna , left a blood trail to Hjerim , an estate in Valunstrad . Investigating Hjerim , the warrior discovered a hidden room filled with bloody bones and the Necromancer ' s Amulet , an artifact from Mannimarco , the King of Worms . With the help of two other citizens , Viola Giordano and Calixto Corrium , the Windhelm Court Wizard , Wuunferth the Unliving was arrested , accused of the killings . Things would take a turn for the worst when another murder happened , while Wuunferth was imprisoned . This prompted another search between the traveler and Viola Giordano , in the end , it was revealed that Calixto Corrium was the murderer . The raw bones in Hjerim were collected for a necromantic ritual , to revive the long - dead body of Calixto ' s sister . Calixto Corrium was killed by the warrior .