Winterhold ( Skyrim City ) Winterhold is a former major city which is located in northern Skyrim . It is the capital city of the hold of the same name . Once a great capital rivaling Solitude in power and importance , Winterhold is now little more than a shell of its former self due to the Great Collapse . History . First Era . Origins and Establishment . Legends claim that the city was made during the First Era , when Arch - Mage Shalidor built the city of Winterhold with a whispered spell . Whether Winterhold was actually built with magic is unknown , as it could be a hyperbole of Shalidor ' s power . War of Succession . In 1E 369 , High King Borgas of Winterhold was killed during the Wild Hunt . This plummeted Skyrim into the War of Succession , which broke apart the First Nordic Empire . Jarl Hanse , the ruler of Winterhold , was supposedly the most capable candidate for High King at the time and that the Moot ' s failure to appoint him eventually led to the war . Winterhold Rebellion . In 1E 2804 , an event called the Winterhold Rebellion took place in protest of the forced conscription which was being imposed on the populace . The following year , the city was sacked . Third Era . Golden Age . During the third century of the Third Era , Baron Ulfe Gersen ruled over Winterhold . He " brought considerable wealth and influence " with Morihatha Septim when they married , which enabled them both to help Uriel Septim VI with his political struggles against the Elder Council . Also during the Third Era , it was said that the people of Winterhold favored the use of Axes that were " six feet in length . " Simulacrum . In 3E 399 , the final year of the Simulacrum , the Eternal Champion , with the help of the Winterhold Mages , rediscovered the location of the Labyrinthian , a structure constructed by the Archmage Shalidor almost 4000 years prior . Fourth Era . The Great Collapse . In 4E 122 , a seemingly never - ending series of storms lashed out at the northern coast of Skyrim , eventually causing most of the city to erode alarmingly fast and be washed away into the Sea of Ghosts . This event is now known as the Great Collapse . Strangely , the College of Winterhold was unaffected , remaining firm on a now freestanding spire of rock . This has led some to believe that the mages in the College of Winterhold were experimenting , and that this was the cause of the Great Collapse . Many inhabitants of Winterhold , both mages and magic - fearing Nords , were forced to abandon the city , and those who remain still eye the College with suspicion . Alternate theories regarding the Great Collapse are held by some , however ; one is that it was a result of the eruption of Red Mountain in Vvardenfell , which was not felt until years after the actual incident . Regardless of the genesis of the Great Collapse , it is certain that since that time , the population of Winterhold has continued to dwindle . Other than the College , only a handful of buildings still stand . What remains of the town ’ s economy is based around serving the needs of the College . As such , Winterhold has become something of a haven for mages in Skyrim , a safe refuge from distrustful Nords . Since the Great Collapse , the city ( or what ' s left of it ) has suffered an economic downturn . Before the catastrophic event , the city flourished culturally due to refugees from Morrowind who , far from burdening the eastern city , brought with them new ideas , enriching the city ' s culture and stimulating its old mercantile spirit . Scholars from all over Tamriel have descended on the county since it became home to the Ysmir Collective , a library rescued from destruction in the east , and the cornerstone of academic life at the College of Winterhold . Yet after the The Great Collapse and the event known as Red Year , relations between the populace of Winterhold and its Morrowind immigrants began to sour . Winterhold ' s large population of dark elves was driven out by Nords convinced they were involved in evil magic . Many Dunmer mages chose to stay at the College rather than relocate however , much to the displeasure of the Winterhold Nord populace . In the past few decades , many of the other Jarl s of Skyrim began to disregard the opinions of the Jarl of Winterhold . Library . Scholars from all over Tamriel have descended upon the hold since it became home to the Ysmir Collective , a library rescued from destruction in the east and the cornerstone of academic life at the College of Winterhold . Property . Due to a lack of residences caused by the cataclysm , it is not possible to purchase a house in Winterhold . Even with the DLC , Winterhold remains the only hold where it is not possible to purchase property . The Dragonborn will have to enroll at the College of Winterhold , which will entitle the Dragonborn to a dormitory within the College . Completing the entire College quest line will confer upon the Dragonborn the position of Archmage at the College , and thus ownership of the Archmage ' s quarters . After encouraging Ranmir to settle his debts with innkeeper Dagur at The Frozen Hearth Inn , the beds in the rooms on the left hand side of the inn are available to use for free . It is permanent and can easily substitute as a house , although there is not as much space . Becoming Thane of Winterhold . Korir , Jarl of Winterhold , honors the Dragonborn with the title Thane of Winterhold , after performing certain duties in the service of the Hold . It is first required that the Dragonborn recover the Helm of Winterhold from a random location before the Jarl recognizes their worth as a potential Thane . Duties the Dragonborn may perform to become Thane :