Old Hroldan Old Hroldan ( Dovahzul : ) , or Hroldan is a settlement located on the southern riverway of the Reach in Skyrim . The settlement was once the home of a large horde of Reachmen that held significant power throughout the Reach and the Colovian Estates nearby . Description . Geography . Old Hroldan is located deep within the Reach , north of where the Jerall Mountains meets the Druadach Mountains . Greater Hroldan is unknown , but what remained was a single inn near the fort of Sungard . Old Hroldan is located on the southern end of the Karth River , Old Hroldan was described as being a fortress with gates and such , implying it was much bigger than it is in the fourth era . The Greater Reach is collectively owned by both High Rock and Skyrim , History . First Era . Old Hroldan has been disputed territory between the Reachmen of the Reach and the Nords of Skyrim . During the reign of Emperor Kastav Cyrodiil , the area known as Hroldan was once the site of a Nordic settlement . It has been ever since the reign of Jarl Gjalund , who ruled the city of Whiterun long before the Reman Empire ' s foundation . In 1E 2801 , Kastav utilized the Dragonguard to seize the Jarl s of Hroldan and Markarth , to ensure that these leaders met their conscription quotas . These actions ordered by the Emperor weakened the relationship with the Dragonguard and the denizens of Skyrim . Things would take a toll for the worst with the events occurring at Winterhold . Second Era . During the Interregnum in the waning years of the second era , the area known as Old Hroldan was captured by the Reachmen . The Reach warriors situated in Hroldan had significant power in the region , threatening the denizens of Falkreath and the Colovian Estates . The leaders of Colovia were merely petty - barons and merchant - lords , unable to sustain unique power . Cuhlecain of Falkreath sought to unite the Colovian Estates , but need to secure the northern border , where Old Hroldan is located . Cuhlecain amassed an army under the leadership of Hjalti Early - Beard , a Nord ic warrior from Alcaire to combat the Reachmen of Old Hroldan . Hjalti utilized the power of the Thu ' um , an ancient art of combat originating to the Dragon War in the Merethic Era . At the Battle of Old Hroldan , Hjalti blasted the gates of the stronghold with his Thu ' um and defeated the Reachmen . Hjalti would go on to establish the Third Empire as Tiber Septim . The events that had transpired in Old Hroldan resulted in the populace view the Reachmen as savages . Fourth Era . During the Skyrim Civil War in 4E 201 , the area called Old Hroldan has had a lack of interest by both the Reachmen and the Nords of Skyrim . What remained of this stronghold is a single inn referred to as the Old Hroldan Inn . Owned by a Nordic woman named Eydis , whose husband was fighting in the Civil War . An apparition from the Battle of Old Hroldan appeared before the inn - goers of Old Hroldan . A warrior that the ghost mistook for Hjalti was sent to retrieve their old sword . Upon giving the ghost the sword , the spirit ascended back into Aetherius , being put to rest . Trivia . Old Hroldan is spelled in multiple different ways . Other than Hroldan , the settlement is usually called either H ' roldan and Hrol ' dan . The basic Hroldan naming scheme has been used the most and was established as the actual name with the release of and the Old Hroldan Inn .