Riften Riften , otherwise known as Rifton , or the Jewel of Skyrim is one of the nine major cities in Skyrim and the capital of the Rift Hold . Riften has merchants coming from all over Eastern Tamriel from places such as Cheydinhal and Kragenmoor . Riften is also home of the Thieves Guild Chapter in Skyrim . History . Second Era . Before being the leader of Eastern Skyrim and Windhelm , Jorunn the Skald - King was a scholar that traveled throughout Tamriel in cities such as Mournhold , Stormhold , Sutch , and Elinhir . Jorunn studied on the Isle of Gold at the Skald ' s Retreat . In 2E 572 , the Second Akaviri Invasion led by Ada ' Soom Dir - Kamal had reached the northeastern coast of Skyrim in the Winterhold region . Jorunn was in Riften at the time and with his pack of bards , he fought his way to Windhelm and pushed the Kamal back . Eventually with the help of Wulfharth , Jorunn and Wulfharth mustered an army from the Rift and Eastmarch . Riften was fortified and under the safeguard of Wulfharth . When Dir Kamal ' s army arrived to Riften , they found a bunch of Angry Nord s and avoided them and moved onto Stonefalls where they eventually lose the war at Vivec ' s Antlers . During the Alliance War , Riften was under Ebonheart Pact control . The Rift was under attack by the Worm Cult lead by Thallik Wormfather . Wormfather ' s plot was to use the legendary axe Wuuthrad to summon the giant Sinmur . The giant had caused heavy devastation on the city of Riften by obliterating their wall and farms . A worm cult plot was discovered with the city , however , the Vestige uncovered the plot and help Riften recover from the attack . In Queen Barenziah ' s youth , she and an orphan stable boy named Straw fled from Darkmoor to Whiterun to then hitch a ride to Riften . Straw met a Khajiit named Therris , who planned on robbing the Imperial Commandmant ' s House . She warned the Commandmant , General Symmachus . He then directed her to the Imperial City . Third Era . During the Imperial Simulacrum , the Eternal Champion had at one point visited the city in their quest for the Staff of Chaos . Fourth Era . In 4E 98 of the Void Nights , Hosgunn Crossed - Daggers became the Jarl of Riften after the previous jarl was assassinated . Hosgunn ' s reign was negatively received by the citizens of Riften . Many people believed Hosgunn was responsible for the death of the previous jarl and because of this , people protested among the streets . Hosgunn ' s response to the backlash was to have the city guard contain the protestors and to start enforcing a curfew . Throughout his reign , Hosgunn ruled with a black heart and an iron fist . Hosgunn heavily taxed both citizens and merchants and kept most of the coin for himself to build a large wooden castle now known as Mistveil Keep , back then known as Hosgunn ' s Folly . The castle itself reflected the oppression . In 4E 129 , the people of Riften banded together to form an incredible uprising that managed to overwhelm the city guard enough to burn down Hosgunn ' s Folly with Crossed - Daggers still inside . The fire from the keep eventually spread throughout the city , causing the city to burn to ash . In 4E 134 , the city was rebuilt into a small port town . People dream for the day that Riften returns to glory . In 4E 201 , Riften has garnered a new Jarl named Laila Law - Giver . Riften had allied with its neighboring city , Windhelm , to be a part of the Stormcloak Rebellion in the Skyrim Civil War . The city of Riften is notorious for housing the infamous Thieves Guild . At this time period , however , the influence of the guild had diminished . Over time , the guild has grown and its influence reaches to all corners of Skyrim . Maven Black - Briar has a firm grip of Riften despite not being Jarl .