Holds are the different regions of Skyrim. There are nine Holds that define this province. Each Hold has a capital city and also has its own Hold Guard. Each of the nine Holds is governed by a Jarl. The Jarls are largely independent, but they swear fealty to Skyrim's High King. Each Hold also has its own Steward who serves as an advisor to the Jarl as well as handling affairs on behalf of the Jarl, and a court wizard. And there are Thanes, noble men or women that serve the Jarl as friends and councelors. If you become wanted or accumulate a bounty in one hold, it will not count in the next. That makes it easy to escape the law.

The Holds of Skyrim

Hold	Capital	Jarl	Allegiance*
Eastmarch	Windhelm	Ulfric Stormcloak*	Stormcloak†
Falkreath	Falkreath	Siddgeir*	Imperial
Haafingar	Solitude‡	Elisif the Fair	Imperial†
Hjaalmarch	Morthal	Idgrod Ravencrone*	Imperial
The Pale	Dawnstar	Skald the Elder*	Stormcloak
The Reach	Markarth	Igmund*	Imperial
The Rift	Riften	Laila Law-Giver*	Stormcloak
Winterhold	Winterhold	Korir*	Stormcloak
Whiterun	Whiterun	Balgruuf the Greater*	Neutral

* - can change if the Dragonborn undertakes the Skyrim Civil War questline.

† - Eastmarch and Haafingar are the "centers" of their respective factions.

‡ - Solitude is also the overall capital of Skyrim.

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