Markarth
Map
Province	Skyrim
Hold	The Reach
Jarl	Jarl Igmund

Markarth is one of the major cities in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The city is located in the far west of Skyrim, in the mountains of The Reach, west of the Karth River. As a result the city has a good natural defense, even from the skies. Being a long distance from any other major city and with both main roads cutting through mountains, valleys and rugged terrain, traveling to and from Markarth is one of the most treacherous trips for travelers. The city is split by a large running river and comprises of two parts: Riverside, where the native reachmen and the working district are found; and the Dryside, housing all the houses of Nord nobles and Silver-Blood ownership. The Jarl's palace, Understone Keep, is located at the top of the city and contains the Hall of the Dead, the Dwemer Museum, and the Nchuand-Zel Excavation Site where the old city remains in ruins. Most of the city's residents tend to be quite unfriendly to outsiders.

Contents 1 History 1.1 The Forsworn Uprising 1.2 Markarth Incident 1.3 The Bear of Markarth 2 Residence 3 Points of interest 3.1 Inns 3.2 Shops 3.3 Houses 3.4 Jarl's Residence 3.5 Other 4 Notable figures 4.1 Understone Keep 4.2 Others 4.3 Cidhna Mine 5 Nearby points of interest 6 Interactive map 7 Gallery 8 Bugs 9 References

History

Markarth was the former city of Nchuand-Zel, belonging to the ancient Dwemer (also known as the Dwarves) who resided in Morrowind, Skyrim and Hammerfell during the First Era. Following the disappearance of the Dwemer from the face of Nirn after they attempted to control the power of the Numidium, Markarth was abandoned until the rise of the Septim Empire, the third of the Cyrodilic Empires, built by Tiber Septim and his successor, Pelagius Septim.

Emperor Tiber Septim established the Imperial College of the Voice in Markarth which attracted the Nords who established it as one of the nine major cities of Skyrim. Unlike the Dwemer cities and strongholds located in Morrowind and Hammerfell, the city of Markarth was not constructed out of metal, but instead was built out of stone, likely due to the abundance of stone found in The Reach. Another possibility is that the Nordic occupiers of Markarth constructed their own city over the ruins of the metallic Dwemer city.

The Forsworn Uprising

In 4E 174, Markarth and the Reach was subjected to what is known today as the "Forsworn Uprising." While the Empire was beset by the Aldmeri Dominion in The Great War, the native people of the Reach, called the Reachmen, took this opportunity to seize control of the city.^[1] This was only possible as the Imperial Legionnaires stationed in Markarth were recalled to fight, leaving the city very vulnerable.^[2]

Jarl Igmund's father, Hrolfdir, was Jarl at the time, but could not quell the uprising and was killed in the struggle.^[2] The rebellion was successful and the Reachmen ruled over Markarth and The Reach as an independent kingdom from Skyrim from 4E 174 - 4E 176. During this time, the kingdom was relatively peaceful and the Reachmen ruled their lands fairly and were making overtures to be recognized by the Empire as a legitimate kingdom.^[1]

Markarth Incident

In 4E 176, The Great War ended with the Empire signing the White-Gold Concordat.^[3] During this time, Igmund took it upon himself to seek help from Ulfric Stormcloak in ousting the Reachmen invaders. He promised Ulfric that if he re-took the Reach, then Igmund as Jarl would allow free worship of Talos even though it had been outlawed at the end of the war. Ulfric agreed and marched his militia to the gates of Markarth and ruthlessly retook the city.^[1]

Reports vary, but it is said that every official who worked for the Reachmen was killed, even after they had surrendered. Native women were tortured to give up names of Reachmen fighters who had fled the city. Anyone who lived in the city, Reachmen and Nord alike, was executed if they had not fought with Ulfric and his men when they breached the gates. Ulfric supposedly even ordered the deaths of shopkeepers, farmers, the elderly, and any child old enough to lift a sword that had failed in the call to fight with him.^[1] The surviving Reachmen fled to the hills of the Reach and became known as the Forsworn.

The Bear of Markarth

In Markarth, Jarl Igmund kept his promise to Ulfric and allowed free worship of Talos. When the Imperial Legion arrived to restore the rule of law, Ulfric refused them entry into the city until they also agreed that the free worship of Talos would be allowed. With chaos running through the streets of Markarth and the reports of deaths rising every day, the Empire had no choice but to grant Ulfric and his men their worship, thus jeopardizing the peace agreement with the Aldmeri Dominion.^[1]

Eventually, The Empire rescinded the agreement due to pressure from the Aldmeri Dominion, and Ulfric and his militia were expelled from the city. This betrayal left Ulfric bitter towards the Empire and led to the birth of the Stormcloak rebellion.

Residence

When the Jarl approves the Dragonborn after helping the people of Markarth, they become eligible to buy Vlindrel Hall for 8000 gold from his steward, Raerek.

Points of interest

Inns

• Silver-Blood Inn

Shops

• Arnleif and Sons Trading Company - General goods
• The Hag's Cure - Alchemists
• Ghorza gra-Bagol's - Blacksmith
• Hogni Red-Arm's - Meat stall
• Kerah's - Jewelry stall

Houses

• Endon's House - Thieves Guild Fence
• Nepos's House
• Ogmund's House
• Smelter Overseer's House
• Vlindrel Hall (For sale)

Jarl's Residence

• Understone Keep

Other

• Abandoned House
• Cidhna Mine
• Markarth Lumber Mill and Forge
• Guard Tower
• Markarth Stables
• Shrine of Talos
• Temple Of Dibella
• The Treasury House
• The Warrens

Notable figures

Understone Keep

• Aicantar - Nephew and Assistant of Calcelmo
• Anton Virane - Cook in the keep
• Calcelmo - Court Wizard of Markarth
• Legate Emmanuel Admand - Imperial Legate
• Faleen - Jarl's Housecarl
• Jarl Igmund - The Jarl of Markarth
• Ondolemar - One of the leaders of Thalmor
• Raerek - Uncle and steward to the Jarl
• Rondach - Servant in the Keep
• Thongvor Silver-Blood - Thonar Silver-Blood's Elder brother
• Brother Verulus - Priest of Arkay
• Voada - Servant in the Keep

Others

• Adara - Daughter of Endon & Kerah.
• Anwen - Priestess of Dibella.
• Betrid Silver-Blood - Thonar Silver-Blood's wife.
• Bothela - Owner of The Hag's Cure.
• Cairine - Beggar of The Warrens.
• Cosnach - Local drunk at the Silver-Blood Inn.
• Degaine - Beggar of The Warrens.
• Donnel - Old servant of The Treasury House.
• Dryston - Messenger.
• Eltrys - Beggar of The Warrens.
• Endon - Husband of Kerah and Thieves Guild Fence.
• Frabbi - Wife of Kleppr.
• Garvey - Beggar of The Warrens.
• Ghorza gra-Bagol - Orc Blacksmith.
• Hamal - Mother and Head priestess of Dibella.
• Hathrasil - Breton Smelter.
• Hogni Red-Arm - Meat vendor.
• Hreinn - Kleppr's son.
• Hroki - Kleppr's daughter.
• Imedhnain - Assistant of Lisbet and nephew of Cosnach.
• Kerah - Jewelry Merchant and wife of Endon.
• Kleppr - Owner of the Silver-Blood Inn.
• Lisbet - Owner of Arleif And Sons Trading Company.
• Nana Ildene - Old servant of The Treasury House.
• Margret - Traveler.
• Morven - Servant to Nepos the Nose.
• Muiri - Bothela's assistant at The Hag's Cure.
• Mulush gro-Shugurz - Orc Smelter Overseer.
• Nepos the Nose - Elderly man.
• Ogmund - Nord Bard and Expert Trainer in Speechcraft.
• Omluag - Breton Smelter and resident at The Warrens.
• Orla - Priestess of Dibella.
• Reburrus Quintilius - Resident of The Treasury House.
• Rhiada - Owner of The Treasury House.
• Senna - Priestess of Dibella.
• Tacitus Sallustius - Ghorza gra-Bagol's blacksmith apprentice.
• Thonar Silver-Blood - Resident of The Treasury House.
• Tynan - Servant to Nepos the Nose.
• Uaile - Maid to Nepos the Nose.
• Verulus - Priest of Arkay.
• Vigilant Tyranus - Daedra hunter.
• Vorstag - Mercenary at the Silver-Blood Inn.
• Weylin - Forsworn agent.
• Yngvar the Singer - Works for the Silver-Blood family.

Cidhna Mine

• Braig - Forsworn prisoner.
• Borkul the Beast - Forsworn prisoner.
• Duach - Forsworn prisoner.
• Grisvar the Unlucky - Prisoner.
• Madanach - Leader of Forsworn prisoners.
• Odvan - Forsworn prisoner.
• Uraccen - Forsworn prisoner.
• Urzoga gra-Shugurz - Mercenary of the Silver-Bloods.

Nearby points of interest

Following is a list of some surrounding points of interest.

• Bard's Leap Summit
• Blind Cliff Cave
• Dushnikh Yal
• Four Skull Lookout
• Left Hand Mine
• Karthspire
• Karthspire Camp
• Kolskeggr Mine
• Markarth Stables
• Old Hroldan
• Reachcliff Cave
• Red Eagle Redoubt
• Salvius Farm
• Sky Haven Temple
• Soljund's Sinkhole
• The Lover Stone

Interactive map

Skyrim Map - West Edit This Map
Dungeons
Ragnvald Valthume Lost Valley Redoubt Hag Rock Redoubt Blind Cliff Cave Rebel's Cairn Purewater Run Reachcliff Cave Secret Entrance Reachwater Rock Reachcliff Cave Red Eagle Redoubt Soljund's Sinkhole Gloomreach Dead Grone Rock Sundered Towers Bleakwind Bluff Cradle Stone Tower Left Hand Mine Kolskeggr Mine Bilegulch Mine
Camps
Karthspire Karthspire Camp Karthspire Camp Talking Stone Camp Dushnikh Yal
Settlements
Old Hroldan Salvius Farm Karthwasten Rorikstead Markarth Stables
Other
Lund's Hut Sky Haven Temple Reachwind Eyrie Bard's Leap Summit The Lover Stone Markarth (City) Fort Sungard Four Skull Lookout Understone Keep

Gallery

Bugs

Click to see the list of bugs encountered

PC   360   PS3 In choosing to help the Forsworn in the quest The Forsworn Conspiracy, it is possible the bounty will never be able to be removed from the city. After finishing No One Escapes Cidhna Mine guards will approach and enter the dialog to start the quest again. If the option to be arrested and thrown into Cidhna mine is selected, the dialog loops back to he beginning again. It is impossible to do quests in the city as canceling the dialog results in the guards going hostile. Patch 1.4 fixed this issue. It is possibl to get a free house in Markarth, it involves finding the Jarl while he is sleeping. Go into his room and put money in a dresser. Either leave the money in the dresser and wake him up and he will say "You have done me a great service," or the money will have to be removed from the dresser and the Jarl will need to be woken up to talk to him.  PS3   If a truce between the Imperials and the Stormcloaks is negotiated before visiting Markarth for the first time, the scripted event that triggers upon entry (in which Weylin attempts to murder Margret) will cause both Imperial guards and Stormcloak guards to spawn. The outnumbered faction will fight until killed by the city guards, causing no other problems.  PS3   Helping Madanach escape may trigger all the guards to constantly chase the Dragonborn in an attempt to arrest them, even long after the quest (it can also occur if the Dragonborn commits a crime in Markarth and reaches a high bounty). On the  PC   Solution: In the console set all 3 factions that rule Markarth back to 0 fine. Codes being, player.setcrimegold 0 00018aac, player.setcrimegold 0 0008e764, player.setcrimegold 0 0002816c.  PS3    PC   Solution: Enter Markarth at a high enough level. Upon entering the city, do not be detected by any guards, and enter the Shrine of Talos. The three guards from the previous quest, The Forsworn Conspiracy, will still be there, and the middle guard will engage in the same conversation as at the end of that quest. The other two guards will attack. Answer the guard with "You're corrupt, Thonar is paying you," and then again with "Fine, I'll come quietly." The guard will then do nothing. After a few seconds, the same guard will attempt an arrest, and give the option to pay off the bounty. Solution: Give Martkarth to the Stormcloaks at the negotiations of Season Unending. All of the Markarth guards will be replaced with Stormcloak Soldiers who will no longer attempt an arrest. However, if any criminal acts are committed, such as trespassing, theft, or murder it will start up again. Even if the Forsworn questline went off without a hitch, the corrupt guards may still be present in the Shrine of Talos and attempt an arrest or attack. The only real solution is to avoid this place all together after completing the quest.

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} The Bear of Markarth
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Dialogue with Igmund
3. ↑ The Great War

---

Skyrim Locations
Cities	Dawnstar • Falkreath • Markarth • Morthal • Riften • Solitude • Whiterun • Windhelm • Winterhold
Holds	Eastmarch • Falkreath Hold • Haafingar • Hjaalmarch • The Pale The Reach • The Rift • Winterhold Hold • Whiterun Hold

Start a Discussion Discussions about Markarth

You can find discussions about everything related to this wiki on Elder Scrolls Forum!