The Jarls of Skyrim

[legoless]

Good question. I guess there was no reason for him to rebuild, because the citizens were actively abandoning the town. Just look at the ruined houses. Winterhold probably was partially rebuilt - those wooden buildings don't look that old. I imagine the original city was stone, like the college. The Imperial gold likely went towards maintaining the crumbling hold. Without the economy of a large city, things like defence would probably become pricey. Check out the jail.

[Masked Pillow]

I think The Chill is a testament to an old time where the College and the town worked together, as the Hold could keep that Jail running without the College.
They obviously had to cut down on a lot of things. Defense obviously being one of them, and many of the abandoned forts on the borders testify to this.

[GodsBePraised]

Balgruuf and Ulfric are the only Jarls with any depth at all. Maven and Thongvor maybe.. but Maven is a complete dick with no real depth to her dickishness. Thongvor has the whole Markarth Incident thing I guess..

So between Balgruuf and Ulfric, I have to go with Balgruuf.

[GoatLiver]

I think that's why the Empire has a problem with this: in Nord tradition, taking something something by conquest is a relatively common acceptable thing, but it seems wrong in the eyes of the Empire--they probably ascribe more to inheritance by blood.

You do know how the Septim empire and subsequently the Mede empire came to power don't you? Right of conquest is not a foreign idea to either of them.

I imagine the original city was stone, like the college.

I was actually thinking the same thing myself. I think Korir like a hand-full of the other Jarls has a legitimate claim to be High-King if he where to seek it but Winterhold is not what it used to be and the other Jarls are very unlikely to go along with.

Another question: The Jarls were said to have been given large sums of money for signing the White-Gold Concordat. What did Korir do with it? Surely he would've spent some money on rebuilding Winterhold.

End of the war was about 30 years ago so any money they got for that was likely given to their predecessor. In the case of Balgruuf he must be old enough or been the Jarl from a young enough age to have actually have been given the money himself. In the case of Ulfric, Elisif (and probably Torygg) Siddgeir and Igmund we know certainly that they are all relatively recently replacing the former Jarl. Hard to say how long Korir has been Jarl, he does look fairly young though.

[NLN]

If one thinks about it for a moment, Elisif and Ulfric cannot both have hold of the Jagged Crown at the same time, so in reality there are 4 strong candidates, but in 2 alternate realities, a Legion victory, or a Stormcloak victory.
It does make this easier, however that both Ulfric and Elisif's claims are both equal in strength, therefore we can, for now, treat them as the same entity.
In this situation, Korir, as usual, does not stand much of a chance, though I think he might get the vote from Skald the Elder of The Pale, as he is a stickler for tradition, and ancient tradition gives the Jarl of Winterhold a claim for High King, as well as the presence as the Helm of Winterhold.
It would be a tough choice between Balgruuf and the Ulfric/Elisif entity, but Balgruuf's legendary act of capturing a dragon, reminiscent of his ancestor, Olaf One-Eye, gives him a fair edge.

I'm a little late for the party, but if we are discussing the idea of who will become High King in the LORE, once the next game comes out, Ulfric cannot be that. Usually if it's possible to kill someone in a game, he's as good as dead, regardless if you personally killed him or not. So even if you play Stormcloak, the lore will say that Ulfric mysteriously died in the war, just like the Emperor. And the Dragonborn disappears to Akavir.

The title will go either to Elisif or Balgruuf. Or, you know, the Thalmor win and they put a puppet of their own into place.

[legoless]

The title will go either to Elisif or Balgruuf.

But Balgruuf can be dethroned. Elisif is the only jarl who cannot be replaced.

[NLN]

The title will go either to Elisif or Balgruuf.

But Balgruuf can be dethroned. Elisif is the only jarl who cannot be replaced.

But who says the Stormcloaks will stay in power? Ulfric WILL have to die, there will be some fighting set -after game- to figure out which set of jarls remain, because they can't just go with either side as they don't know which one you played, and considering how Balgruuf seem to be rather good at his game, I'd say he stays.

Elisif does seem to have a better chance though, just because both the Empire (if they win), both the Stormcloaks (if they win and Ulfric dies) would be better off with her. No questions about her claim and all that political nonsense.

But why do I have a feeling they'll replace the Empire with the Thalmor in the next game? (I would, in their place, the elves do deserve an empire of their own after all this time) If this happens, all the jarls/high king will be someone with the least claim, just to mess things up.

[DikaSmausha]

If one thinks about it for a moment, Elisif and Ulfric cannot both have hold of the Jagged Crown at the same time, so in reality there are 4 strong candidates, but in 2 alternate realities, a Legion victory, or a Stormcloak victory.
It does make this easier, however that both Ulfric and Elisif's claims are both equal in strength, therefore we can, for now, treat them as the same entity.
In this situation, Korir, as usual, does not stand much of a chance, though I think he might get the vote from Skald the Elder of The Pale, as he is a stickler for tradition, and ancient tradition gives the Jarl of Winterhold a claim for High King, as well as the presence as the Helm of Winterhold.
It would be a tough choice between Balgruuf and the Ulfric/Elisif entity, but Balgruuf's legendary act of capturing a dragon, reminiscent of his ancestor, Olaf One-Eye, gives him a fair edge.

Well it is pretty obvious only one can have control of the Jagged Crown.
Ulfric has a better claim than anyone, in Nordic tradition.
Balgruuf didn't capture that dragon (he may not even be Jarl if you have sided with the Stormcloaks,)The Dovahkiin did, with some help of the guard.

[Masked Pillow]

Going on the assumption Balgruuf is still Jarl, then it cannot be disputed that he certainly helped to capture the dragon. It was in his Keep, and he even stood and fought it himself.

[DikaSmausha]

I just wouldn't give him much of the credit.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

People gave Olaf credit and his victory over Numinex was controversial.