Great Houses of Morrowind: An Overview

Great Houses of Morrowind: An Overview

The canals of the city of Vivec

Some time after the Chimer* followed the prophet Veloth to Resdayn,** the formerly nomadic tribes begun to settle down permanently. From these settled groups of tribes arose the more formalised House structure that now dominates Dunmer society. Great Houses function as immense families that operate politically, economically and philosophically as imposing and (generally) unified forces. Morrowind is de facto ruled by a Grand Council of the most powerful Great Houses. 

A House Father of Redoran

In the events of TESIII, set in the third era, Morrowind is ruled by Houses Dres, Hlaalu, Indoril, Redoran and Telvanni. However, in the fourth era House Hlaalu lost status as a great house, becoming supplanted on the Grand Council by House Sadras. One other former Great House is worthy of an in-depth examination, and that is House Dagoth, up to the events of 4E 427*** referred to as the "sixth house". Over the coming months we will be taking a more in-depth look at each of these Great Houses. But for now, a brief taste of what each house is about.

A murky swamp, with a moody Silt-Strider

House Dres: The treacherous and traditionalist slavers that control the food bowl of the Dunmer culture.

A Hlaalu Noble

House Hlaalu: The ruthlessly mercantile house of traders. Very open to the advance of the Septim Empire and the avenues for profit it opens. 

Indoril Ordinators on duty

House Indoril : The staunchly traditional defenders of the faith, from whence came Nerevar Moon-and-Star.

Redoran Warriors

House Redoran: Duty, Gravity, and Piety. They don't just say it, they live it. From Redoran spring the warriors and soldiers of Morrowind. 

A young Telvanni mage collecting ingredients

House Telvanni: the mysteriously aloof mage-lords. Telvanni are extremely isolationist, not caring who claims what, provided they have enough sense to stay out of the way.

A noble of House Dagoth

House Dagoth: The disgraced house, family of the Sharmat, Dagoth Ur. 

A young adventurer setting out from the city of Vivec

Sadly we don't know anything about House Sadras at all. Their ascendancy does, however, confirm that there are more houses in Morrowind than the great five. House culture is filled with lots of smaller Houses, lacking in the power of the Great Houses, but no less rich in tradition and history.

Footnotes:

* The race of mer who would latterly become the Dunmer

** The land more commonly known as the province of Morrowind

*** The year the Nerevarine came to Vvardenfell. Following which, House Dagoth was destroyed. 

Did you know that for a brief period the Dwemer of Resdayn were referred to by the Chimer as House Dwemer? Have a Great House you'd particularly like to start examining first? Let me know in the comments!