My next character for Skyrim is likely to be a Breton, the son of a prominent noble family in High Rock. However, I know very little about High Rock politics and was wondering if anyone could shed some light on this matter to help me flesh out his back story.

I know High Rock is (or was) split into separate kingdoms - is this still the case? Does each Kingdom have it's own Royal Family? Is there a King or a Queen who rules over all these kingdoms, or are they separate states ruled over by the Empire?

Do we know the names of any of the current (Skyrim's time period) key players in High Rock, Kings, Queens, Lords?

Thanks in advance!

Orsinium was destroyed again, and wasn't Wayrest assaulted by pirates somewhere in the years leading up to the events in Skyrim? That's all I can think of now.

According to Hadvar's line in Skyrim's intro, High Rock is still a place filled with backstabbing political factions and court intrigue so thick you wouldn't be able to fus ro dah it out of your way. There's probably hundreds of feuding factions, and are only superficially under control of the Empire. There most likely isn't a singular Royal Family in control of each kingdom. I honestly doubt there is such a thing as a "prominent" noble family in High Rock, so just make one up and you'll be good to go.

It is tricky. Look at a map of High Rock, each of the cities displayed (Daggerfall, Camlorn, Northpoint, Shornhelm, Wayrest, Evermore, Farren and Jehenna) probably all still represent the major Kingdoms. There might well be smaller kingdoms, as well. There is no capital city of High Rock, just a large collection of independent or semi-independent Kingdoms, Counties Baronies, Earldoms and everything else you can imagine. The only thing that unites them is the Mede Empire, most likely.

Does that help? If you have any more specific questions, there is quite a bit we can piece together from past lore to make good guesses at any particular part of High Rock. But really its been so long since we last saw it,I'm sure you can take a lot of liberties.

This, and the Isle of Balfiera is controlled by the Thalmor. But I think that's largely the extent of our knowledge..

Where did you read that? I could've sworn Clan Direnni had not fallen yet.

The TES novels. Doesn't mean Clan Direnni isn't still alive and kicking. It just means they no longer control the island.

Given, the novels were a 150 or so years prior to Skyrim, but given that we haven't heard anything new about it in Skyrim, I'd say this bit of information is still true.

EDIT: Hold on let me find the exact reference...

IIRC, the Thalmor were simply assassinating mixed blood people in Balifera. The Empire/Direnni still controls the island, it's just that the Dominion was killing people there.

If so, my disdain for those novels only continues to grow. The Direnni surrendering Ada-Mantia to the Thalmor is not only unlikely, but also not terribly interesting. Unless it does all amount to something big plot point involving Towers in the next TES game. But the total lack of an exploration of Snow-Throat in Skyrim doesn't fill me full of hope.

Ah, this is correct. I misremembered.

I'd think the Direnni actually became allies with the Thalmor. The Direnni are now a Thalmor noble family who run their operations in High Rock.

I'd like them the political merchants same as they were for thousands of years after the Hegemony. A few bets on Thalmor, a few others on Empire, a few on Bretonish local lords and always a few for themselves.

Thanks guys! Very useful information!

..regarding names, you could take the surname of "Petit" which was used by a Breton in Oblivion who claimed to be a noble from High Rock (the Dark Brotherhood quest, "Whodunit?") This could tie your character into Oblivion as they have done with the "Sinderion" reference and the quest "A Return to Your Roots." If you choose this option to make your character some relation to Matilde Petit, then you can derive some motivation for your character with regard to the Dark Brotherhood.

Hmm, pretty interesting idea. The DB is the only questline I haven't yet done in Skyrim and I had been planning to use this Breton noble, nurtured in the murderous, backstabbing courts of High Rock for the purpose. It would certainly add another element to that if he had an ancestor killed by the Brotherhood.

After looking over the info on the DB, I find that there is a quest called, "Destroy the Dark Brotherhood" which is available early in the questline.

Yeah, you get it by putting an Axe in Astrid's face when you meet her for the first time.

I have a vague familiarity with the questline from having watched my brother play through parts of it. I think the opportunity to destroy them comes as an alternative to doing the actual story. I probably won't go down that route.

Perhaps, instead, the character will know of the Brotherhood because of their involvement with the murder of Petit in Oblivion. Having become accustomed to secret plots and murders, but recently also lost his family and home, he decides to seek out the Brotherhood for a new life amidst their ranks.