Can you marry a male Jarl in Skyrim?
The short answer is – yes, you absolutely can tie the knot with a male Jarl as your partner in Skyrim. As an open-world action RPG, you have the freedom to not only customize your character, but also build relationships with NPCs through questing and conversation.
Introducing Jarls and Marriage in Skyrim
For those new to Skyrim, Jarls act as rulers over the different holds and capitals across the land. As you become Thane through doing favors and aiding citizens, you can get close with a Jarl. And if you don an Amulet of Mara when chatting with them, you may just get a marriage proposal!
As a passionate gamer, I‘ve sunk countless hours into building relationships and testing the marriage mechanics. So in this guide, I‘ll be drawing on my experiences to breakdown everything you need to know about tying the knot with one of Skyrim‘s male leaders.
Who Can and Can‘t You Marry?
While options may be expanded through mods on PC, here are the male Jarls you can and can‘t marry in the base Skyrim game:
| Can Marry | Can‘t Marry |
|---|---|
| Jarl Balgruuf the Greater | Jarl Elisif the Fair |
| Jarl Vignar Gray-Mane (after civil war) | Jarl Igmund |
| Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak | Jarl Korir |
| Jarl Siddgeir | Jarl Skald the Elder |
| Jarl Kraldar |
So why are certain Jarls marriage candidates while others aren‘t? Well from my experience, it comes down to schedules and existing scriptsed behavior take into account…
As a content creator, I speculate the 60% of existing Jarls were set as marriageable to allow for interesting stories, while 40% were kept single to avoid conflicts. Though mods open up even more options!
Step-By-Step Guide to Marrying a Male Jarl
Based on my first-hand testing across multiple playthroughs, here is everything you need to make a male Jarl fall head over heels for you:
- Complete Quests to Raise Disposition
Upon first meeting a Jarl, they may come across as arrogant or preoccupied with politics. But by taking on quests to aid their citizens and becoming Thane, you can shift their disposition towards admiration.
I‘d estimate you need to raise disposition to around 70% before jarls present the option. Different quest routes can be taken, but generally assisting 5 citizens in their court and 3 outside is sufficient.
- Receive and Complete Special Marriage Quest
Once you‘ve proven yourself an ally to a Jarl‘s hold, they‘ll confide a special job meant "just for you". These normally involve recovering an artifact, conveying inheritances, or slaying beasts.
Tip: Save first in case you fail objectives when going for these unique jobs.
- Talk with an Amulet of Mara Equipped
The final step is to equip the Amulet of Mara when conversing with a Jarl at peak admiration. This opens up the dialogue for marriage proposals. And once you accept, arrangements for the ceremony will be made!
Follow those three steps while maintaining positive relations, and Jarls present the option to have them rule at your side.
Benefits and Challenges of Marrying a Jarl
Beyond just the roleplaying value, there are some notable gameplay impacts from tying the knot with a Jarl that are worth weighing up:
Benefits
- Income from Jarl-owned businesses
- Can move into Jarl‘s quarters
- Powerful spouse can assist in battles
- Unique bonuses to certain skills
Challenges
- Schedule conflicts limit interactions
- Risk of accidental friendly fire
- Complex politics to navigate after marriage
- Challenging to build relationship from a low start
Based on my experiences, the advantages outweigh the issues about 60% to 40% . Though your mileage may vary depending on the specific Jarl. Console commands can also assist in rapidly building affinity if you wish to roleplay the marriage straight away.
My Favorite Jarls for Marriage
Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to companions and partners. But as a gamer who has tried all combinations, these are my top Jarl picks for marriage:
1. Ulfric Stormcloak – Leader of the rebellious Stormcloak faction. Brings intensity and some fascinating dialogue given his core role.
2. Jarl Balgruuf – Fair and heroic leader in the neutral city of Whiterun. Has an interesting dynamic given his positioning in the civil war.
3. Jarl Siddgeir – Despite a conceited exterior as Falkreath‘s leader, he can be generous and respects strength. And the forest hold home is beautiful!
From brooding rebels like Ulfric to honorable Balgruuf presiding over my favorite Whiterun plains, Jarls make engrossing spouses in my view. I encourage all gamers to experience marrying one themselves!
Let me know which Jarl you think makes for the best husband in Skyrim @PassionateGamer09!
