Great Houses is the term used in Dunmeri culture to refer to five principle organisations in dark elven society. Each organisation takes its name from one of Morrowind's great noble Houses, of which there have always been five, and thus always five respective organisations. Despite being intrinsically tied to their namesakes, Great Houses have managed to operate semi-independently of their noble counterparts for many years, and serve as pillars of Dunmeri society operating as grand organisations in charge of various functions.
Great House organisations take the same coat of arms as their respective noble families.
Some Great Houses make efforts to distance themselves from their noble counterparts, such as by barring family members from holding high positions in the organisation, while others embrace their noble families and integrate them into their organisation's structure. No matter how independent a Great House organisation tries to make itself, they are still fundamentally tied to their namesake, and when a great noble House falls, so too does their respective organisation, such as when House Hlaalu fell from grace and was replaced as a great House by House Sadras. During this switch in powers, the House Hlaalu organisation was also replaced by the House Sadras organisation. Other organisations, such as House Indoril, have become so influential over the centuries of their existence that even with the extermination of their namesake they continue to exist in an institutional fashion.
Ashlander tribes refer to people that are members of Great Houses as 'housemen'.
History[]
In the Fourth Era House Hlaalu fell from grace, and was almost exterminated by invading Argonians. Their power and holdings diminished so much that the King of Morrowind, X, declared them a vassal of House Sadras, a noble family which had risen to prominence with the invasion. House Hlaalu's organisation was taken over by House Sadras, and renamed accordingly. So much of the organisation was changed by the noble family that it scarcely resembled its original self.
The Great Houses[]
- House Dres
- House Indoril
- House Redoran
- House Sadras
- House Telvanni
Ex-Great Houses[]
- House Dagoth
- House Hlaalu