Matthias Matthiasoviandra ( Matthias for short ) was a Time Lord who served as Lord President of the High Council of Gallifrey , succeeding the brief administration of Irving Braxiatel . Biography . He was a supporter of Romana II during her civil war with Pandora ; she regarded him as her figurehead within the walls of the city while she was in hiding in the Outlands . At first he appeared to be strong ally of Romana ' s , but he soon showed an independent streak and his own agenda . After Romana ' s return to the city , Matthias held secret meetings with Darkel , the chief strategist of Pandora ' s forces , unbeknownst to Romana . Matthias gave a disc to Commander Hallan , aware that it might be infected with the Dogma Virus . Hallan was forced to enter stasis to await a cure . Romana and her supporters were deeply suspicious of Matthias ' motives thereafter . When Romana and K9 entered The Matrix to imprison Pandora again , Matthias lured Darkel , with the prospect of further secret negotiations , to the Time Lord Academy , where she was taken prisoner by Coordinator Narvin . This led to the victory of Romana ' s side , but she was greatly weakened by the experience . During Romana ' s recovery , Narvin suggested that Matthias should be acting President , but Matthias pointed out that Valyes remained Chancellor ( though appointed by Pandora ) , and was therefore acting President . In the immediate aftermath of the war , an alien invasion threatened to devastate Gallifrey , and Matthias undertook negotiations with the invaders . As the invasion escalated , Valyes appointed Matthias as Lord Cardinal with the powers of a Chancellor . Valyes pardoned Darkel , resigned as acting President , and appointed her as his successor . Romana disputed the legality of his actions , as she was still technically President . Matthias counter - claimed that as acting Chancellor he , rather than Darkel , was Valyes ' rightful successor . In the elections to decide the matter , Darkel and Matthias agreed to the arrest of Romana for high treason , barring her from running . Matthias reminded Leela of Braxiatel . This was astute as he had been working with the former Chancellor to be made President . Before the election results were announced , Braxiatel turned up , having conspired with Matthias and Narvin . He claimed the Presidency for himself . As Romana ' s edicts had been revoked , he was still Lord Chancellor and therefore acting President . After freeing Romana and allowing the Pandora creature to consume Darkel , Braxiatel resigned and , to everyone ' s surprise , named Matthias his successor as Lord President , before returning to his exile . Matthias ' presidency was over a world that was decimated and ravaged by economic ruin and disease . The Free Time virus was still active , and regenerating Time Lord s were ' zombified ' in their thousands . Matthias nominated Romana to undertake a mission to locate the cure , following which she would have to go into exile . Romana ' s K9 opted to remain on Gallifrey in the employ of Matthias , helping combat the virus . Leela also chose to stay and live the rest of her life on Gallifrey , near her husband ' s grave . Romana followed the coordinates given to her , only to find Braxiatel . Braxiatel had manoeuvred Matthias into the position of President in order to save Romana from having to " go down with the sinking ship " as Gallifrey plunged into chaos . ( AUDIO : " Fractures " , " Warfare " , " Appropriation " , " Mindbomb " , " Panacea " ) Matthias quarantined those infected with the Dogma virus , and waited for the problem to solve itself . Once his orders had been carried out , Matthias exiled himself to the wastelands of Gallifrey . ( AUDIO : " Ascension " ) Alternative Gallifrey . In an alternative timeline in which Rassilon failed to finish the Eye of Harmony before his death , Matthias was a commentator on the Gallifreyan vidcasts , often presenting the leading stories . ( AUDIO : " Emancipation " , " Evolution " , " Arbitration " )