Potentate

A Potentate can be defined as a person who possesses great power or authority, especially a ruler or monarch.The Free Dictionary (2011). Obtained April 7, 2011, from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/potentate
In the Elder Scrolls series, most times the term is used, it is to describe Potentate Versidue-Shaie, the Potentate who created the Fighters Guild, and later legalized the Guilds Act, leading to the creation of many other guilds. Potentate Versidue-Shaie and his son ruled Tamriel in the Second Empire for nearly two hundred years.Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition: Cyrodiil Another Imperial leader who held the title of Potentate was High Chancellor Ocato, who governed the Empire after Martin Septim's sacrifice and the end of the Septim bloodline. It appears that in the Tamrielic Empire, the title of Potentate denotes a lifelong regent who holds authority in absence of a true monarchical dynasty.
==History==
===First to Second Eras===
Under the Remans, the emperor's chief advisor was called the Potentate. In the battle of Pale Pass, Reman I decisively defeated an Akaviri invasion but other events forced him to offer the defeated army amnesty in return for their service in his own army. This led to Akaviri influence in other spheres of life, and over time the position of Potentate was usually filled by one of the snake people. In the year 1E 2920, the Potentate Versidue-Shaie plotted to overthrow the empire. He contrived the assassination first of Crown Prince Juilek and then the emperor himself. On 22 Evening Star 2920, Versidue-Shaie declared that he was taking over the leadership of the empire but retaining his title of Potentate. In the same speech, he declared the end of the First Era and the start of the Second.
In order to suppress armies remaining loyal to the Remans, as well as the armies belonging to individual kingdoms seeking greater autonomy, Versidue-Shaie was forced to engage in a relentless series of campaigns that, by the year , finally resulted in victory for his forces. This suppression of those loyal to the Remans may have been the "Reman purges", where the Potentates invented contraptions for cutting off heads. The cost of the campaigns was immense, resulting in the impoverishment of both the empire and its constituent kingdoms and in an effort to maintain order without the expense of a standing army, in Versidue-Shaie agreed to a proposal from his kinsman Dinieras-Ves that established what was to become known as the Fighters Guild.
==Known Potenates==
Name 	Born 	Race 	Usurped,or Taking Office 	Died, Deposed, Abdicated,or Office Abolished	Additional Information
Versidue Shaie 	1E ???? 	Tsaesci 	2E 1 	2E 324 	Assassinated by the Morag Tong.
Savirien Chorak 	1E ???? 	Tsaesci 	2E 324 	2E 430 	Assassinated by the Dark Brotherhood.
Vacant 	Vacant 	Vacant 	Vacant 	Vacant 	Vacant
Ocato 	3E ???? 	Altmer 	4E 0 	4E 10 	Originally trying to elect a new Emperor, he reluctantly took the position of Potentate after the Elder Council urged him to do so. Assassinated by the Thalmor.
Vacant 	Vacant 	Vacant 	Vacant 	Vacant 	Vacant
Valentinian Tiber 	4E ???? 	Imperial 	4E ?? 	4E 57 	First Potentate of the Cyrodiilic Potentate. He was assassinated by either Royalist faction, led by the future Emperor Severus Mede.
Vacant 	Vacant 	Vacant 	Vacant 	Vacant 	Vacant
Antonius Mede 	4E 78 	Imperial 	4E 119 	4E 128 or 129 	Second and last Potentate of the Cyrodiilic Potentate. He previously as last known Emperor of Tamriel for nearly 20 years. He faked his death, by abdicating and travel to Skyrim where he remains active during the Fifth Era as Antoninius. And the title is permanently abolished by Emperor Reman Valeria in 4E 129.
The Mede Potentate ; Non-canonical	The Mede Potentate ; Non-canonical	The Mede Potentate ; Non-canonical	The Mede Potentate ; Non-canonical	The Mede Potentate ; Non-canonical 	The Mede Potentate ; Non-canonical
Julius Mede 	4E 144 	Imperial 	4E 201 	4E 202 	Infamous General of the Imperial Legion. He is the founder and head of the Mede Conspiracy after usurping the Ruby Throne after deposing Marcella Valeria. He was killed in the Imperial City Palace by Marcella, thus ending the Valerian Ruby Rebellion.
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