Leader

A leader is a warrior who is highest in the Clan hierarchy. The leader is responsible for everything that goes on in a Clan.
==Description==
Leaders are the head of their Clan. Their personality is the same as their Clan's and describes how their Clanmates treat others. The word of the Clan leader is law, proclaimed by the warrior code, and all other cats in the Clan must obey them. They have their own den, and are assisted by a deputy in their tasks. They are responsible for the whole Clan, calling Clan meetings, appointing cats to new ranks, and making the toughest decisions. Each Clan has one leader, and their names end with the suffix -star. (Examples: Bluestar, Tallstar, Raggedstar) At some times, they can have their warrior suffix, but are still recognized as leader. However, this cat must be waiting to receive nine lives, and cannot properly lead without them.
==Qualifications==
In order to become leader, a cat must meet these qualifications:
*Mentored at least one apprentice
*Selected by the previous leader to become deputy (with the exception of Nightstar)
*Must have been deputy at the time of the leader's death, retirement, or banishment (unless both the deputy and the leader die, as in the case of Flowerstar and Tigerstar)
In order for a cat to become leader, the previous leader must also be deceased, have retired, have left, or been banished.
==Tasks==
A leader has various tasks and privileges:
*Oversee the daily operations of the Clan and give them orders
*Speak on behalf of their Clan at Gatherings
*Lead the Clan in battles
*Appoint new apprentices and assign them to mentors
*Appoint new warriors once they've finished their training
*Appoint a new deputy if the former deputy has died, resigned, or been banished
*Counsel with the deputy and the senior warriors and listen to their reports
*Discuss prophecies and omens with their Clan's medicine cat, and listen to their advice
*Solve conflicts between members of the Clan
*Dealing with politics/conflicts that happen out of the Clan, but can still threaten the Clan
*Decide if a non-Clan cat can join the Clan
*Exile Clan members who severely broke the warrior code or who present a danger to the Clan
*A leader is also expected to occasionally carry out warrior tasks, such as going on patrols or mentoring apprentices should they assign one to themselves
*Call Clan meetings if necessary for the good of the Clan
If the leader cannot carry out their tasks (for instance, because of illness or injury), the Clan deputy will substitute for them.
==Appointment==
When the former Clan leader dies or willingly retires, the current Clan deputy is appointed as the new leader. They make a journey to the Clans' sacred place (such as the Moonstone or Moonpool), escorted by the Clan's medicine cat, to share tongues with their ancestors, receive their nine lives, and get their leader name.
The ancestors greet the new leader with the following words: Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader and StarClan grants to you the guardianship of your Clan. Defend it well, care for young and old, honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity.
===Specific cases===
Runningnose, Squirrelflight, Graystripe, Lionblaze, Mothwing, Frostpaw, Icewing, and Cloverfoot served as temporary leaders for their Clans. Squirrelflight, Graystripe, and Lionblaze were temporary leaders when Bramblestar and later Squirrelflight were missing, Runningnose served as temporary leader and deputy while Nightstar was ill, and Mothwing and Frostpaw led the Clan when they had no leadership. Cloverfoot and Icewing were chosen by Tigerstar, RiverClan's supervising leader at the time, to lead the Clan until the medicine cats heard from StarClan. All of these cats did not receive the -star suffix and only served as leader for a short period of time.
Brightwhisker, Marshscar, Squirrelflight, Curlfeather, and Owlnose were appointed leaders for their Clans, as they succeeded their respective leaders as deputy but did not receive the -star suffix or their nine lives from StarClan. For Squirrelflight, although she never took on the leader name nor received nine lives, Bramblestar had been pronounced dead and Squirrelflight was regarded as Bramblestar's successor prior to his sudden revival. Brightwhisker and Curlfeather died before receiving their nine lives, and Marshscar was not shown to receive his either in the books after his leader's death. Owlnose stepped down after StarClan did not appear to grant him nine lives.
===Nine lives===
Upon sharing tongues with StarClan at their leadership ceremony, the new leader is granted nine lives by the ancestors. This does not necessarily mean they will live longer, but they can survive accidents or injuries that would claim the life of any other cat, at the cost of one of their nine lives. Each of the lives are granted by a single ancestor, usually from the same Clan and whose life was meaningful to the cat, and a gift of an attribute. This process can be surprising and painful, but it is important for the leader to fight fiercely for the Clan. See for example Firestar's nine lives.
When the leader loses one of these lives, they black out and are taken to StarClan. From the outside, spectators see a very faint outline of the cat rise from their body and pad away. In StarClan, though, a warrior ancestor speaks with the leader. The cat sees a pale outline of themselves that was their lost life. When the cat is revived back to consciousness, the wound or illness is removed to the best of StarClan's ability. If StarClan can't fix the ailment, each of the nine lives are ripped away, such as when Tigerstar was killed by Scourge in The Darkest Hour.
==Demotion==
Leaders usually serve until the end of their lives, but there are some exceptions:
===Retirement===
A Clan leader may resign if they wish to do so (such as Pinestar did). This is approved by StarClan, and the current deputy can be appointed as the new leader. The former leader loses their leader name and the lives granted by the ancestors. If the leader doesn't give up all of their remaining lives then the amount they have left will be subtracted from the next leader's nine lives.
===Banishment===
A Clan can demote a leader if they consider them unfit for the position (such as when ShadowClan banished Brokenstar). However, this is not approved by StarClan, and the ancestors won't recognize a new leader and give them their nine lives as long as the former leader is alive. (As Nightstar was not recognized as succeeding Brokenstar— therefore he was not given nine lives) But in cases such as Pinestar, he was still alive with one life left. When Sunstar was granted nine lives, usually Pinestar would have given him one of the lives, but was not in StarClan, as well as not having gone to the Moonstone directly and stepped down. Therefore Sunstar was only granted eight lives.
==Day-to-day life==
The Clan leader will take part in patrols and hunting, but usually leaves the actual organization of the patrols to the deputy. Most leaders take interest in all aspects of Clan life, kits, elders, warriors, etc. They also listen to cats' personal problems and attempt to help, most likely to keep their Clan tension-free. Their main job is to keep the Clan running smoothly. When something is wrong in the Clan, cats are to immediately tell the leader first. The leader also listens to recounts of patrols, making sure nothing threatens the Clan.
==History of ranks==
Temporary leaders are hidden; please toggle to enable them.
ThunderClan (toggle temporary)	ThunderClan (toggle temporary) 	ThunderClan (toggle temporary) 	ThunderClan (toggle temporary) 	ThunderClan (toggle temporary)
Name 	Gained rank in... 	Left rank in... 	Deputies... 	Medicine cats...
Thunderstar 	Path of Stars 	Before "The Beginning of the Warrior Code"	Lightning Tail, Owl Eyes 	Cloud Spots
Owlstar 	Before "The Beginning of the Warrior Code"	Before "The Beginning of the Warrior Code"	Unknown 	Unknown
Whitestar 	Before "The Beginning of the Warrior Code"	Before "The Vanishing Moon" 	Vinetail 	Unknown
Owlstar 	Before "Second in Command" 	Before "The Vanishing Moon" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Finchstar 	Before "The Vanishing Moon" 	Before "Poppycloud's Rule" 	Daisyheart 	Unknown
Lionstar 	Before "Poppycloud's Rule" 	Before "Darkstar's Law" 	Greeneyes 	Unknown
Vinestar 	Before "Darkstar's Law" 	Before "The Leader Who Sought Peace" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Morningstar 	Before "The Leader Who Sought Peace" 	Before "The Victorious Clan" 	Leafstorm 	Pearnose
Redstar 	Before "The Victorious Clan" 	Before Mapleshade's Vengeance 	Seedpelt 	Kestrelwing
Oakstar 	Before Mapleshade's Vengeance 	Pinestar's Choice 	Beetail, Doefeather 	Ravenwing, Cloudberry
Doestar 	Pinestar's Choice 	Goosefeather's Curse 	Pineheart 	Cloudberry
Pinestar 	Goosefeather's Curse 	Bluestar's Prophecy 	Mumblefoot, Sunfall 	Goosefeather, Featherwhisker
Sunstar 	Bluestar's Prophecy 	Bluestar's Prophecy 	Tawnyspots, Adderfang , Bluefur 	Goosefeather, Featherwhisker
Bluestar 	Bluestar's Prophecy 	A Dangerous Path 	Redtail, Lionheart, Tigerclaw, Fireheart	Featherwhisker, Spottedleaf, Yellowfang, Cinderpelt
Firestar 	The Darkest Hour 	The Last Hope 	Whitestorm, Graystripe, Brambleclaw 	Cinderpelt, Leafpool, Jayfeather
Graystripe 	Firestar's Quest 	Firestar's Quest 	None 	None
Bramblestar 	The Last Hope 	Lost Stars 	Squirrelflight 	Leafpool, Jayfeather, Alderheart
Squirrelflight 	Lost Stars 	Lost Stars 	None 	Jayfeather, Alderheart
Ashfur 	Lost Stars 	Veil of Shadows 	Squirrelflight, Berrynose, Bristlefrost 	Jayfeather, Alderheart, Flipclaw
Squirrelflight 	Veil of Shadows 	Darkness Within 	Lionblaze 	Jayfeather, Alderheart
Lionblaze 	Darkness Within 	The Place of No Stars 	None 	Jayfeather, Alderheart
Graystripe 	The Place of No Stars 	A Light in the Mist 	Lionblaze 	Jayfeather, Alderheart
Bramblestar 	A Light in the Mist 	Thunder 	Squirrelflight 	Jayfeather, Alderheart
Squirrelstar 	Thunder 	- 	Ivypool, Cinderheart 	Jayfeather, Alderheart
:Stripestar's succession is unknown, but he was a ThunderClan leader in the distant past as mentioned in Ivypool's Heart.
ShadowClan (toggle temporary)	ShadowClan (toggle temporary) 	ShadowClan (toggle temporary) 	ShadowClan (toggle temporary) 	ShadowClan (toggle temporary)
Name 	Gained rank in... 	Left rank in... 	Deputies... 	Medicine cats...
Shadowstar 	Path of Stars 	Shadowstar's Life 	Sun Shadow, Raven Pelt 	Pebble Heart
Ravenstar 	Shadowstar's Life 	Before "The Beginning of the Warrior Code"	Unknown 	Pebble Heart
Hollystar 	"The Beginning of the Warrior Code" 	"Finders Keepers" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Brindlestar 	Before "Finders Keepers" 	Before "Mouse Games" 	Lakestorm 	Unknown
Lilystar 	Before "Mouse Games" 	Before "The Queens Unite" 	Sunnytail 	Unknown
Blizzardstar 	Before "The Queens Unite" 	Before "A Sign from StarClan" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Snowstar 	Before "A Sign from StarClan" 	Before "A Sign from StarClan" 	Brightwhisker 	Redscar
Brightwhisker 	Before "A Sign from StarClan" 	"A Sign from StarClan" 	None 	Redscar
Flowerstar 	Before "Darkstar's Law" 	Before "The Leader Who Sought Peace" 	Unknown 	Redscar
Ripplestar 	Before "The Vanishing Moon" 	"The Vanishing Moon" 	Marshscar 	Unknown
Marshscar 	"The Vanishing Moon" 	Before "Darkstar's Law" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Yellowstar 	Before "Darkstar's Law" 	Before "The Leader Who Sought Peace" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Sedgestar 	Before "The Leader Who Sought Peace"	Before Cloudstar's Journey 	Unknown 	Unknown
Dawnstar 	Before Cloudstar's Journey 	Before Goosefeather's Curse 	Snaketail 	Molepelt
Houndstar 	Before Goosefeather's Curse 	Before Yellowfang's Secret 	Cedarpelt 	Redthistle
Cedarstar 	Before Yellowfang's Secret 	Yellowfang's Secret 	Stonetooth, Raggedpelt 	Sagewhisker
Raggedstar 	Yellowfang's Secret 	Yellowfang's Secret 	Foxheart, Cloudpelt, Brokentail 	Sagewhisker, Yellowfang
Brokenstar 	Yellowfang's Secret 	Into the Wild 	Blackfoot 	Yellowfang, Runningnose
Nightstar 	Into the Wild 	Tigerclaw's Fury 	Cinderfur 	Runningnose
Runningnose 	Rising Storm 	Rising Storm 	Himself 	Himself
Tigerstar 	Tigerclaw's Fury 	The Darkest Hour 	Blackfoot 	Runningnose
Blackstar 	The Darkest Hour 	Bramblestar's Storm 	Russetfur, Rowanclaw 	Runningnose, Littlecloud, Flametail
Rowanstar 	Bramblestar's Storm 	Darkest Night 	Crowfrost, Tigerheart, Tawnypelt 	Littlecloud, Leafpool , Puddleshine
Tigerstar 	Tigerheart's Shadow 	- 	Tawnypelt, Juniperclaw, Cloverfoot	Puddleshine, Shadowsight, Mothwing
:
WindClan 	WindClan 	WindClan 	WindClan 	WindClan
Name 	Gained rank in... 	Left rank in... 	Deputies... 	Medicine cats...
Windstar 	Path of Stars 	Before "Webfoot Speaks: The Story of the Lost Tunneler"	Gorse Fur 	Moth Flight
Gorsestar 	Before "Webfoot Speaks: The Story of the Lost Tunneler"	Before "The Beginning of the Warrior Code" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Duststar 	"The Beginning of the Warrior Code" 	"Finders Keepers" 	Stonetail 	Unknown
Stonestar 	Before "Finders Keepers" 	Before "The Queens Unite" 	Mudpuddle 	Unknown
Hazelstar 	Before "The Queens Unite" 	Before "The Vanishing Moon" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Featherstar	Before "Second in Command" 	Before "The Vanishing Moon" 	Pebblefur, Acorntail 	Unknown
Dovestar 	Before "The Vanishing Moon" 	Before "A Loss for All Clans" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Fallowstar 	Before "A Loss for All Clans" 	Before "Darkstar's Law" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Birchstar 	Before "Darkstar's Law" 	Before "The Leader Who Sought Peace" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Rabbitstar 	Before "The Leader Who Sought Peace" 	Before Cloudstar's Journey 	Unknown 	Unknown
Swiftstar 	Before Cloudstar's Journey 	Before Mapleshade's Vengeance 	Milkfur 	Larkwing
Heatherstar	Before Goosefeather's Curse 	Tallstar's Revenge 	Gorsefoot, Reedfeather, Talltail	Chiveclaw, Hawkheart, Barkface
Tallstar 	Tallstar's Revenge 	Starlight 	Deadfoot, Mudclaw, Onewhisker 	Barkface
Onestar 	Starlight 	Shattered Sky 	Ashfoot, Harespring 	Barkface, Kestrelflight
Harestar 	Shattered Sky 	- 	Crowfeather, Unnamed cat 	Kestrelflight
:Smallstar's succession is unknown as he died as a kit and was only said to have been leader if he had lived, but he appears in "A Loss for All Clans" of Code of the Clans. Galestar's succession is unknown, but she was a WindClan leader in the distant past as mentioned in Ivypool's Heart.
RiverClan (toggle temporary)	RiverClan (toggle temporary) 	RiverClan (toggle temporary) 	RiverClan (toggle temporary) 	RiverClan (toggle temporary)
Name 	Gained rank in... 	Left rank in... 	Deputies... 	Medicine cats...
Riverstar 	Path of Stars 	Before "The Beginning of the Warrior Code"	Night 	Dappled Pelt
Nightstar 	Before "The Beginning of the Warrior Code"	Before "The Beginning of the Warrior Code"	Unknown 	Unknown
Emberstar 	Before "The Beginning of the Warrior Code"	Before "A Mystical Battle" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Darkstar 	Before "A Mystical Battle" 	Before "A Night for Listening" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Splashheart 	Before "A Night for Listening" 	Before "A Night for Listening" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Troutstar 	Before "A Night for Listening" 	Before "The Vanishing Moon" 	Unknown 	Meadowpelt
Reedstar 	Before "The Vanishing Moon" 	Before "A Loss for All Clans" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Ivystar 	Before "A Loss for All Clans" 	Before "Darkstar's Law" 	Unknown 	Graywing
Talonstar 	Before "Darkstar's Law" 	Before "The Leader Who Sought Peace" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Willowstar 	Before "The Leader Who Sought Peace" 	Before Cloudstar's Journey 	Unknown 	Unknown
Birchstar 	Before Cloudstar's Journey 	Before Mapleshade's Vengeance 	Sloefur 	Icewhisker
Darkstar 	Before Mapleshade's Vengeance 	Before Goosefeather's Curse 	Spiketail 	Unknown
Volestar 	Before Goosefeather's Curse 	Before Tallstar's Revenge 	Hailstep 	Echosnout, Cloudberry
Hailstar 	Before Tallstar's Revenge 	Crookedstar's Promise 	Shellheart, Crookedjaw 	Milkfur, Brambleberry
Crookedstar 	Crookedstar's Promise 	A Dangerous Path 	Timberfur, Oakheart, Leopardfur	Brambleberry, Mudfur
Leopardstar 	A Dangerous Path 	Fading Echoes 	Stonefur, Mistyfoot, Hawkfrost 	Mudfur, Mothwing, Willowshine
Mistystar 	Fading Echoes 	River 	Reedwhisker 	Mothwing, Willowshine, Alderheart
Mothwing and Frostpaw 	River 	Sky 	None 	Themselves
Curlfeather 	River 	River 	None 	Mothwing, Frostpaw
Owlnose 	Sky 	Shadow 	Splashtail 	Mothwing, Frostpaw
Tigerstar 	Sky 	Thunder 	None 	Mothwing, Frostpaw
Icewing and Cloverfoot 	Shadow 	Thunder 	None 	Mothwing
Duskfur 	Thunder 	Thunder 	Splashtail 	Mothwing
Splashtail 	Thunder 	Star 	Harelight, Berryheart 	Mothwing, Podlight
Icestar 	Star 	- 	Owlnose 	Mothwing, Frostdawn
:Dovestar's succession is unknown, but they appear in "Rules That Did Not Become Part of the Code" of Code of the Clans.
SkyClan (toggle temporary)	SkyClan (toggle temporary) 	SkyClan (toggle temporary) 	SkyClan (toggle temporary) 	SkyClan (toggle temporary)
Name 	Gained rank in... 	Left rank in... 	Deputies... 	Medicine cats...
Skystar 	Moth Flight's Vision 	The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition	Sparrow Fur 	Micah, Acorn Fur
Sparrowstar 	The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition	Before "Finders Keepers" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Birchstar 	Before "Finders Keepers" 	Before "Follow My Leader" 	Rainsplash 	Unknown
Beechstar 	Before "Follow My Leader" 	"Follow My Leader" 	Maplewhisker 	Unknown
Mothpelt 	"Follow My Leader" 	"Follow My Leader" 	None 	Unknown
Dewstar 	Before "The Vanishing Moon" 	Before "The Vanishing Moon" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Hawkstar 	Before "The Vanishing Moon" 	Before "Poppycloud's Rule" 	Robinstar 	Unknown
Robinstar 	Before "Poppycloud's Rule" 	Before "Poppycloud's Rule" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Rowanstar 	Before "Poppycloud's Rule" 	Before "Darkstar's Law" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Darkstar 	Before "Darkstar's Law" 	Before "The Leader Who Sought Peace" 	Raincloud 	Twigtail
Fennelstar 	Before "The Leader Who Sought Peace" 	Before "A Lesson to Kittypet Thieves" 	Unknown 	Unknown
Flystar 	Before "A Lesson to Kittypet Thieves" 	Before Cloudstar's Journey 	Petalfall, Cloudstorm 	Unknown
Cloudstar 	Before Cloudstar's Journey 	Before Firestar's Quest 	Buzzardtail 	Fawnstep
Buzzardstar 	Before Firestar's Quest 	Before Firestar's Quest 	Unknown 	Unknown
Spiderstar 	Before Firestar's Quest 	Before Firestar's Quest 	Honeyleaf 	Brackenheart
Firestar 	Firestar's Quest 	Firestar's Quest 	None 	Sandstorm
Leafstar 	Firestar's Quest 	- 	Sharpclaw, Waspwhisker, Hawkwing	Echosong, Frecklewish, Fidgetflake, Leafpool , Puddleshine
:Maplestar's succession is unknown, but she appears in Cloudstar's Journey.
StormClan 	StormClan 	StormClan 	StormClan 	StormClan
Name 	Gained rank in...	Left rank in...	Deputies...	Medicine cats...
Stripestar and Galestar	Unknown 	Unknown 	Unknown 	Unknown
:
WarriorClan	WarriorClan 	WarriorClan 	WarriorClan	WarriorClan
Name 	Gained rank in... 	Left rank in...	Deputies...	Medicine cats...
Monkeystar 	Before Graystripe's Vow	- 	Fang 	Petunia
==Trivia==
*Kate thinks the warrior code would allow a warrior to challenge their leader for leadership if it's done in the best interest of the Clan such as a weak or cruel leader.
*She also thinks that in the event both the leader and deputy died, the Clan would discuss amongst themselves who should be leader. StarClan might also interfere and send a sign to the medicine cat who should be leader.
==See also==
*List of leaders
*List of temporary leaders
*List of appointed leaders
*List of leaders by Clan
==External links==
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==Notes and references==
de:Anführerfi:Päällikköfr:Chefit:Leaderlt:Vadasnl:Leiderpl:Przywódcaru:Предводительsv:Ledareuk:Провідникko:지도자
Category:Clan hierarchy