The Arch-Mage is the leader of the Mage's Guild or The College of Winterhold. He or she is usually followed around by two apprentices, whom the Arch-Mage trains. The apprentices also help with research. The Arch-Mage of the Mage's Guild is elected via majority vote by the Council of Mages.

Known Arch-MagesEdit

• Deneth - Arch-Mage of the college during The Great Collapse.^[1]
• Gauldur - Arch-Mage of the college during the First Era.^[2]
• Geirmund - Arch-Mage of Windhelm^[3] during the First Era; successor to Gauldur.
• Hannibal Traven - Arch-Mage of the Mage's Guild in Cyrodil. - The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
• Savos Aren - Arch-Mage of the college in Winterhold. - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
• Shalidor - Arch-Mage of the college during the First Era.
• Trebonius Artorius - Arch-Mage of the Mages Guild. - The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.
• Vanus Galerion - Founder of the Mage's Guild.

Possible Arch-MagesEdit

Morrowind's Nerevarine may have become Arch-Mage after either delivering a letter from Ocato effectively retiring Trebonius Artorius, or defeating Trebonius in a duel to the death.

Oblivion's Hero of Kvatch may have become Arch-Mage after defeating Mannimarco and his minions, succeeding Hannibal Traven, who sealed his soul inside the Colossal Black Soul Gem to protect the Hero from Mannimarco's spells. Subsequently, Caranya fell to Necromancy and Irlav Jarol died while experimenting with an Ayleid relic, leaving no other apparent candidates for Arch-Mage within the Mage's Guild.

Skyrim's Dragonborn may have become Arch-Mage after Savos Aren died at the hands of Ancano, a crazed Thalmor spy who sought to harness the power of the Eye of Magnus.

PronunciationEdit

Arch-Mage is pronounced two different ways by in-game persons. It can be pronounced with ch (ex: the word "march") or the ch pronounced as a k (ex: the word "mark"); the latter pronunciation is used almost exclusively by Quaranir, as well as other members of the Psijic Order and Altmers like Nirya and Nelacar.

ReferencesEdit

1. ↑ On the Great Collapse
2. ↑ Daynas Valen's Notes
3. ↑ Geirmund's Epitaph - In this document, Geirmund is called "Arch-Mage" of Windhelm. Because no mage-faction exists in Windhelm, it may be a typo of Winterhold.