Potentate

A Potentate can be defined as a person who possesses great power or authority, especially a ruler or monarch.

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. 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 Third Empire, the title of Potentate denotes a lifelong regent who holds authority in absence of a true monarchical dynasty.