“No pestilent hate could turn aside Tevinter's ferryman...
-Canticle of Silence 3:18”
The Archon, officially the Imperial Archon, is the mage-ruler of the Tevinter Imperium. The position is usually inherited, whether through blood relation or apprenticeship of the previous Archon, but the Magisterium, the legislative body of Tevinter, has the power to elect the Archon should the need arise.[1] Most notably, this is done in the event that an Archon passes without an appointed heir.[2]
Background
In ancient times, when the Imperium had expanded into most of Thedas, the one who held this office was by de facto the most powerful person in the continent.
One third of the Archons throughout history have been Laetans.[3] Archon Tidarion was the first Laetan to become Archon, and the outrage that this caused among the Magisterium led to a civil war that lasted over seventy years. The magisters believed that magic was a favor of the Old Gods rather than an accident of birth, and refused to acknowledge the mage underclass of elves and newly liberated foreigners. The civil war was only ended in -620 Ancient when Archon Parthenius, former high priest of Dumat, finally admitted the Laetans to the temples and gave them three seats in the Magisterium.[4]
Archons are technically part of the magisters and used to be elected from the ranks of the Magisterium but since the Black Age this practice changed and no member of the Imperial Chantry or a magister can become an Archon.[2]
The seal of the Archon is a hooded ferryman.[5]
Archons technically have the power to overrule laws passed by the Magisterium, but this power is exercised rarely. The Archon's most coveted power is the ability to appoint new magisters, so the ruling families actively vie for his or her favour.[6]
Known Archons
An Archon in Heroes of Dragon Age
- Almadrius: Reigned from -760 Ancient[7] to -692 Ancient[8]. Built himself a great palace in the Eyes of Nocen. His reign ended in violence.[9]
- Darinius: The first historically noted Archon, who united the human tribes under the Tevinter Imperium and ruled it from its inception in -1195 Ancient[10] to -1180 Ancient[11]. Sealed a covenant between Tevinter and the ancient dwarven empire, traveling underground to meet with their leader Endrin Stonehammer. He was the first owner of the Imperium Rings, which were given to him by the dwarves.[11]
- Davan: Predecessor to Radonis[12], he granted Aurelian Titus a seat in the Magisterium and was eventually assassinated in 9:29 Dragon.
- Hadarius: Succeeded the assassinated Archon Vespasian. He was himself assassinated, finding that the Magister's Shield did not protect him from poison as well as it did other things.[13] A Ring of the Ferryman bearing his name surfaced in Kirkwall in 9:34 Dragon, though whether it was Hadarius' or a forgery is unknown.
- Hessarian: Known as "The Redeemed", he ruled in the days of Andraste, who was betrayed to his forces by her husband Maferath. He is said to have repented as he watched Andraste burn and the Maker spoke to him, so he killed her himself with a sword to end her suffering. He then converted to her Chant of Light.[15]. He died in his sleep in -125 Ancient.[16] The Canticle of Silence (Considered a Dissonant Verse in the southern Chantry) is attributed to him.
- Ishal: Ordered the construction of the Tower of Ishal at Ostagar.[17]
- Vanarius Issar: Was almost assassinated during a slave revolt in Minrathous. This event led him to select Emerius as the new capital of the slave trade.[18]
- Lovias: Forged two rings to simultaneously command the physical realm and the Fade.[19] Authored the Chant of Lovias, a rare arcane text that is nearly lost[20]. A paranoid ruler, he held the throne up to the age of 89, when he choked on a fishbone.[21]
- Melos: He discovered Drake's Fall and gave the order to build a city on the bones.[22]
- Nomaran: Elected in 7:34 Storm "directly from the ranks of the enchanters." His rise saw mages regain open political power in Tevinter, and was therefore condemned as "a return to the days of the magisters" by those outside Tevinter. The people of Tevinter itself, however, are said to have greeted his election with "great applause".[23]
- Parthenius: Successor of Tidarion, began his rule in -620 Ancient.[9] Former high priest of Dumat. Admitted Laetans into the temples and gave them three seats in the magisterium to end the civil war.[4]
- Radonis: The Archon of Tevinter as of 9:41 Dragon. After the events of the Winter Palace, he is quick to offer alliance to the Inquisition. Josephine Montilyet describes him as cunning, politically well-versed and a powerful mage. Allegedly, he has a soft spot for cats.
- Thalsian: First of the magisters. He claimed to have contacted the Old God Dumat, and to have learned blood magic from him. According to Tevinter, he was made honorary Archon by Darinius after the formation of the Magisterium.[25] According to Chantry texts, the power he gained from blood magic allowed him to establish an empire under his rule.[26]
- Thalasian: Known as "The Destroyer", he declared war against Arlathan in 197 TE (-998 Ancient) and destroyed the city together with his blood mages in 220 TE (-975 Ancient).[27]
- Therion: In 2:2 Glory he gifted a replica of the Blade of Mercy to his general, the first Archon who did so.[28]
- Tidarion: Successor of Almadrius, ruled from -692 Ancient to -640 Ancient.[29] Notable for being the first Archon from the Laetan class.[30] Spent his entire reign fighting a civil war, and died on the battlefield.[4]
- Valerius: Predecessor and father of Hessarian.[31] When his consort and advisor, Eleni Zinovia, prophesied his downfall, he cursed her by trapping her spirit in a stone statue. The prophecy came true, Valerius was killed and his fortress destroyed.[32]
- Vespasian: Assassinated on the same day that the Grand Cathedral in Orlais was completed. Succeeded by Hadarius.[13]
- Vius: Authored the book "Tevinter Journeys Inward".[33]
