Magocracy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A magocracy is a fictional form of government present in many works of fantasy in which society is ruled by mages, typically using their powers to either subtly or blatantly influence the population, maintaining stability. They have similarities to aristocracies, meritocracies, oligarchies, and theocracies. The term was created for use in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.
[edit] Role playing games
In Dungeons & Dragons the two main types of magic are Arcane Magic and Divine Magic. A government headed by the disciples of Divine Magic is called a theocracy. In a magocracy, only those with ability in Arcane Magic have a voice in government. Power is limited to the few who have the wealth and education, or magical heritage.
Typically, Arcane Magic users will have privileges, and the citizens will live in fear. Divine Magic may be restricted, or limited to followers of the state religion. In the world of Mystara, the Principalities of Glantri have banned all Divine Magic users.
[edit] Examples
Perhaps the most well-known magocracy is that of the government of Thay, an ambitious empire that is ruled by the Red Wizards in the Forgotten Realms setting. It is an enemy to many nations, including Aglarond and Mulhorand.
The city of Dalaran in the Warcraft Universe is also an example of a magocracy.
A magocracy (though not referred to by that term) has also appeared in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, where the Imperial Emperor Palpatine, inspired by a similar scheme initiated by the Sith-descended "Sorcerers of Tund," intended to use his grasp of the Dark Side to personally rule over the galaxy, instead of having his control mediated through a bureaucracy and military. His initial prototype for this scheme (incomplete at the time of his death at the Battle of Endor) was the planet Byss.
Many examples also exist in fantasy literature such as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Lyman Frank Baum. For the 2004 Interactive Fiction Competition, Joseph Rheaume wrote a game entitled Magocracy, set in the Magocratic Kingdom of Persis, in the TADS programming language, ultimately placing 18th.
