The Archon is the Supreme ruler of the Imperium, elected from among the Magisters. The Archon's authority waxes and wanes depending on personal power and alliances.​

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A Magister or Magistra is a member of the Magisterium, a council of mage-lords from noble bloodlines who debate, vote on major policy, and wield substantial individual influence. Rivalry, assassination, and political marriages are common tactics to sway power in this top rung.

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Altus are Mages who were descendants of the original Dreamers. They are the highest rank of mage nobility, and most are also Magisters.

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​Wealthy mage noble families, or 'Laetans', are those families that also have strong magical bloodlines, but ones that cannot be traced back to the original Dreamers who explored the Fade. They are broadly disliked by the Altus caste, as Laetans regularly sponsor lesser mages or favored commoners.

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At the bottom of the aristocracy are the Praetari. These are mages from lower-class families who were inducted into the ruling class once they were revealed to have magical potential. For many Tevinter families, having a child with magical potential is a ticket into the aristocracy, though the Praetari are looked down on by both the Altus and the Laetans. A Praetari family which manages to maintain its magical bloodline for several generations becomes designated a Laetan family, though maintaining a new magical bloodline is difficult to achieve.

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Citizens, or 'Soporati', and also rudely called "Sleepers" by higher castes, are non-magical Tevinters that are merchants, Legionnaires, civil servants, and tax collectors. They form the Empire's bulk of population, often jockeying for patronage from mage-lords. They are further divided based on their role:

• Evocatus: Those serving or having served in the military for a period greater than a decade. They are often sought as bodyguards or tutors for the young of the aristocracy and treated with greater respect due to their service.

• Mercator: The nearest thing to nobility a non-mage can come to within the Imperium. This consists of rich families, merchants, bankers, business owners, and renowned members of strong guilds.

• Publicanum: The greatest numbered form of Soporati. Civil workers, small vendors, farm owners, teachers.

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The Caste 'Liberati' or Liberated Slaves, represents many non-humans existing with Tevinter's lands. They are considered second, if not third, class citizens. Slaves can obtain Liberati status through showcasing command of the Fade, by having a lenient or high ranking Master that deems their slave requires a higher caste than others to perform their duties, or by the mercy of their master. They can join clans, own property (not to include slaves), and serve as apprentices in trade, but can rarely rise any higher. Dwarves have the most potential to reach Soporati, due to being renowned trade partners of the Imperium.

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Beneath the Liberati are the Slaves, or Servus Publicus, who do the tasks that no Tevinter citizen must. They are the relied on forced labor of the Imperium's economy. Though some slaves can attain favored status, their lives are typically harsh and controlled. The slave caste is composed of all races, but it is an Elven majority. It is further divided based on role:

• Camerius: The servants, maids, tutors, chamberlains and advisors of anyone that buys them. Slaves of intellect based trades are well sought after.

• Gladitores: The spectacle fighters, and used near exclusively for that purpose. These are slaves trained in martials arts and various combat styles. They act as entertainers for their masters and typically lose their lives in the arena.

• Servus Publicus: The lowest a slave, and anyone in Tevinter, can be. The largest part of this caste, they are used for manual labor, agricultural complexes, mining, and any intensive work below Tevinter's citizens.

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Tevinter's legal system can be found here:  Lex Imperium