A member of the Shadow Council; the vampire advisor to Queen Victoria. The potentate acts as a sort of vampire prime minister, and is elected by vote from all the hives in the United Kingdom. He is usually a well-known rove with extensive political acumen. At the beginning of the Parasol Protectorate series, the potentate is a rove by the name of Sir Francis Walsingham. In Blameless, Walsingham is killed by Lord Maccon. After, Lord Akeldama assumes the position.