The city-state of Dalaran in the Warcraft Universe is ruled by a group of wizards called the Kirin Tor.Ī magocracy (though not referred to by that term) has also appeared in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, where 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. It is an enemy to many nations, including Aglarond, Mulhorand and Rashemen. Within the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing worlds, 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. In BioWare's game Dragon Age: Origins, the Tevinter Imperium is a magocracy, ruled by Imperial Archons and magisters. Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana is a novel that features a conflict between two nations governed by sorcerers, in a world deliberately designed to be reminiscent of Italy during the Renaissance. Tolkien, the witch-king of Angmar is the leader of the Ring-wraiths: a former human king who dabbled in sorcery and was transformed by Sauron's enchanted rings. In this world, a school of magic constitutes the closest thing to a central government of an archipelago of pre-industrial cultures. LeGuin's fictional world of Earthsea could be called a magocracy. In the world of Mystara, the Principalities of Glantri have banned all Divine Magic users. Divine Magic may be restricted, or limited to followers of the state religion. Typically, Arcane Magic users will have privileges, and the citizens will live in fear. Power is limited to the few who have the wealth and education, or magical heritage. In a magocracy, only those with ability in Arcane Magic have a voice in government. A government headed by the disciples of Divine Magic is called a theocracy. In Dungeons & Dragons the two main types of magic are Arcane Magic and Divine Magic. They were believed to wield magical powers to influence the outcome of battles, and offered sacrifices, including human sacrifice, to achieve these goals. These druids were a non-hereditary class that became druids by submitting to an extensive program of training. Similarly, Julius Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War portrays druids as a learned priestly class and the keepers of customary law, with the power of executing judgments. The concept of a magus takes its name from the priests of the Magian religion of the ancient Medes, who wielded considerable power and influence, until they were suppressed as a result of a revolt by the pretender Smerdis against Cambyses II.

If the premises of a fantasy world include individuals who are capable of wielding magical powers, it seems likely that the wielders of such powers would wield considerable influence.

Synonym for plutocracy