In Wheel of Time, the Aes Sedai are led by a woman they call the Amyrlin Seat; here's everything to know about the Aes Sedai leader. In the show, this character has been mentioned a few times but has yet to appear on-screen in any of its five episodes. However, the Amyrlin Seat has already been cast and is confirmed to appear in Wheel of Time season 1.
Amazon’s adaptation of Robert Jordan’s award-winning books has revealed a great deal about the Aes Sedai and how they function in Wheel of Time’s world. This organization of female channelers is headquartered at the White Tower in Tar Valon. All members of the Aes Sedai belong to one of seven branches, called Ajahs, which are represented by different colors. Each of the seven Ajahs is guided by its own set of viewpoints, goals, and rules. Every Aes Sedai, regardless of the Ajah they belong to, are bound by the Three Oaths, which ensure that they don’t misuse their authority or the One Power.
All seven Ajahs of the White Tower have their own leaders, but there’s one Aes Sedai that every member of the organization answers to in Wheel of Time. The Aes Sedai leader, the Amyrlin Seat, is the highest authority in the White Tower. The character who currently holds the title is Siuan Sanche (Sophie Okonedo), who was previously shown in trailers for the series. In the books, Siuan was originally an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah, like Moiraine. However, once an Aes Sedai is “raised” to the position of Amyrlin Seat, they become the leader of all Ajahs, and are no longer associated with a specific faction. The Amyrlin is also given a second-in-command, which is referred to as the Keeper of the Chronicles. Siuan’s Keeper is a character named Leane Sharif, who, like Siuan, has been cast in the show (with Jennifer Cheon Garcia) but not yet shown.
The Wheel of Time books provide a clear picture of how much power the Amyrlin Seat has, the role she fills, and how a person can obtain the position in the first place. The Amyrlin Seat is elected by the Hall of the Tower, which is comprised of representatives of the seven Ajah colors of the Aes Sedai. Three members of every Ajah vote on the Aes Sedai they believe should lead them. The person they pick is then elected to the Amyrlin Seat for life. Since Aes Sedai can live for hundreds of years, an Amyrlin Seat can be in power for centuries. During their reign, they’re treated as the equivalent of a queen by the various nations in Wheel of Time’s world. Although the Amyrlin is typically one of the most respected figures in the land, it is possible for them to be removed from power. If enough Aes Sedai feel that her decisions aren’t in the best interests of the White Tower, they can have her deposed and replaced with a new Amyrlin.
As for what to expect from the Amyrlin Seat in Amazon’s Wheel of Time show, Siuan is one of the most important characters in the books and one of the only people who knows the truth about Moiraine’s true mission. The two having some sort of relationship was implied in episode 3 when Moiraine said her name in her sleep. Other comments indicate that there may be some bad blood between the two. More on that will likely be revealed when both Siuan and Leane join Wheel of Time’s Dragon Reborn story later in the season.