diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/mastership/MastershipStore.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/mastership/MastershipStore.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0117d0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/mastership/MastershipStore.java
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.mastership;
+
+import java.util.Set;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
+import org.onlab.onos.net.MastershipRole;
+import org.onlab.onos.store.Store;
+
+/**
+ * Manages inventory of mastership roles for devices, across controller
+ * instances; not intended for direct use.
+ */
+public interface MastershipStore extends Store<MastershipEvent, MastershipStoreDelegate> {
+
+    // three things to map: NodeId, DeviceId, MastershipRole
+
+    /**
+     * Requests role of the local node for the specified device.
+     *
+     * @param deviceId device identifier
+     * @return established or newly negotiated mastership role
+     */
+    MastershipRole requestRole(DeviceId deviceId);
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the role of a device for a specific controller instance.
+     *
+     * @param nodeId   the instance identifier
+     * @param deviceId the device identifiers
+     * @return the role
+     */
+    MastershipRole getRole(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId);
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the master for a device.
+     *
+     * @param deviceId the device identifier
+     * @return the instance identifier of the master
+     */
+    NodeId getMaster(DeviceId deviceId);
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the devices that a controller instance is master of.
+     *
+     * @param nodeId the instance identifier
+     * @return a set of device identifiers
+     */
+    Set<DeviceId> getDevices(NodeId nodeId);
+
+    /**
+     * Sets a device's role for a specified controller instance.
+     *
+     * @param nodeId   controller instance identifier
+     * @param deviceId device identifier
+     * @return a mastership event
+     */
+    MastershipEvent setMaster(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId);
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the current master and number of past mastership hand-offs
+     * (terms) for a device.
+     *
+     * @param deviceId the device identifier
+     * @return the current master's ID and the term value for device, or null
+     */
+    MastershipTerm getTermFor(DeviceId deviceId);
+
+    /**
+     * Sets a controller instance's mastership role to STANDBY for a device.
+     * If the role is MASTER, another controller instance will be selected
+     * as a candidate master.
+     *
+     * @param nodeId   the controller instance identifier
+     * @param deviceId device to revoke mastership role for
+     * @return a mastership event
+     */
+    MastershipEvent setStandby(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId);
+
+    /**
+     * Allows a controller instance to give up its current role for a device.
+     * If the role is MASTER, another controller instance will be selected
+     * as a candidate master.
+     *
+     * @param nodeId   the controller instance identifier
+     * @param deviceId device to revoke mastership role for
+     * @return a mastership event
+     */
+    MastershipEvent relinquishRole(NodeId nodeId, DeviceId deviceId);
+
+}