Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a synchronous machine from a field overvoltage is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a field excitation control circuit which is impressed with the armature voltage of the synchronous machine so as to provide a DC power supply for producing a DC output to excite the field winding of the synchronous machine, a first discharge circuit which is adapted to discharge the stored energy of the field winding when the synchronous machine is to be tripped under predetermined conditions, and a second discharge circuit for reducing the field voltage by allowing a field current to flow therethrough in response to generation of an overvoltage whose absolute value is higher than a predetermined level, across the field winding.