Zautzes

Zautzes was the eparch of the city of Skopentzana in the far northeast of the Empire of Videssos. He had been appointed by Maleinos II and remained loyal to him during the civil war between him and Stylianos. Part of this was due to the remoteness of the city from Videssos the City so his loyalty was never challenged.

Zautzes was a short, squat man who resembled a frog what with his receding chin and bulging eyes. To austere Priests of Phos such as the city's prelate Rhavas he was a lecher and overly fond of wine but not overly so for a man in his position. He dressed elaborately with fur-edged silk robes shot through with silver and gold threads. He also wore boots trimmed with red to denote his connection to the Avtokrator.

Zautzes was notified of the outbreak of civil war by a courier from Maleinos. He immediately consulted with Rhavas, both because he was the prelate and because he was a cousin of Maleinos. Both concluded that they no longer were the most important men in the city; instead it had become Himerios, the commander of the city garrison.