Anthimos III

Anthimos III
Fictional Character
The Tale of Krispos Videssos Series
Appearance(s):	Krispos Rising †
Type of Appearance:	Direct
Nationality:	Empire of Videssos
Religion:	Phos worship
Cause of Death:	Crushed to death by his own backfiring spell
Occupation:	Monarch, student of magecraft
Parents:	Rhaptes (father)
Spouse:	Dara
Relatives:	Petronas (uncle)
Political Office(s):	Avtokrator of Videssos

Anthimos III was the Avtokrator of the Empire of Videssos. Born in the purple, Anthimos spent much of his reign growing up and having fun while his uncle, Petronas, acted as regent of the empire. Even after Anthimos reached full maturity, his uncle's hold on power was unshakable. When it became clear that Petronas would consider overthrowing Anthimos and act as Avtokrator in his own right, Anthimos, with the assistance of his wife, Dara, and his vestiarios, Krispos, had his uncle tonsured and incarcerated.

Not showing any more interest in running the empire, Anthimos continued to throw lavish parties which frequently degenerated into drunken orgies. Perhaps the most unusual feature of Anthimos's parties was his practice of giving imperial "favors." A list of these favors, sharing some common theme such as a rhyme scheme or number, would be compiled before the party by the vestiarios. During the party, people who amused Anthimos would receive a favor. The favor contained a slip of paper detailing an imperial gift of some kind. Sometimes, the gift would be a reward, paid for by the Imperial treasure (eleven kinds of vice). It might be a neutral gift, and one difficult for the partygoer to find a use for (eleven pounds of ice). Or it might be one disadvantageous in the extreme (eleven thousand lice, in a jar which the recipient fumbled and dropped).

Krispos made every effort to get Anthimos interested in the business of government, with at least slight success. As the mercenary activities of the wizard Harvas Black-Robe threatened the Empire, the need for a strong ruler became gravely important. However, the Avtokrator preferred his own pet projects, the last of which was magic. Much to everyone's surprise, Anthimos proved a fairly effective and focused wizard. When Harvas' men slaughtered a border village and killed Krispos' whole family, the vestiarios began to openly accuse Anthimos of neglecting his duties. In response, Anthimos tried to kill Krispos with magic. However, he made a slip of the tongue when he identified the target of his killing curse as "me" rather than "him". The Avtokrator thus slew himself with his sorcery, and Krispos became the new Avtokrator of Videssos.

Five centuries later, Balsamon, Patriarch of Videssos, told Marcus Aemilius Scaurus about Anthimos' apathy toward the threat of Harvas, and Krispos' subsequent grapple with the wizard. Balsamon incorrectly remembered the ill-fated Emperor as "Anthimos II".

See also

• OTL Analogy in the Videssos Series#Anthimos III

References

Regnal titles (Videssos)
Preceded by Rhaptes	Avtokrator of Videssos	Succeeded by Krispos