| Pikridios Goudeles | |
| Fictional Character | |
| Videssos Cycle Videssos Series | |
| Appearance(s): | The Videssos Cycle |
| Type of Appearance: | Direct |
| Nationality: | Empire of Videssos |
| Religion: | Phos worship |
| Occupation: | Bureaucrat, Ambassador |
| Spouse: | Tribonia Goudeles |
Pikridios Goudeles was a member of the bureaucratic faction of the Empire of Videssos.
He was head of an embassy sent by Vardanes Sphrantzes to attempt to placate Thorisin Gavras during their civil war.
He had authority and prestige among the city's bureaucrats. He used a bookkeeping trick to embezzle the funds for a flashy ring under Marcus Scaurus' nose when the latter was appointed to oversee the bureaucracy, and then explained the trick to Scaurus (who later caught another bureaucrat attempting to use it).
He was chosen by Thorisin Gavras as emissary to Arghun, Khagan of the Gray Horse Arshaum clan, and learned the rudiments of swordplay from Lankinos Skylitzes. Upon arrival in Pardraya his skill in diplomacy and rhetoric helped the embassy more than once, and he was able to convince Arghun to ally with Videssos rather than Yezd, causing Bogoraz, the Yezda envoy, to attempt to poison the Khagan.
Goudeles participated in the Arshaum campaign against the Yezda, and fought in the final battle against Avshar (to his pride). Later he was a member of Scaurus' and Alypia Gavra's wedding party.
Goudeles had a wife (Tribonia) in Videssos the city and a mistress. He was a capable logothete and a courageous man, intelligent and charismatic. He was tolerant in matters of religion, but culturally elitist, disdaining the "barbarian" ways of living he encountered on the Pardrayan steppe.
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