Prince Spyridion of Lihnidos

Spyridion
Prince of Lihnidos
Born	19 February 1998 (age 26) Arcadia, Lihnidos
Full name Spyridion Thanasis Aristotelis
House	Vasiliou
Father	Yorgos of Ikaria
Mother	Stella II
Religion	Fabrian Catholic

Spyridion (Spyridion Thanasis Aristotelis; born 19 February 1998) is a Prince of Lihnidos and the second oldest child of Empress Stella II.

Spyridion was born in Arcadia, Lihnidos at Saint Maria's Hospital on 19 February 1998. He was born minutes after his twin sister Efthymia. When reaching the appropriate age, he was enrolled in the Arcadian Public School System and attended Pieris Hill Primary School for his primary education and Syrias High School for his secondary education. Upon graduating from secondary school in 2016, Spyridion was accepted into the University of Arcadia where he is majoring in political science.

Spyridion has taken a somewhat active role on the national stage. While still only in his fourth year at university he has been permitted to attend a small number of diplomatic events by his mother and is an outspoken supporter of the Belisarian Community. He is a practicing member of the Fabrian Catholic Church much like of the rest of his family.

Early Life and Education

Spyridion was born in room 584 of Saint Maria's Hospital on 19 February 1998 at 3:21 PM BST. He was born to Princess Stella (later Stella II) and Yorgos of Ikaria. He was a twin to Princess Efthymia and was born only nine minutes after she was. He was baptized alongside his twin sister on 28 February 1998.

In Spyridion's early childhood his mother was seldom present to develop a relationship with him or his siblings. By the age of four his parents had birthed two more daughters, Maria and Athanasia. While in the first year of his life his mother was still enrolled in university and therefore grappling with both university work and raising children with her husband who was also enrolled at university. After she graduated her time with him became even rarer. Upon graduating, his mother took an active role in her imperial duties, delving into work given to her by her mother, then Princess Teresa, Duchess of Rhithasa. His mother took a much more active role than many before her, leaving her with little family time especially after becoming the crown princess after the death of her grandmother. This led to Spyridion's father, Yorgos, being the main caregiver while he and his sisters were young. After his mother began to take a less active role as crown princess in 2005 she was able to spend more time with her family and gradually was able to develop the kind of deep relationship her children had with their father.

At the age of five Spyridion was enrolled in the Arcadian Public School System. He was the first prince of Lihnidos to attend public school. At the time the move caused confusion among many in the nobility and the national media speculated that his parent's cared little for him. It was later discovered that he was enrolled in public school on the insistence of his father, although no reason was ever given to the public. He attended Pieris Hill Primary School and later moved to Syrias High School for secondary school. While being in the public school system Spyridion became a popular figure as many wanted to befriend someone with such a high status. It is believed that his popularity caused him to slip in school, as his grades were not ideal. During both primary and secondary school he regularly scored Bs and even Cs, due to, as many believe, a lack of trying as he focused more on social endeavors and less on education. He later improved his grades as he neared the end of secondary education in anticipation of applying for university.

He applied to the University of Arcadia along with his sister after graduation secondary school and was accepted in 2015. He began his first year in 2016 and is currently a senior. According to the Imperial Palace he has decided to study for a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science like his mother. He is expected to graduate at the end of the spring semester in 2020.

Role as Prince

Having been born only nine minutes after his sister there was speculation as to which twin his mother would select as heir once given the chance. In 2007, his mother was crowned empress following the death of Empress Teresa. His mother announced that she would be selecting her first daughter Efthymia as the next heir. What went into the empress's decision was never explained. Despite not being selected as the heir, Spyridion continued to attend events and carry out imperial duties alongside his sister. Considered to be second-in-line behind his twin, he was groomed to rule much like she was. Later in his life he took interest in foreign and domestic affairs and was politically outspoken.

Spyridion has attended, in an unofficial capacity, a diplomatic mission in Arthurista. His presence alongside the Grand Duchess of Ithaca and Prime Minsiter during the Global Security Conference in Loweport, Arthurista was widely reported on by Lihnidosi media. Many consider his access to the foreign ministry at such a young age to be an attempt to set himself up for a possible role as foreign secretary in the future or a position in the Office of Imperial Affairs as an advisor to his mother or sister.

It has also been proposed by media pundits that a run for political office is a possibility in his future. His experience in foreign relations would give him experience that he could use as a means to gain a seat in the National Assembly. Funding for his campaign would likely be of little issue, as the private wealth of the Vasiliou family is ample enough to sustain a successful campaign. The representative of the constituency that he would likely run in is currently a member of the Centrist Union, opening the possibility that the voters of the constituency would be open to electing a conservative like Spyridion.

Personal Life

Relationships

During secondary school Spyridion was seen with a number of female classmates. The Imperial Palace never confirmed or denied a relationship between Spyridion and any of his female counterparts, however details of relationships would come out following his graduation. It was announced in late 2018 that Spyridion was in a relationship with Vannosian princess Marie-Nicoline of Vierville. The two reportedly met during the wedding and following reception for Latin Emperor Constantine XX.

Political Views

Much like his grandmother, the late Empress Teresa, Spyridion is outspoken about his political beliefs. He is a registered member of the Conservative-National Alliance, although he has been criticized as being closer to the Populist People's Party on some issues. On social issues he is considered to be somewhat of an extremist, opposing all forms of abortion and has suggested that the welfare programs in Lihnidos may be too generous. He is in favor of conservative economic policies like lower taxes and a believer trickle-down economics as well as lowering the number of regulations that he believes puts too big of a burden on business owners. He has shown signs of being hawkish on foreign policy in comments made about Liothidia. His stance on the Belisarian Community, which he is a vocal advocate for, separates him from some in the Conservative-National Alliance, but is paralleled by several of the higher-ranking members of the party like the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign and Belisarian Affairs. At home he has also advocated for an increase in defense spending and has vocally expressed his disregard for the Democratic Coalition, Coalition of Progressive Socialists, and Republican Party.

Perception and Reputation

Spyridion's outspoken nature on politics has caused him to be unpopular among many on the left of the political spectrum and has potentially harmed his chances at roles in the government in the future. Despite this, he is reportedly well liked among the diplomatic staff that he has traveled with and many in the foreign ministry have said, off the record, that they would be pleased to work with him. Those who have known him from primary and secondary education describe him as a kind and caring individual who is nothing like what one would expect from someone who has the type of political views that he does. Most accounts of those who have met him personally are positive and during his public appearances he often seems cordial with those around him.

The only damning accusation against his character came from a woman named Kaia Scafidi who claimed to have been in a relationship with Spyridion for five months during their last year in secondary school. According to her, Spyridion physically abused her and would often verbally attack her when in a bad mood. While Spyridion himself confirmed that the two were, in fact, in a relationship at the time she claims, he denied her allegations, claiming that she was fabricating the story due to her unhappiness at their separation. Other past girlfriends of Spyridion have come out to tell their own stories, all of which seem to discredit the claims made by Ms. Scafidi, as the other women claim that he only ever showed them the utmost respect and that their separations were in their mutual interest.

Titles, styles, honors, and arms

Titles and styles

Styles of Spyridion of Lihnidos
Reference style	His Imperial Highness
Spoken style	Your Imperial Highness
Alternative style	Your Highness

• 19 February 1998 - present: His Imperial Highness Prince Spyridion of Lihnidos

Honors

• Grand Cross of the Order of the Dolphin
• Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the Lihnidosi Empire

Ancestry

Family of Prince Spyridion of Lihnidos

16. Galinthias, Count of Meteze 8. Pietr of Meteze 17. Evangelina Sagona 4. Cletus of Meteze 18. Telephus Mustou 9. Odessa Mustou 19. Aretina Rokou 2. Yorgos of Ikaria 20. Ibycus Theofanis 10. Marios Theofanis 21. Vara Antonopoulou 5. Yanna, Duchess of Ikaria 22. Aeson, Duke of Ikaria 11. Rhoda, Duchess of Ikaria 23. Marrita of Selias 1. Princess Efthymia, Duchess of Rhithasa 24. Athamus, Grand Duke of Ithaca 12. Thiseas, Grand Duke of Ithaca 25. Tressa of Thespaikastros 6. Priapus of Ithaca 26. Anton Boosalis 13. Jacinda of Amararae 27. Uriana, Duchess of Amararae 3. Stella II of Lihnidos 28. Klaus Michaelides 14. Daemon, Duke of Edacia 29. Cascadia, Duchess of Edacia 7. Teresa of Lihnidos 30. Athanasios II of Lihnidos 15. Selene II of Lihnidos 31. Theoni of Messenia

See also

Prince Spyridion of Lihnidos House of Vasiliou Born: 19 February 1998
Lines of succession
Preceded by Princess Efthymia, Duchess of Rhithasa	Succession to the Lihnidosi throne 2nd in line	Followed by Princess Maria of Lihnidos