The Sphrantzes were a political family in the Empire of Videssos; the height of their power took place roughly 1200 years after the empire's founding. At this period, the throne changed back and forth between the Sphrantzes and the Gavras family due to assassinations, coups, and palace and bureaucratic intrigue. Prominent members of the Sphrantzes family include: * Strobilos Sphrantzes, Avtokrator of Videssos until he was overthrown by Mavrikios Gavras * Vardanes Sphrantzes, Sevastos to Mavrikios Gavras * Ortaias Sphrantzes, Vardanes' nephew, and briefly Avtokrator himself..