Lord Anthony
A senior magician and council member in London's magical oligarchy, central to the conspiracy that threatens the government.
Lord Anthony is a senior magician and a member of the ruling council, an elite class of magicians in the government, as depicted in the final book of the trilogy, Ptolemy's Gate, published in 2005. He is part of the magical oligarchy that holds almost all political, economic, and cultural power in London. His role places him at the center of the conspiracy to overthrow the government, which causes the most dangerous threat in the history of magic. Alongside Nathaniel, Bartimaeus, and Kitty Jones, he is involved in efforts to save the city of London from this threat.
- Role
- Senior Magician / Council Member
- First Appears
- Ptolemy's Gate
Lore & Background
Lord Anthony is a senior magician and a member of the ruling council, as introduced in Ptolemy's Gate (2005). He operates within the British magical oligarchy, where magicians hold almost all political, economic, and cultural power. The series is set in London during the late 1900s or possibly the early 2000s in a parallel universe where trained people can summon demons to do their bidding. Lord Anthony's position places him at the heart of the government's elite class, and he is involved in a conspiracy to overthrow the government, which creates the most dangerous threat in the history of magic. This threat ultimately culminates in the overthrowing of London, as Bartimaeus reveals an endless cycle where magical empires like Baghdad, Rome, and Egypt have all fallen from dominance.
In Their Own Story
In Ptolemy's Gate, Lord Anthony is a senior magician and a member of the ruling council. The main plot of this story is a conspiracy to overthrow the government, which causes the most dangerous threat in the history of magic. Together, Nathaniel, Bartimaeus, and Kitty try to save the city of London from this dangerous threat. Bartimaeus reveals to the reader the presence of an endless cycle wherein magicians summon spirits, magicians rule over commoners, spirits spread magic throughout a city, some of the commoners gain a resistance to magic, the commoners rebel against the magicians, the magicians are overthrown and the spirits return to the Other Place until another magical empire rises to dominance. This cycle proves to be the main plot, which culminates in the overthrowing of London.
Reader's Guide
Lord Anthony appears in Ptolemy's Gate, the final book of the trilogy published in 2005. He is a senior magician and a member of the ruling council, an elite class of magicians in the government. His role involves being part of the conspiracy to overthrow the government, which creates the most dangerous threat in the history of magic. The story follows Nathaniel, Bartimaeus, and Kitty Jones as they try to save London from this threat. Lord Anthony's actions are part of the broader cycle described by Bartimaeus, where magical empires like Baghdad, Rome, and Egypt have all fallen from dominance. His position within the magical oligarchy highlights the political and cultural power held by the ruling elite of magicians.
Did You Know?
- Lord Anthony is a senior magician and a member of the ruling council in Ptolemy's Gate, published in 2005.
- He is part of a conspiracy to overthrow the government, which causes the most dangerous threat in the history of magic.
- The series is set in London during the late 1900s or possibly the early 2000s in a parallel universe.
- Bartimaeus reveals an endless cycle where magical empires like Baghdad, Rome, and Egypt have all fallen from dominance.
- The trilogy sold over six million copies in 36 languages worldwide, according to the series' website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lord Anthony?
He is actually Sir Anthony Crompton, a senior member of the Council of Magicians and Nathaniel's father. While fans sometimes use the title Lord, he holds high political power within London's secret magical government.
What are his powers or role?
He is a highly skilled practitioner capable of advanced summoning and combat magic that exceeds most peers. However, his main influence comes from his administrative authority on the Council rather than direct battlefield action.
Is he an antagonist?
Sir Anthony functions as an obstacle due to his rigid adherence to protocol, though he is not a villain like the Egyptian sorcerers. His moral ambiguity creates significant personal tension with Nathaniel regarding the use of dark magic.
How does his story end?
He survives the events of the main trilogy and keeps his seat on the Council without suffering defeat or death. By the final book, he remains a key figure in the British magical establishment's leadership.
Why is he important to the plot?
His relationship with Nathaniel drives much of the protagonist's internal conflict and development during the early narrative. Furthermore, his political decisions dictate the rules that shape the war against rival magical factions.
More in Characters & Spirits
Elsewhere in the Bartimaeus universe
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