CRIMSON KING

:''For the similarly-named progressive rock band, see King Crimson.''
The 'Crimson King' is one of the main villains of Stephen King's ''Dark Tower'' series. He goes by other names, notably Los among his most trusted Lieutenants and Abbalah in the novel ''Black House''.

Contents

Character history

''Insomnia''

''Black House''

''The Dark Tower''

''The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born''

Death

Trivia

External links

Character history

The Crimson King is an immortal being existing on most (if not all) levels of the Dark Tower, which is the linchpin that holds Stephen King's multiverse together.

''Insomnia''

The Crimson King first appears as a mysterious, malevolent force controlling the mind of a citizen of Derry in order to commit an act of terrorism. This incarnation is wounded by protagonist Ralph Roberts.

''Black House''

At the climax of the book, the Crimson King's forge, the Great Combination, is destroyed by a future ''breaker'' -- a human with psychic powers.

''The Dark Tower''

In End-World in which the physical manifestation of the Dark Tower exists, the Crimson King resides in an abandoned castle of men left behind from the Old Ones' war. He and his servants have access to a wealth of technology there, including travel between alternate dimensions and weaponry far beyond any in practical use throughout the rest of the world -- however they do not fully understand it and are unable to replace or repair it.
He kills nearly all of his subjects and commits suicide by swallowing a razor-edged spoon. His now-undead form races ahead of protagonist Roland Deschain to the Dark Tower to try and enter it first and bring the multiverse down by his own hand.

''The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born''

In issue #2 of it is revealed that the Abbalah is the offspring of King Arthur Eld of All-World and the oldest of the Great Ones, red, spider-like creatures created from the Prim. After being presented 13 magical spheres by the treacherous Maerlyn (a Great One as well) and the monsters of the Prim in human disguise, Arthur and his court are changed by their chaotic magic. Sir Kay Deschain, the king's most trusted advisor, is the only one left unaffected. When he goes to spy on Maerlyn and his party, Sir Kay sees the Great Ones shed their human forms. Worst of all, the red spider is having her way with Arthur. Sir Kay injures the creature and drives off the Great Ones at the cost of his own life, but the damage is already done. The creature has conceived and will give birth to a son. Maerlyn prophesies that this red prince would be a ruler of chaos but would fall to a human descendant of Arthur Eld named Roland.

Death

The Crimson King was partially erased from existence by Patrick Danville leaving only his floating red eyes behind, forever trapped on the balcony to gaze over the Scarlet Field. Though having the ultimate villain defeated by a character which had only just appeared may seem anticlimactic (even though said character was an important character from a previous novel), The Artist did require Roland's blood (mixed with crushed petals of a Rose) to make the paint he used to draw the Crimson King. This procedure resulted in the loss of another of the Gunslinger's right hand fingers, completely preventing him from using this hand effectively from then on.

Trivia

★ The power metal band Demons & Wizards released ''Touched by the Crimson King'' in June of 2005, which referenced the character. The album featured Dark Tower related songs such as "Crimson King", "The Gunslinger", and "Terror Train". The cover art does not represent the king himself but does include an image of a rose which is a recurring element in the Dark Tower series. The limited edition release bore the Crimson King's "Eye" insignia.

External links

★ Theories on the Crimson King