Editing Gavilar Kholin

{{character
|image=King Gavilar.jpg
|family=[[House Kholin]]
|ancestors=[[Sadees]]
|parents=[[Dalinar's father]]
|descendants=[[Gavinor]]
|siblings=[[Dalinar]]
|spouse=[[Navani]]
|children=[[Elhokar]], [[Jasnah]]
|relatives=[[Adolin]], [[Renarin]], [[Kaves]]
|abilities={{tag+|Shardbearer}}
|titles=King of [[Alethkar]], Gavilar the Majestic{{book ref|sa3|105}}
|groups={{tag|Sons of Honor}}
|died={{Rosharan date|1167|9|missing-date=?}},{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}{{book ref|sa3|prologue}}{{book ref|sa4|prologue}} killed by Szeth
|nation=Alethkar
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|first appeared=[[The Way of Kings]]
}}
{{update|sa4}}
{{quote
|My people need to be united, and I need an empire that won't simply turn to infighting once I am gone.
|Gavilar to [[Eshonai]]{{book ref|sa3|prologue}}
}}

'''Gavilar Kholin''' is the King of [[Alethkar]], a nation on [[Roshar]], until his [[Assassination of Gavilar|assassination]] by [[Szeth]] under the orders of the [[Parshendi]]. He is the brother of [[Dalinar Kholin]] and married to [[Navani Kholin]], with whom he has two children, [[Elhokar]] and [[Jasnah]].

== Appearance and Personality ==
{{image|Gavilar Framed Portrait by Grant M. Hansen.png|side=left|width=250px}}
{{quote
|My husband was an excellent king, (...) but he didn't have a single scholarly finger on his left hand. (...) He was a man built after the classical masculine ideal.
|From Navani's biography of Gavilar{{book ref|sa1|45}}
}}
{{for|/Gallery|more images}}

=== Appearance ===
Gavilar looks regal with his beard combed, glowing gemstones on the fingers and uniform of newer styles.{{book ref|sa3|19}} He has strong features, a square chin, a black beard with a hint of white, and pale green eyes.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} He has a set of bright blue Shardplate,{{book ref|sa3|11}} which he often lends to others in favor of wearing a modern suit, and wears a black iron circlet as crown.{{book ref|sa3|49}}

=== Personality ===
He's an ambitious man who is obsessed with the rise of House Kholin and overshadowing the Sunmaker and his legacy.{{book ref|sa3|11}} He wants to lead a sustainable kingdom and doesn't overlook responsibility. He is very knowledgeable of history; he has theories on why Sunmaker’s kingdom did not stand as well as knowledge on the history of some blades including Oathbringer that would eventually be Dalinar's.{{book ref|sa3|11}} He is known for his political skill for making alliances{{book ref|sa3|19}} and is more inclined to trick his enemies into turning against each other,{{book ref|sa3|11}} though he doesn’t feel guilty if his strategy included pillaging or brutal killing,{{book ref|sa3|26}} as his best friend and trusted adviser Torol Sadeas would push for.{{book ref|sa3|29}} He had a tendency to use those around him, even if he cared for them.{{wob ref|11434}}

In his youth, he had a habit of summoning and dismissing his Blade when getting ready for a battle, perhaps as a way to relieve stress.{{book ref|sa3|11}} It's unknown if he retained it in his middle age.

<!--
There are two very different images of who Gavilar was as a person: there is that which is pushed by official biographies that paint him as a wonderful and ideal king, and therefore the way that he is viewed by the public; and the bleak reality that those very biographies sought to hide.{{book ref|sa4|prologue}}

==== Official Record ====
The official record shared with the public depicts him as a great man that perfectly embodies the [[Vorin]] masculine ideal.{{book ref|sa1|45}}

He is known for his political skill for making alliances.{{book ref|sa3|19}} 

==== True Personality ====
He's an ambitious man who is obsessed with the rise of House Kholin and overshadowing the Sunmaker and his legacy.{{book ref|sa3|11}} His ambition was enough to not only lead him to a violent conquest to unify Alethkar, but also led him to killing off many of his relatives so that he could take the position of Kholin Highprince for himself.{{wob ref|4006}} 

He is a deeply abusive and manipulative man who uses those close to him as nothing more than tools and as a means to continue his legacy, even if it means controlling their lives or forcing them into things they don't want to do, or even trying to force them to change their ideology for no reason other than to prevent them from sullying his image. He does not hesitate to tell people, even his own wife, that he thinks that they are worthless.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}{{book ref|sa4|prologue}}{{wob ref|11434}} Despite this, he does hold some affection for his family, even if his words and actions do not reflect this.{{wob ref|11434}}

He has a tendency to think very lowly of people, even his own family, if they do not live up to his high expectations. He also tends to discount and dismiss the personal passions, ideals, and autonomy of those closest to him.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}{{book ref|sa4|prologue}}
-->

== Attributes and Abilities ==
=== Shardwielding ===
Gavilar's [[Shardblade]], [[Firestorm]],{{ref|name=maps}} was six feet long with a design along the blade that resembled burning flames that "almost seemed to glow." Gavilar's plate is painted blue with gold bands around the edge of each plate. The helm has three waves of wings which are small and almost horn-like. People who see his plate consider it beautiful. Gavilar's skill in using the blade and plate can be matched by very few people.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Gavilar's Shards are now used for training purposes.{{book ref|sa2|16}}

=== Visions ===
{{for|Dalinar's visions}}

Sometime before his death, Gavilar begins receiving [[Dalinar's visions|visions]] from the [[Stormfather]] during every [[highstorm]].{{wob ref|3316}}{{book ref|sa2|i|14}} These visions feel real to him.{{book ref|sa1|19}} He experiences them as himself, but other people in the visions see him as someone else, not as an outsider. At the end of every one of them, Gavilar hears the voice of [[Honor]] speaking to him, commanding him to "unite them." As the visions are pre-recorded, Gavilar cannot communicate with Honor.{{book ref|sa1|75}} Much like his brother, he was on the path of becoming a [[Bondsmith]], but unlike Dalinar, he never reached that stage.{{wob ref|2509}}

== History ==
=== Early Life ===
{{image|OB - Flashback Gavilar Dalinar.jpg|side=right|width=250px|Young Gavilar and [[Dalinar]]}}
Gavilar and Dalinar were born into a provincial branch of the Kholin family, with Gavilar being born some time before {{rosharan date|1120}}.{{wob ref|5569}} His mother died when he and his brother were young, and his father was absent from his life and spent his time dueling. After their father suffered a permanent head injury in a duel, Gavilar took over a paternal role for his younger brother Dalinar, teaching him things like how to shave.{{book ref|sa3|107}} 

Gavilar was only fourth dahn, and not considered a serious contender for highprince. He eventually conquered the [[Kholin princedom]] however, killing some of his relatives and taking the title of highprince for himself.{{wob ref|4006}} 

From the start, Gavilar was supported by his brother. Dalinar would often introduce Gavilar to people he felt Gavilar should know. This led to some confusion when Gavilar was introduced by his brother Dalinar to [[Navani]]. Dalinar introduced them because he wished to court Navani himself, but Gavilar believed Dalinar intended him to court Navani with the introduction.{{book ref|sa1|64}}

=== Unification of Alethkar ===
[[Dalinar Kholin]] remembers the beginning of the war as he and Gavilar wanting "stuff" that others had and fighting to get the "stuff." Gavilar never refuted that story at the beginning, but, by around the time of the battle on Rathalas, he was looking more towards building a kingdom that would mean something.{{book ref|sa3|19}} This seems to be connected to the birth of his first child [[Jasnah]].{{book ref|sa3|11}}

Gavilar, [[Sadeas]] and Dalinar led the war. Gavilar claimed the throne and made alliances; [[Torol Sadeas]] dealt with problems; and Dalinar won battles.{{book ref|sa3|19}} Gavilar was more inclined for a strategy that would turn the highprinces against each other. Sadeas, however, pulled him towards brutality;{{book ref|sa3|11}} he did not seem to be concerned if his troops pillaged a city.{{book ref|sa3|26}} It is implied that the war was very long and bloody, but Gavilar eventually won it after the defeating Highprince [[Kalanor]], who was pushed into battle after Gavilar's forces pillaged his villages and killed all peacemakers.{{book ref|sa3|26}}

Towards the end of the war, Gavilar started talking of the [[Alethi Codes of War]], likely after he started receiving [[Dalinar's visions|visions]] from the [[Stormfather]].{{book ref|sa3|19}}

=== Ruling Alethkar ===
{{sidequote
|He is exactly what we need ... Hard enough to lead a war; soft enough to be beloved during peace. He has foresight and wisdom.
|Sadeas on Gavilar{{book ref|sa3|76}}
|side=right|size=200px
}}
After winning the war, Gavilar took the throne as King of [[Alethkar]]. Gavilar did prove to be a proficient leader; he made sure the vision was towards a unified kingdom, and politics were the main tool for doing so. He wanted to ensure Elhokar would be able to hold it together without need of "putting out fires."{{book ref|sa3|36}}

He was not soft, but approached things differently, using propaganda,{{book ref|sa3|36}} talking to heirs of the highprinces on civic projects, censuring Dalinar and Sadeas on losing the Rift,{{book ref|sa3|88}} and even the initial approach towards rebels, trying to scare them by fighting on the borders.{{book ref|sa3|49}} Some highprinces considered this softness or weakness, yet he could be hard; some examples are his disappointment on knowing Dalinar had spared the heir of [[Tanalan]]{{book ref|sa3|36}} or the way he talked of attacking [[Herdaz]] or [[Jah Keved]].{{book ref|sa3|49}}

It was during this time that he was most committed to the Codes of War. He talked of the Radiants as truly great when Alethkar was looked up to.{{book ref|sa3|49}}

=== Gavilar and the Listeners ({{Rosharan date|1165}} - {{Rosharan date|1167}})===
{{quote
|We live without honor, for your gods once brought ours. Without them, we have no '''power.''' This world is trapped, Eshonai! Stuck in a dull, lifeless state of transition. Unite them. I need a threat. Only danger will unite them.
|Gavilar to Eshonai{{book ref|sa3|prologue}}
}}

In approximately {{Rosharan date|1165}}, Gavilar and Dalinar made an expedition to the south of the [[Shattered Plains]] where they discovered the [[listener]]s, referred to by the humans as Parshendi. Dalinar, while scouting at a campsite, was the first to meet them. Although the other members of the expedition initially did not believe tales of intelligent parshmen, [[Eshonai]]'s group came to the camp the next day. At first they couldn't believe parshmen could live on their own, but they found that these parshmen were friendly, curious and learned the Alethi language quite easily. Gavilar's [[stormwarden]]s began calling them Parshendi. Although Gavilar had never before been scholarly, he grew more and more fascinated by the Parshendi. Despite Dalinar's attempts to return to Alethkar, Gavilar wanted to stay on the Shattered Plains to learn more about the Parshendi.{{book ref|sa1|45}} Gavilar's officers thought the Parshendi were savages, but Gavilar thought the Parshendi were "an enclave of memories. A window into the past."{{book ref|sa3|prologue}} 

It's unknown why Gavilar made the treaty with the Parshendi. Many people believe it was because he knew the listeners had shardblades, but as a member of the [[Sons of Honor]], Gavilar wished to start a Desolation to return the Heralds. He believed bringing back the Parshendi's old gods would benefit both the Parshendi and the humans, despite [[Eshonai]]'s insistence that the Parshendi abandoned their gods. Even while witnessing her horror, he believed the Parshendi would be pleased that the Alethi were allies in seeking the return of their old gods.{{book ref|sa3|prologue}}
{{image|Eshonai Gavilar Shuravf.jpg|side=left|width=200px|Gavilar meeting with [[Eshonai]] on the night of his death}}

=== Assassination ({{Rosharan date|1167}})===
{{for|Assassination of Gavilar}}
The night of his assassination, Gavilar was attending a feast celebrating a treaty with the listeners. Before the feast he spoke in the lower palace floor with five people, including [[Amaram]] and [[Taravangian]];{{book ref|sa3|prologue}} in his conversation with Taravangian, he discussed the [[Dalinar's visions|visions]] he had been seeing and warned the other king that a storm was coming.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}} When he discovered that [[Eshonai]] had seen the meeting, he decided to speak to her about his plans. Gavilar wanted to bring back the listeners' gods, the [[Unmade]], and start a new [[Desolation]]. Despite Eshonai's protests to the contrary, he believed this would benefit everyone, including the listeners. He then gave Eshonai a [[black sphere]] and asked her to take it to [[The Five]] and tell them what he had told her.{{book ref|sa3|prologue}}

At some point during the feast, Gavilar slipped into the hallway to speak privately with Amaram. It is not known what they discussed. His daughter, Jasnah, found them talking. He rebuked her for her contempt for the party and expressed an interest that she and Amaram become closer acquainted. When Amaram left, Gavilar refused to tell Jasnah what they were discussing and went back into the party.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}} 

{{sidequote
|Tell…tell my brother…he must find the most important words a man can say….
|Gavilar's last words{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}
|side=right|size=250px
}}
When Gavilar learned that [[Szeth]] was in the palace to assassinate him, he put on his [[shardplate]] and prepared to act as a bodyguard while Sadeas prepared to act as the fleeing king. Szeth initially fell for it, fighting him and leaving to pursue Sadeas after he temporarily incapacitates Gavilar. When Gavilar does not follow Szeth, however, Szeth realizes the ruse. He returns and continues fighting Gavilar. Gavilar's helm was shattered and his plate was damaged, but he managed to injure Szeth by punching his face. In order to finish the fight, Szeth lured Gavilar onto the balcony and broke it using [[lashing]]s.
{{image|Assassination of Gavilar.jpg|side=right|width=300px|Gavilar fighting [[Szeth]]}}
A piece of wood gravely injured him by stabbing him in the side where his plate was damaged. As he was dying, Gavilar had a small, strange [[black sphere]] that he gave to Szeth and told him not to let some unknown group get it. He wished his brother to know the "most important words a man can say".{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Szeth then proceeded to write in Alethi those words in Gavilar's blood on a wooden block, which was later deciphered by [[Jasnah Kholin]]. [[Dalinar]] then took this to mean the words of the [[Knights Radiant]].{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}

At the end of his life, he believed he was being watched.{{book ref|sa3|prologue}} Gavilar expected an attempt on his life, but not by the [[Parshendi]]. His suspects included [[Thaidakar]], [[Restares]], and [[Torol Sadeas]], despite being on apparent good terms with Sadeas at the time.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} The Parshendi ordered his assassination because he was going to bring back their old gods,{{book ref|sa3|prologue}} but he never became aware of this reason.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}

=== Legacy ===
{{quote
|Gavilar the Majestic, first king of Alethkar in the new Kholin Dynasty, thirty-second highprince of the Kholin princedom, heir of the Sunmaker and blessed of the Almighty. His accomplishments will be lauded by all, and his dominion extends to the hereafter.
|Spoken at Gavilar's holy interment{{book ref|sa3|105}}
}}

At Gavilar's holy interment, he was lauded by the presiding ardent. His body was Soulcast into a stone sculpture. At the interment, the Alethi highprinces swore the [[Vengeance Pact]] and would go on to fight the [[War of Reckoning]] to avenge his death.{{book ref|sa3|105}}

A number of works about Gavilar's life exist, including "Gavilar's Account",{{book ref|sa1|36}} dictated by Gavilar to Jasnah a year before his murder; "Matain's account";{{book ref|sa1|45}} and "King Gavilar Kholin, A Biography" by Navani.{{book ref|sa1|45}} Navani's biography crafted Gavilar a selective legacy, leaving out his abusive, dismissive treatment of her and his family so only she would have to bear the burden of who he really was.{{book ref|sa4|65}}

== Relationships ==
=== House Kholin ===
There is not much information on Gavilar's family dynamics, but there are hints of complex relationships. 

He is rather abusive and dismissive towards his family. Despite this, after his death most of the Kholins have remember him positively and even revere him. 

==== Dalinar Kholin ====
Gavilar feels affection for his brother [[Dalinar]], but he tends to use people around him as tools to further his goals.{{wob ref|11434}} After their mother died and their father suffered a brain injury and was left unable to take care of them, he took on a sort of paternal role over Dalinar.{{book ref|sa3|107}}

When Gavilar was still alive, Dalinar often introduced him to people that he felt that he should know.{{book ref|sa1|64}} Dalinar refuses to allow criticism of Gavilar{{book ref|sa1|61}} and devotes himself to protecting Elhokar, the remaining piece of his brother.{{book ref|sa1|15}} Dalinar feels responsibility for his brother's death, believing that he could have stopped the assassination;{{book ref|sa1|12}} he had counseled Gavilar to follow the Codes up until his death.{{book ref|sa3|105}} His guilt and grief (related to Gavilar and other people he believed he had failed) were major factors in his fundamental change as a person.{{book ref|sa3|118}}{{book ref|sa3|119}}

==== Elhokar Kholin ====

Late in his life Gavilar had a low opinion of Elhokar, telling Navani he is not even capable of mediocrity. Due to his feelings on Elhokar, he felt as if he was not a worthy heir to the throne.{{book ref|sa4|prologue}} 

Elhokar himself remembered Gavilar as a perfect king he would never live up to, so he disliked when Gavilar was mentioned.{{book ref|sa1|12}}

==== Navani Kholin ====
{{quote
|You have no fame, accomplishment, or capacity of your own. Everything distinctive about you came from someone else.
|Gavilar to Navani{{book ref|sa4|prologue}}
}}

Although he and his wife Navani were once close and plotted the conquest of Alethkar together, when Navani spoke with passion on her spren research, Gavilar simply ignored her.{{book ref|sa3|36}} Later in life as Gavilar developed larger goals, he stopped including Navani in his plans. He left her to handle the public-facing duties of the monarchy alone and repeatedly told her she is worthless, and was very dismissive of her passions and her intelligence.{{book ref|sa4|prologue}}

Due to how openly abusive he was towards her, Navani saw the darker side of his character. On the day of his assassination, he pushed her over the edge and caused her to burn a glyphward asking for the Almighty to kill him. Due to this, she felt responsible for his death when he was assassinated later that day.{{book ref|sa4|prologue}} Despite her hatred for him, she chose to hide it, writing him a legacy of being the ideal Alethi man.{{book ref|sa4|prologue}}{{book ref|sa4|65}} She considers this illusion that she conjured to be what he once was.{{book ref|sa4|prologue}}

==== Jasnah Kholin ====
Jasnah spent a lot of time with Gavilar discussing the Parshendi, and later says it was a rare time when she truly connected with him. This suggests that they were never that close, and always had a very strained relationship.{{book ref|sa1|45}} Though she seems to respect his opinion, Gavilar often treats Jasnah as part of his legacy rather than a person, ignoring her resistance to marrying Amaram and demanding she follow the Vorin church in spite of her convictions.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}{{book ref|sa4|prologue}}

Dalinar references Gavilar's problems with young Jasnah and what he describes as her lunacy.{{book ref|sa3|49}} Jasnah herself mentioned a childhood disease nobody remembered.{{book ref|sa3|47}} As her father, he was likely a large factor in her treatment during this period, locking her away in a padded cell and leaving her with lasting trauma that still haunts her in adulthood.{{book ref|sa3|47}}{{book ref|sa3|49}} 

Jasnah takes great interest in the changes near the end of his life.{{book ref|sa1|45}}

=== Sadees the Sunmaker ===
{{quote
|Hopefully my accomplishments won’t be as ephemeral as his.
|Gavilar to Toh in reference to the Sunmaker.{{book ref|sa3|19}}
}}
During his conquests and reign, Gavilar looked towards the [[Sunmaker]] for guidance. Although the Sunmaker is revered by most in Alethkar for creating a united empire, Gavilar had a more negative view of him. Gavilar blamed the destruction of the Sunmaker's empire on his greed and inability to be satisfied with what he conquered. He hoped that he'll be able to create a longer-lasting empire and overshadow the Sunmaker in the hearts and minds of the people.{{book ref|sa3|19}} 

Despite his criticisms of the Sunmaker, Gavilar was willing to use his connection to him to his advantage. For example, Gavilar did not wish to wear a crown because the Sunmaker refused to.{{book ref|sa3|49}}

=== Sons of Honor ===
Although Gavilar was not in charge of the [[Sons of Honor]], he was an influential member of the group. He was responsible for an expansion in the ranks of members, including bringing in [[Amaram]].{{book ref|sa3|40}} He was an important enough member to have access to and knowledge of their plan to return the [[Voidbringers]], including the black spheres.{{book ref|sa3|prologue}} Despite this, Gavilar suspected [[Restares]], leader of the Sons of Honor, of his assassination, indicating that there might have been some conflict or suspicion between the two.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}

=== Thaidakar ===
He had some working relationship with Thaidakar and the Ghostbloods, although it is suggested that this relationship was far from amicable and trustworthy. Gavilar deeply distrusted Thaidakar, to the extent that when he was assassinated, he was the first person he suspected of hiring the assassin.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}

=== The Stormfather ===
Near the end of his life, he began to be given visions by the Stormfather.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}{{wob ref|3316}} He was on his way to become a Bondsmith, but was never able to complete the bond before his death.{{wob ref|3316}}

=== The Heralds ===
==== Kalak ====
He had some working relationship with Kalak, also known as Restares, who spoke to him in his palace on the day of his assassination. The exact details of this relationship, however, are unknown.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}{{book ref|sa4|prologue}}{{book ref|sa4|77}} It most likely had to do with his spheres of Voidlight and Anti-Voidlight, and in his position in the Sons of Honor, of which Restares is the leader of.{{book ref|sa4|prologue}}{{book ref|sa3|40}} 

==== Nale ====
He had some working relationship with Nale, who spoke to him in his palace on the day of his assassination. The exact details of this relationship, however, are unknown.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}{{book ref|sa4|prologue}}{{book ref|sa4|77}} It most likely had to do with his spheres of Voidlight and Anti-Voidlight, of which was apparently the topic of discussion during their meeting.{{book ref|sa4|prologue}}

== Trivia ==
* In ''[[The Way of Kings Prime]]'', Gavilar went by the name Nolhonarin. Much like Gavilar, Nolhonarin dies before the story proper begins.{{book ref|wok prime|1}}

== Notes ==
{{holder|title=King of [[Alethkar]]
|prev=''Interregnum''<br /><small>(Previously [[Sadees]])</small>
|this=c. {{Rosharan date|1145}} to c. {{Rosharan date|1167|9|missing-date=?}}
|next=[[Elhokar Kholin]]
}}
<references>

{{bws ref|name=maps|date=N/A|stormlight-2-maps-and-illustrations|''Words of Radiance'' interior art gallery|site=[[Brandon]]'s site}}

</references>
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{{Stormlight}}
[[es:Gavilar Kholin]]