Character from The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
Former King of Alethkar and Dalinar's brother. United the Alethi highprinces through war, then sought higher purpose. Assassinated by Szeth on the night of the Treaty of Unity. Was secretly involved in plans concerning Heralds and Voidbringers.
Gavilar Kholin was the man who unified Alethkar, the king who forged a fractious collection of warring highprinces into a single nation through sheer force of will and martial prowess, with his brother Dalinar as his weapon and Sadeas as his strategist. But conquest was not enough for Gavilar. In his later years, he became obsessed with grander designs — the Heralds, the Oathpact, the nature of the Voidbringers — and began pursuing secret plans that even Navani, his wife, did not fully understand. He hosted the listeners at his court, studied their songs, and sought to trigger the return of their gods. On the night of the Treaty of Unity, Szeth — sent by unknown conspirators — assassinated him. His dying words, entrusting a black sphere of anti-Voidlight to Szeth, revealed that Gavilar's ambitions extended far beyond mortal politics. In death, Gavilar became a legend that both inspired and haunted his family. Dalinar strove to honor his legacy, Elhokar crumbled under it, and Navani eventually discovered that the man she married had been keeping the most dangerous secrets on Roshar.
A powerfully built Alethi man with the strong Kholin jaw, commanding dark eyes, and an aura of absolute authority. He wore magnificent Shardplate and carried himself with the assured presence of a man born to rule. His beard was neatly trimmed and his clothing immaculate, projecting the image of a warrior-king who had transcended mere battle to pursue something grander.
Also known as: King Gavilar, Gavilar, The Late King