# King Gogyrvan — Jurgen character guide

> King Gogyrvan in Jurgen by James Branch Cabell.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Gogyrvan Gawr, King Gogyrvan Gawr

**First appearance:** 0017-xiii-philosophy-of-gogyrvan-gawr

## Snapshot

Glathion's sleepy, philosophical king, who advises Jurgen to lie like a gentleman and won't wake until his daughter is safely married.

## Who they are

Gogyrvan rules Glathion with a patience that looks like indolence and a candor that looks like cynicism: asked whether his counsel is reputable, he answers, surprised, that it is what we call philanthropy. His daughter Guenevere is the pivot of Jurgen's early heartbreak, and the king's dry refusal to intervene in her marriage leaves Jurgen free to stand by and watch her wed another. His weary wit sets the court's tone — romance performed as ritual, with the sovereign snoring through it.

## In the story

### [IX: The Orthodox Rescue of Guenevere](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/ix-the-orthodox-rescue-of-guenevere)

Guenevere's father, King of Glathion and the Red Islands, mentioned as her sire.

### [XI: Appearance of the Duke of Logreus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xi-appearance-of-the-duke-of-logreus)

King of Glathion, welcomes Jurgen and Guenevere, offers a reward, but denies Jurgen's marriage request due to Arthur's prior claim.

### [XII: Excursus of Yolande's Undoing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xii-excursus-of-yolande-s-undoing)

King of Glathion who assigns Jurgen to champion Yolande, noting her beauty.

### [XIII: Philosophy of Gogyrvan Gawr](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xiii-philosophy-of-gogyrvan-gawr)

Delivers a cynical, paternal lecture to Jurgen, advising him to lie like a gentleman and enjoy youth's fleeting pleasures.

### [XIV: Preliminary Tactics of Duke Jurgen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xiv-preliminary-tactics-of-duke-jurgen)

The hook-nosed tall old King of Glathion, who seems to be schooling himself to patience under some private annoyance and revolving a private jest; Jurgen finds him queer but not meddlesome.

### [XV: Of Compromises in Glathion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xv-of-compromises-in-glathion)

Gogyrvan sits nodding and blinking in his brightest raiment during the tournament, and Jurgen abhors him for neglecting his duties as a father by allowing Guenevere's marriage.

### [XVI: Divers Imbroglios of King Smoit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xvi-divers-imbroglios-of-king-smoit)

Mentioned as the grandfather of Jurgen's host; his barons Aribert and Urien carouse with Jurgen.

### [Why Merlin Talked in Twilight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xviii-why-merlin-talked-in-twilight)

Sends the Round Table and knights to King Arthur, including Jurgen.

### [XXI: How Anaïtis Voyaged](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xxi-how-ana-tis-voyaged)

Mentioned as having thrown silver pieces for largesse in Cameliard.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/characters/gogyrvan
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/characters