# Karl Gustav — The Deluge character guide

> Karl Gustav in The Deluge by Henryk Sienkiewicz.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** his Royal Grace Karl Gustav, Karl Gustav, Gustav, Karl, Grace, recent Karl Gustav

**First appearance:** 0007-i

## Snapshot

The Swedish king who swallowed Poland in a season and now finds his conquest choking on scythes, flails, and a peasantry that will not stay beaten.

## Who they are

Karl Gustav marches at the head of a veteran army whose officers—Wittemberg, Douglas, Horn—are quietly terrified, and he answers their caution by invoking Alexander of Macedon. His genius for taking cities has met something it cannot besiege: a countryside that vanishes into the woods and bleeds his patrols. Proud, brilliant, and unable to fathom why a beaten people keeps rising, he is the storm the whole novel gathers against.

## In the story

### [Remarks on Personages in The Deluge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/remarks-on-personages-in-the-deluge)

Second cousin of Yan Kazimir, succeeded Christina as king of Sweden.

### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xv)

The Swedish king, central to Radzivill's treaty and plans; Radzivill hopes to use Swedish power to secure his own ambitions.

### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xxiv)

Kmita is to deliver letters to him as part of Radzivill's diplomatic strategy.

### [Chapter XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xxxvi)

Referenced as the Swedish king who freed the nobles from the tyrant and is the new ruler.

### [XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xxxvii)

Swedish king whose return is awaited by Polish collaborators in Warsaw.

### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xxxviii)

Mentioned as the Swedish king who is being persuaded to occupy Yasna Gora.

### [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xliii)

Mentioned as the Swedish king to whom Yan Kazimir supposedly abdicated.

### [The Awakening of the Nation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xlvii)

The Swedish king attempts to cajole Polish nobles while ordering brutal suppression of resistance.

### [LXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxviii)

Leads the Swedish army south, burning and killing; claims victory at Golamb.

### [LXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxix)

King Karl Gustav marches toward Zamost, gathers intelligence on Zamoyski, and considers offering him an independent principality.

### [LXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxx)

Leads the Swedish army to Zamost and orders the siege, but ultimately withdraws.

### [LXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxxi)

King of Sweden, orders Kanneberg's mission to find Yan Kazimir and is anxious about Charnyetski's movements.

### [LXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxxii)

The Swedish king orders the retreat from Yaroslav after a council of war; remains on horseback till daylight.

### [LXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxxiii)

Struggles to maintain order in his retreating army; nearly captured at Rudnik; his unbroken spirit holds the remnant together.

### [LXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxxiv)

The Swedish king, watches the explosion of Sandomir castle with delight, but his army remains trapped.

### [LXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxxv)

Swedish king; amused by Roh's defiance, agrees to release him.

### [LXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxxvi)

Swedish king besieged at the river fork, his army suffers from hunger and despair.

### [LXXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/lxxxix)

Mentioned as the Swedish king marching to Warsaw for a general battle, though his fortunes are waning.

### [XC](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xc)

Swedish king whose letter is discussed, expressing alarm at Gosyevski's expedition.

### [XCI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/chapters/xci)

Swedish king who nearly perished in the battle at Warsaw but was saved by Boguslav Radzivill.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/characters/karl_gustav
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_deluge_se/characters