Gurkhan the Magnificent was a villainous yet mysteriously majestic warlord. He had a very high reputation for being one of the most illustrious men in North Africa, and he owned a collection of "wives". He also had many loyal bodyguards who acted as his decoys, so others would not find out his true identity. He was clever for a warlord and he was also rather respectful when it came to the slave trade. Gurkhan was responsible for raiding and killing many villagers in Gabrielle's hometown Potidaea. He beheaded Gabrielle's mother and father and kidnapped her niece, Sarah. When Gabrielle returned to her home village, she found out from Lila, her sister, that Gurkhan was responsible for the raid. Gabrielle travelled alongside Xena, Eve, and Virgil, to North Africa, where they freed Sarah and Gurkhan's other wives by tricking Gurkhan's own guards into killing him.
Background information[]
Behind the scenes[]
- There was a scene deleted from the final cut of "Who's Gurkhan" where Virgil forgives Eve for killing Joxer. Another cut scene, building on this one, features Virgil telling Gabrielle that he has found it in his heart to forgive Eve, so Gabrielle should try to forgive Gurkhan. Gabrielle answers that Eve has made the decision to change and is therefore worthy of forgiveness; Gurkhan, however, will never feel remorse and will therefore never be worthy of the same courtesy.
- Gurkhan was a Mongol title meaning "chief of Khans" and roughly equivalent to the older word khagan. It was held by the rulers of the Kara-Khitai in the 13th century. The title was first recorderd in the history after Yelü Dashi founded Kara-Khitan Khanate.[1] It comes from the Mongol Gür / Kür, meaning "wide" or "general". Christopher I. Beckwith claims that the title has the meaning "the ruler of the earth" in his book Empires of Silk Road.