What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I probably read this book back in the 70's and cannot remember the title or author.

A stranger arrives in a city and catches the head of a man who has just been executed only to find that he is now king. The catch is that after twelve months of rule he will then take his turn at the executioners block. He manages to escape but my memory fails me at that point although i think there is one section where he climbs a rope and finds himself in the modern world.

Grateful for any suggestions!

Thanks in advance.
Chris

The Novarian Series by L.Sprague de Campe.
"In The Goblin Tower, we meet King Jorian of Xylar, a handsome, quick-witted young man who became king by dint of catching the previous king’s head after his execution—which the entirely logical way Xylar’s kingdom operates: executing a king every five years and raising up whoever catches the head to be the next to sit the throne (speaking of red weddings, that’s a whole different spin on tossing the bouquet). Jorian tries to convince the Xylarians to change their mind by being a great king, but when his five years is up, they insist on making with tradition, so he enlists the magician Karadur to helps him escape with a bit of magical subterfuge. In return, Karadur requires his assistance in recovering the legendary Kist of Avlen, a library of history’s most powerful magical tomes. Meanwhile, Xylar dispatches a team of mercenaries to bring Jorian back, because they can’t crown a new king until he’s dead (naturally). Constitutional crises have never been so entertaining.

SOLVED The Goblin Tower by L Sprague de Camp.

As soon a I saw the name Jorian i knew you had hit the nail on the head!

Many thanks
Chris

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Shelved as The Goblin Tower by L. Sprague de Camp.