History Anime / TheHeroicLegendOfArslan

[[quoteright:225:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/662e4eba89041f633b6378d3bc279bba.jpg]]

'''The Heroic Legend of Arslan''' (aka ''The Heroic Legend of Arislan'' aka ''Arslan Senki'') is a series of fantasy novels written by author Yoshiki Tanaka with illustration by Yoshitaka Amano (Kadokawa) and Shinobu Tanno (Kobunsha) and published by Kadokawa Shoten then later Kobunsha. The series is currently on hiatus at 13 volumes; the first having been published in 1986 and the series not yet complete, although volume 7 marks a sort of halfway conclusion.

A new {{Manga}} adaptation of the novels was created by Creator/HiromuArakawa of ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' fame in 2013. Said adaptation has received a TV anime, airing in [[Spring2015Anime Spring 2015]].

The story of all incarnations is ''very loosely'' based on the Persian epic ''Amir Arsalan''. It takes place in a fantasy setting reminiscent of ancient Middle East and feature the warring states of Pars and Lusitania (Pars is roughly the same as Persia/modern Iran). The king of Pars, Andragoras demotes one of his most loyal generals, Darun, on the word of a man who proves to be a traitor. During a battle between the Lusitanians and Parsians the Lusitanians achieve victory and Darun escapes with the crown prince of Pars, Arslan. The story details the ventures of Darun and Arslan as they attempt to reclaim Pars and gain revenge against the Lusitanians while facing innumerable obstacles between them and their goals.
----
!!''The Heroic Legend of Arslan'' consists of the following tropes:

* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Gieve fell head over heels for Farangis who consistently brushed off his advances. Arfid has a one-sided crush on Narsus since he helped save her life. King Innocentius is doing everything he can, including ignoring his subjects' advice, to marry Queen Tahamenay who refuses to speak to him.
* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: Lusitania captured and claimed the capital city of Pars.
* ArmorPiercingQuestion: After Hodir attempted to slander and get Arslan to abandon Daryun, Narsus and the others because they were [[{{Hypocrite}} "going to use Arslan to further their own ends"]], Arslan's response was:
--> '''Arslan''': If I were to discard Daryun and Narsus and choose you instead, how can you guarantee there shall not come a day when I will be forced to discard you in turn?
* AttractiveBentGender: Elam while disguised as a girl got flirted on by a soldier.
* {{Bishounen}}: Every single male under 30, especially Arslan.
** LongHairedPrettyBoy: Narsus, Gieve
** TallDarkAndHandsome: Darun
* BoomHeadshot: Of the arrow variation. Grieve does this as a MercyKill to [[spoiler: Shapur]].
* TheChampion: Darun to Arslan. At one point he makes it clear that he doesn't care whether or not Arslan is the rightful heir or even of royal blood, he's loyal to him as a person.
* ChekhovsGunman: Back in chapter/episode 1, Daryun makes a mention of his friend as someone he would like Arslan to promote. Said character Narsus doesn't appear until a few chapters later (and chronologically three years later).
* CombatPragmatist: Daryun
* ComingOfAgeStory: For Arslan, at any rate.
* DarkerAndEdgier: Arakawa's version compared to the previous anime and manga adaptations (not the novel, though).
* TheDreaded: The mere mention of Daryun is enough to send soldiers quivering and running away in fear.
* DudeLooksLikeALady: Arslan has a rather effeminate face in [[Creator/HiromuArakawa Hiromu Arakawa's]] rendition of the story.
* FamousLastWords:
** "I'd rather die on the arrow of a friend than be made sport of by these Lusitanian barbarians!" [[spoiler: Shapur]]
** "I can't follow your orders." [[spoiler: Kharlan]]
** "Please become a fine king." [[spoiler: Bahman]]
* FatalFlaw: King Andragoras's overconfidence. He believed that his powerful army could overcome any enemy with little regard for tactics or planning, despite warnings from one of his generals. That pride would cost him the battle of Atropatene where he not only lost a huge portion of his soldiers, the rest of his followers scattered, the capital city becoming overrun and [[spoiler: he himself would be imprisoned.]]
* GoodScarsEvilScars: Hirmes's mask hides a rather nasty burn scar.
* InterServiceRivalry: The Lusitanian military and the clergymen/Temple Knights do not get along, since the military does all the fighting but the clergymen take all the credit while not being on the front lines. The rivalry is fueled by the mutual dislike between their leaders, Lord Guiscarl and Archbishop Bodin.
* KneelBeforeZod: In the TV series, Silvermask and his men surrounded Narsus and would let Narsus live if he kneel before him and serve him.
* LoveAtFirstSight: [[SoBeautifulItsACurse Queen Tahamenay]] has a habit of invoking this trope with several of her suitors, including Andragoras, Osroes and Innocentius. It tends to end poorly for them, too.
* MoralMyopia: Etoile tells Arslan that his god Yaldabord teaches that all people are equal but if you identify with another religion, then you are a pagan and must be marked off and killed. Arslan naturally lampshades this.
* OneManArmy: Daryun.
* TheReveal: Silvermask does this to Andragoras [[spoiler: revealing to him that he is Hermes, his nephew, and by extension, Arslan's cousin.]]
* RescueRomance: Subverted. Gieve, finding Farangis surrounded by assailants, ''intends'' to sweep in, rescue her, and bask in her gratitude... but by the time he reaches her, she's handled the situation herself, leaving ''him'' stunned with admiration.
** Played more straight in Arfrid's introduction scene, though also with a twist. She's trying to avenge his father on Hirmes but he easily disarms her. When Narsus shows up, she demands he give her his sword so she can continue fighting. Narsus rescues her instead, and eventually she decides she's in love with him.
* RevengeByProxy: Silvermask wants to torture and kill Arslan because he is the son of Andragoras [[spoiler: who is actually Silvermask/Hermes' uncle and tried to kill Hermes sixteen years ago.]]
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Parsian royalty is expected to be war heroes. The King serves as the main commander and is on the front lines, while the prince is expected to go to battle at a young age. Prince Arslan had his first campaign at age 14 and basically, he is trying to reclaim his throne at age 14.
* SkewedPriorities:
** A mild one when Hodir gave Arslan two conditions to gain his support (marry his daughter and refrain from any revolutionary reforms such as abolishing slavery), Arslan was more upset that he hasn't even met Hodir's daughter yet.
** Narsus is more indignant that Silvermask called him a "third rate painter" than the fact Silvermask escaped.
* SleevesAreForWimps: In many scenes, Daryun gets to show off his [[FanService well-toned arms]].
* ToThePain: Silvermask/[[spoiler: Hermes]] tells Arslan when he corners Arslan alone in episode 13 that he will cut off Arslan's right hand now. Then when they meet next time, he will take the left hand. And after that, if Arslan is still alive, he will take his right foot.
* VillainRespect:
** Some Lusitanian soldiers openly admired the captured Shapur for being DefiantToTheEnd even if he was a "hectic" in their eyes.
** Silvermask has some admiration for Narsus and wanted Narsus to serve him.
* WholesomeCrossdresser: Elam disguised himself to sneak into the captured city of Ecbatana to get information.
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Hirmes is deathly afraid of fire, as a result of having survived [[spoiler:Andragoras']] attempt to burn him alive.
----

* ChekhovsGunman: Back in chapter 1/Episode 1, Daryun makes a mention of Narsus as someone he would like Arslan to promote. Narsus doesn't appear until a few chapters later (and chronologically three years later).

* SkewedPriorities: A mild one when Hodir gave Arslan two conditions to gain his support (marry his daughter and refrain from any revolutionary reforms such as abolishing slavery), Arslan was more upset that he hasn't even met Hodir's daughter yet.

* BoomHeadshot: Of the arrow variation. Grieve does this as a MercyKill to Shapur.

** '''[[spoiler: Shapur]]''': I'd rather die on the arrow of a friend than be made sport of by these Lusitanian barbarians!
** '''[[spoiler: Kharlan]]''': I can't follow your orders.
** '''[[spoiler: Bahman]]''': Please become a fine king.

* VillainRespect: Some Lusitanian soldiers openly admired the captured Shapur for being DefiantToTheEnd even if he was a "hectic" in their eyes.

* WholesomeCrossdresser: Elam disguised himself to sneak into the captured city of Ectabana to get information.

* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: Lustania captured and claimed the capital city of Pars.

* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Grieve fell head over heels for Farangis who consistently brushed off his advances. Arfid has a one-sided crush on Narsus since he helped save her life. King Innocentius is doing everything he can, including ignoring his subjects' advice, to marry Queen Tahamenay who refuses to speak to him.

* KneelBeforeZod: In the TV series Silvermask and his men surrounded Narsus and would let Narsus live if he kneel before him and serve him.
* LoveAtFirstSight: [[SoBeautifulItsACurse Queen Tahamenay]] has a habit of invoking this trope with several of her suitors, including Andragoras, Osroes and Innocentius.

[quoteright:270:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/6/73588.jpg]]