History Main / ArmyOfTheDead

* In JRRTolkien's ''TheLordOfTheRings'', the Dead of Dunharrow, who over three thousand years ago betrayed Isildur by running away and not coming to his aid against Sauron, are called upon by his descendant Aragorn to now fulfill their oath an have peace afterwards. They are used to and released after defeating the fleet of Umbar coming up the river Anduin. This stops Sauron getting reinforcements at the Battle of Minas Tirith, frees the now unoccupied South Gondorian soldiers, and conveniently provides transport to get them up the river to Minas Tirith to once again turn the tide of the battle.

* In JRRTolkien's ''TheLordOfTheRings'', the Dead of Dunharrow, who over three thousand years ago betrayed Isildur in favor of Sauron, are called upon by his descendant Aragorn to now fulfill their oath an have peace afterwards. They are used to and released after defeating the fleet of Umbar coming up the river Anduin. This stops Sauron getting reinforcements at the Battle of Minas Tirith, frees the now unoccupied South Gondorian soldiers, and conveniently provides transport to get them up the river to Minas Tirith to once again turn the tide of the battle.

* In ''SaintSeiya'', Hades brings back to life fallen Gold Saints of Athena granting them 12 hours to bring him her head. If they do so he may bring them back to life for real. [[spoiler:It turns out that they remained loyal to their Goddess nonetheless and only accepted Hades' deal to warn her about the upcoming Holy War while killing some members of Hades' army in the process. Once the 12 hours delay expired they disappeared to return to the Underworld (where they join again to fire a super SpiritBomb).]]

* The film of ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'', as noted above, has the [[TheCavalry Army of the Dead]], led by [[TheAragorn Aragorn]], sweep in and [[BigDamnHeroes save the day]].

* In the last book of ''HisDarkMaterials'', Lyra and Will have to travel through the land of the dead and dead characters from the last several books decide to come along with them to help [[TheAragorn Lord Asriel's]] side in the fight against [[GodIsEvil The Authority's]] angels.

-->-- ''[[TheBible Ezekiel 37:7-10]]

-->-- ''[[TheBible Ezekiel 37:7~10]]

->''And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them,[...] and breath entered them, and they came to life and stood up on their feet-a vast army.''

->''[[WhyWontYouDie Why won't you DIE AGAIN]], you stupid friggin' ghost-things?!?''
-->-- '''Xykon''', ''Webcomic/OrderOfTheStick''.

* In [[FateZero Fate/Zero]], among the Noble Phantasms owned by Servant Rider, Alexander the Great, is [[spoiler:his Reality Marble: Ionioi Hetairoi, "Army of the King". After the boundary field is set, his ''entire army'' from life slowly appear, each and every one [[UndyingLoyalty so ferociously loyal to Alexander that death itself can not keep them from aiding their king.]] 100 of the greatest assassins in history? Meet the army that '''conquered the world.''']]

-->-- '''Xykon''', ''The Order of the Stick''.

* ''OrderOfTheStick'' does this during TheSiege of Azure City [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0449.html here]]. Due to [[WellIntentionedExtremist various]] [[SpannerInTheWorks circumstances]], it [[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs doesn't end well]].

* In ''AgeOfMythology'', when you lose normal army units while playing as the Greeks worshiping Hades, you will receive weak "shade" units at your temple. They're weak and vulnerable, but they don't count toward your ArbitraryHeadcountLimit, making them great for a ZergRush or as last-ditch CannonFodder.

* Subverted in the ZombieSurvivalGuide. The Japanese and Soviets attempt to create armies of undead to unleash upon their enemies. [[{{Understatement}} It doesn't work.]]

* {{Naruto}}: [[spoiler: Kabuto...Oh God Kabuto. After combining with remains from Orochimaru, he strikes up an alliance with Tobi, A.K.A. Madara Uchiha, by reviving multiple deceased Akatsuki Members (and an unknown corpse). Then, in later chapters, he's resurrected nearly ''ever single ninja that's died in the series'' oncreen or offscreen and ''then some''!]]

* In ''{{Warcraft III}}'', Paladins and their evil counterparts the Death Knights both have the ability to resurrect dead units ''en masse.'' The main difference is that the Paladin fully restores them to life permanently, while the Death Knight summons up shades of either allied or enemy units temporarily (but the Death Knight's minions are indestructible during that time).
** Death Knights (certainly in WOW, this editor is unsure about prior Warcraft games) actually call it "Army of the Dead".

->''Why won't you DIE AGAIN, you stupid friggin' ghost-things?!?''

* {{Naruto}}: [[spoiler: Kabuto...Oh God Kabuto. After combining with remains from Orochimaru, he strikes up an alliance with Tobi, A.K.A. Madara Uchiha, by reviving multiple deceased Akatsuki Members (and an unknown corpse). Then, in later chapters, he's resurrected nearly ''ever single ninja that's died in the series'' oncreen or offscreen and ''then some''!]]

* ''TheMummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor''.

* In ''SaintSeiya'', Hades brings back to life fallen Gold Saints of Athena granting them 12 hours to bring him her head. If they do so he may bring them back to life for real. [[spoiler:It turns out that they remained loyal to their Goddess nonetheless and only accepted Hades' deal to warn her about the upcoming Holy War while killing some members of Hades' army in the process. Once the 12 hours delay expired they disappeared to return to the Underworld.]]
** Where they join again to fire a super SpiritBomb.

* TheMummy: ''Tomb of the Dragon Emperor''.

* In the Bible, Ezekiel, with God's help, raised his own army of the dead.

[[folder: Tabletop RPGs]]
* The Legion of the Damned from ''{{Warhammer 40000}}'' fluff: They're remnants of a Space Marine chapter that got lost in the Warp and were changed into ghostly beings. They still keep fighting for the Imperium, appearing from the Warp in where they are needed the most and vanishing without a trace after the battle.
** Not quite true anymore, they've had more backstory development and have turned out to be far more mundane than they originally appeared.
[[/folder]]

[[Film/TheLordOfTheRings http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Army_of_the_dead.jpg]]
[[caption-width:300:Do you have any idea how long we've been waiting to kick ass?]]

[[folder: Tabletop RPG's]]

* In JRRTolkien's ''TheLordOfTheRings'', the Dead of Dunharrow, who over three thousand years ago betrayed Isildur in favor of Sauron, are called upon by his descendant Aragorn to now fulfill their oath an have peace afterwards. They are used to and released after defeating the fleet of Umbar coming up the river Anduin. This stops Sauron getting reinforcements at the Battle of Minas Tirith, frees the now unoccupied South Gondorian soldiers, and conveniently provides transport to get them up the river to Minas Tirith to once again turn the tide of the battle.

* In ''AgeOfMythology'', when you lose normal army units while playing as the Greeks worshiping Hades, you will receive weak "shade" units at your temple. They're weak and vulnerable, but they don't count toward your ArbitraryHeadcountLimit, making them great for a ZergRush or as last-ditch CannonFodder.
** There's also a God Power, Ancestors. It summons a bunch of zombies to fight your enemies, but only for about a minute.
* ''OrderOfTheStick'' does this during TheSiege of Azure City [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0449.html here]]. Due to [[WellIntentionedExtremist various]] [[SpannerInTheWorks circumstances]], it [[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs doesn't end well]].
* ''{{Spellforce 2}}'' Paladins, on their deaths, turn into killable ghost warriors who fade over time. They're only slightly weaker than the original unit, so they're useful for pressing an attack or covering a retreat.
* In the climax of ''HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'', the shades of the last several people [[BigBad Voldemort]] murdered come out of his wand and swarm him, giving [[TheProtagonist Harry]] just enough time to escape.
* In the last book of ''HisDarkMaterials'', Lyra and Will have to travel through the land of the dead and dead characters from the last several books decide to come along with them to help [[TheAragorn Lord Asriel's]] side in the fight against [[GodIsEvil The Authority's]] angels.

* In ''SaintSeiya'', Hades brings back to life fallen Gold Saints of Athena granting them 12 hours to bring him her head. If they do so he may bring them back to life for real. [[spoiler:It turns out that they remained loyal to their Goddess nonetheless and only accepted Hades' deal to warn her about the upcoming Holy War while killing some members of Hades' army in the process. Once the 12 hours delay expired they disappeared to return to the Underworld.]]
** Where they join again to fire a super SpiritBomb.
* Subverted in the ZombieSurvivalGuide. The Japanese and Soviets attempt to create armies of undead to unleash upon their enemies. [[{{Understatement}} It doesn't work.]]
* In ''{{Futurama}}'' The Robot Devil, at Bender's request, assembles for him ''The Army of the Damned.'' Though his robots aren't really "dead" they are from Robot Hell.

* In the Bible, Ezekiel, with God's help, raised his own army of the dead.
* TheMummy: ''Tomb of the Dragon Emperor''.

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*TheMummy: ''Tomb of the Dragon Emperor''.

* The film of ''TheLordOfTheRings'', as noted above, has the [[TheCavalry Army of the Dead]], led by [[TheAragorn Aragorn]], sweep in and [[BigDamnHeroes save the day]]. In the book, they still indirectly save the day offscreen, by defeating the Corsairs and freeing up the armies of southern Gondor to come [[BigDamnHeroes save the day]] at Minas Tirith.