History Main / CavalryRefusal

Compare CavalryBetrayal (when the Cavalry does show up, but turns out not to be on the heroes' side after all), which sometimes invokes CavalryRefusal to set up LetsYouAndHimFight (when what was thought to be the Cavalry plans to let the heroes and villains exhaust each other, before intervening to the detriment of both sides). Contrast OneManArmy (when the hero refuses any help from the Cavalry and does all the jobs on his own). It's also not unheard of for the Cavalry to rescue the heroes after all but have their own reasons for holding off.

* In the ''Alicization'' arc of ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'', when the Ocean Turtle comes under attack, the [[UsefulNotes/KaijuDefenseForce JSDF]] ship Asahi is just outside the facility, but does nothing to help for 24 hours. This is because the attackers, who are after Alice's ArtificialIntelligence, pulled strings with a faction of the JSDF to buy time, having them hold back ostensibly out of fear that the personnel in the Ocean Turtle had been taken hostage.

* At the end of the UsefulNotes/TheGulfWar US President UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush went on radio to call on the Iraqi people to rise up and overthrow UsefulNotes/SaddamHussein. The Shi'ites and Kurds rose up, anticipating US assistance - which never came. They were promptly crushed, Saddam survived, US forces were compelled to remain in Saudi Arabia as a check against him, and [[UsefulNotes/TheWarOnTerror the course]] of world affairs for the next generation was set.

* Often seems to be the case of the [[PowersThatBe Elder Gods]] in the ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' franchise. They are nominally in charge of enforcing the use of the titular tournament to slow multiversal konquest, but often refuse to interfere in the tournament itself, even if one side is blatantly disregarding the rules ([[Film/MortalKombatTheMovie assassinating participants]] [[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance before they can enter]], [[VideoGame/MortalKombat2 forcing follow–up tournaments]] [[VideoGame/MortalKombatShaolinMonks before the agreed–upon time frame]], [[VideoGame/MortalKombat3 straight–up invading the victorious realm after the fact]]). In fact, [[spoiler:the entire thrust of the plot of [[VideoGame/MortalKombat9 the reboot]] is averting this trope and forcing the Elder Gods to punish Shao Kahn for invading Earthrealm rather than leaving his defeat to the heroes.]]

* It's hard to keep count of the times the UsefulNotes/UnitedNations have refused the Cavalry call (largely by [[WouldBeRudeToSayGenocide calling "Genocide" a "Civil War"]]), due to the decision-making process which allows several powerful nations, whose interests are often diametrically opposed, a veto.
** The General Assembly attempted to LoopholeAbuse their way around this deadlock of the Security Council through enacting Resolution 377(A), i.e. "Uniting for Peace". It's only worked once in a while.

* Britain and France in the UsefulNotes/SpanishCivilWar (see the page quote). They took this trope UpToEleven by enforcing an ''arms embargo'' against the Republicans, on whose side they were supposed to be. In theory, there was an international embargo against both sides. In practice, UsefulNotes/NaziGermany and UsefulNotes/FascistItaly supplied the Nationalists with weapons, aircraft and auxiliary troops; the USSR similarly aided the Republicans, but on a much smaller scale. Only Britain and France actually upheld the embargo, in an attempt to appease Germany and prevent -- or rather, forestall -- UsefulNotes/WorldWarII.

* Played oddly in one episode of ''Series/BurnNotice''. [[FanNickname Team Westen]] is trying to get rid of a [[TheMafia Mafia capo]] who's leaning on their client, which in the end comes down to hiring a bunch of scary looking guys to act as a replacement for his soldiers (the heroes have convinced the capo that his crew is no longer reliable). Then they get him to try and assassinate his boss, and then have the crew pull out at the critical moment.

* In the backstory of ''Literature/GodsAndWarriors'', the struggle for power between [[spoiler:Akastos]], the old High Chieftain of Mycenae and the House of Koronos was decided in the mountains of Mycenae where [[spoiler:Akastos]] asked for the Mountain Clan's help. The Mountain Clan wanted no part in it and refused. This led to Koronos seizing the power and [[spoiler:Akastos being forced on the run]]. The Mountain Clan eventually payed the prize of their neutrality by being hunted down by the House of Koronos.

* In the backstory of ''Literature/GodsAndWarriors'', the struggle for power between [[spoiler:Akastos]], the old High Chieftain of Mycenae and the House of Koronos was decided in the mountains of Mycenae where [[spoiler:Akastos]] asked for the Mountain Clan's help. The Mountain Clan wanted no part in it and refused. This led to Koronos seizing the power and [[spoiler:Akastos being forced on the run]]. The Mountain Clan eventually payed the prize of their neutrality by being hunted down by the Crows.

* During the Discordance of the Demiurges in ''WebComic/KillSixBillionDemons'', [[spoiler:Gog-Agog refuses to get involved in the battle against Jagganoth until Solomon David explicitly demands she obey the Pact of the Sevenfold World. At which point [[OneWingedAngel she makes a really impressive showing]] and partially subdues Jagganoth so the other six can set up another binding... Only to pull a full-fledged CavalryBetrayal and abandon the others [[UngratefulBastard when they fail to be sufficiently contrite to her for her help]].]]

* This became a RunningGag in Wrestling/RingOfHonor during the House Of Truth's second major run(the one where Wrestling/JayLethal ended up [[TheBadGuyWins winning everything]]). ROH had security, honest. Real security headed by experienced bouncer and security guard Joey Daddiego. Problem was, Wrestling/TruthMartini paid off Daddiego to undermine his own staff, who often ended up standing around impotently during House Of Truth attacks while Daddiego stood in their routes to the arena.[[/folder]]

* The UsefulNotes/UnitedNations' predecessor, the League of Nations, were even more reluctant Cavalry - they just looked on as the Japanese invaded (Chinese) Manchuria, the Italians brutally conquered Abyssinia and a handful of Spanish generals staged a coup against their government which led to the UsefulNotes/SpanishCivilWar. Naturally, the League of Nations was abolished after UsefulNotes/WorldWarII.

But it is not just to pretend that Charles VII did nothing to get her out of the hands of her enemies. In the Morosini correspondence we find, under the date of December 15, 1430, that the news that the Maid had fallen into the hands of the Duke of Burgundy was so widespread that Charles, informed of it, had sent an embassy to Philippe te Bon to say to him that if there was nothing he could offer him to induce him to set her free, then he would exact vengeance for her upon his men that he had captive. Under the date of June 21 , 1431, correspondents of the same banker affirm that "The English wished to [[BurnTheWitch burn her (Jeanne) as a heretic]], in spite of the Dauphin of France who tried to bring threatening forces against the English." The King felt a "very bitter grief" upon the death of Jeanne, "promising to [[PayEvilUntoEvil exact a terrible vengeance upon the English and women of England.]]"\\

* This pretty much happens whenever a face is getting a beatdown. The other faces in the back will rarely come to the rescue no matter how many heels are doing the beating. Whereas if a face is beating a heel, all the heel's friends will come to help. Yes, in ProfessionalWrestling, the bad guys are more loyal than the good guys. This is mostly a product of the post territorial era, as it'd be rare in the Territory System for the baby faces not to spill out of the locker room unless victimized face was someone ''really'' disliked by most of the rest, the mugging occurred too quickly, the promotion had sufficiently trusted security or logistical issue were involved.
* This issue concerning Allison Danger in particular and The Chistopher Street Connection in General sexually harassing [[Wrestling/MickieJames Alexis Laree]] caused her to leave Julio Dinero in Wrestling/RingOfHonor in favor of Amazing Red and Wrestling/AJStyles. Even then the cavalry was usually late concerning continued Connection advances as well as attacks by Simply Luscious and Wrestling/ChristopherDaniels of The Prophecy, but at least Red and Styles ''tried''. They would at least confront the guilty parties later if they were late.
* This was the focus of a Wrestling/RingOfHonor angle involving Alex Shelley and Generation Next. Normally when Generation Next caused havoc, they worked quick, cut a promo and hightailed it before baby faces or security could do anything to punish them. In Shelley's case though, he ''started'' Generation Next, so when the other members turned on him for trying to be too facey, everyone not involved purposefully gave them enough time to do whatever they wished with Shelley.
* Discussed after ''ROH Homecoming 2012''. During the show, Wrestling/MikeQuackenbush led an emptying of Wrestling/{{Chikara}}'s locker room to ring side during Wrestling/{{Hallowicked}} and Wrestling/{{Jigsaw|Wrestling}}'s match against ROH TagTeam Champions The Briscoe Brothers. When The Briscoes started messing with Hallowicked's mask, Wrestling/UltraMantisBlack led the Chikara wrestlers in attacking The Briscoes for this transaction and vowed to help Hallowicked and Jigsaw take the ROH Tag Title belts away from the Briscoes and the ROH promotion in the future. Mark and Jay were not impressed by the fact not a single ROH wrestler exited the locker room to try and even the odds.

* ''WebComic/ParanormalMysterySquad'': A greater demon named K'aannl'ngua is set on attacking Las Vagas. The US military prepares to defend the city, but is then ordered to stand down by an AnimalWrongsGroup activist with a presidential order declaring K'aannl'ngua an endangered species. The military then pulls out and lets Las Vegas get wrecked while the heroes have to defeat it alone.

** In Russian historiography these actions are usually excused by the nearest Red Army units exhausted in a protracted offensive and thus largely combat-ineffective. However, said historiography quickly proceeds to shift blame to the Poles for not coordinating with Moscow, and accuse them of [[WeAREStrugglingTogether trying to take over Warsaw without Soviet help]] so that the Soviets would not be able to set up a Communist puppet government ([[ProperlyParanoid which is exactly what happened]]).

* Some politicians, in the United States and elsewhere, are making political capital out of Cavalry Refusals by saying variations of, "America should not be the world's policeman." Details vary from case to case, sometimes wildly (such as whether the Cavalry would even be applicable).

* At the Battle of Ostagar in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', the Warden is sent to light a beacon to signal Teyrn Loghain's reinforcements. When Loghain sees the beacon, he does not send the reinforcements as originally planned, but instead orders his forces to withdraw and return to the capital, leaving King Cailan, all of his forces and many of the Grey Wardens to die at the hands of the Darkspawn. Loghain does this because he believes the Darkspawn aren't massing in a true Blight[[labelnote:*]]false[[/labelnote]] and that Cailan's in bed with Orlais, the nation he fought bitterly against for Fereldan's freedom.[[labelnote:*]]True: As established in the "Return to Ostagar" DLC, Cailan's trying to arrange for himself to divorce Loghain's daughter and marry the Empress of Orlais.[[/labelnote]] Both in and out of universe, there's debate on this point. The survivors of the main army insist it was a cowardly betrayal as above, but Loghain and everyone from his army insist the king was beyond saving by that point (in the actual scene the king died ''seconds'' later but it's presented in a way that means a time skip is possible), and all charging would accomplish is getting the relievers all killed by overwhelming Darkspawn numbers. The only neutral observer simply says he quit the field, and according to Solas in the third game the reproduction of the battle in the Fade shows both versions.

* Often seems to be the case of the [[PowersThatBe Elder Gods]] in the Franchise/MortalKombat franchise. They are nominally in charge of enforcing the use of the titular tournament to slow multiversal konquest, but often refuse to interfere in the tournament itself, even if one side is blatantly disregarding the rules ([[Film/MortalKombatTheMovie assassinating participants]] [[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance before they can enter]], [[VideoGame/MortalKombat2 forcing follow–up tournaments]] [[VideoGame/MortalKombatShaolinMonks before the agreed–upon time frame]], [[VideoGame/MortalKombat3 straight–up invading the victorious realm after the fact]]). In fact, [[spoiler:the entire thrust of the plot of [[VideoGame/MortalKombat9 the reboot]] is averting this trope and forcing the Elder Gods to punish Shao Kahn for invading Earthrealm rather than leaving his defeat to the heroes.]]

* At the Battle of Ostagar in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', the Warden is sent to light a beacon to signal Teyrn Loghain's reinforcements. When Loghain sees the beacon, he does not send the reinforcements, but instead orders his forces to withdraw and return to the capital, leaving King Cailan, all of his forces and many of the Grey Wardens to die at the hands of the Darkspawn. Loghain does this because he believes the Darkspawn aren't massing in a true Blight[[labelnote:*]]false[[/labelnote]] and that Cailan's in bed with Orlais, the nation he fought bitterly against for Fereldan's freedom.[[labelnote:*]]True: As established in the "Return to Ostagar" DLC, Cailan's trying to arrange for himself to divorce Loghain's daughter and marry the Empress of Orlais.[[/labelnote]] Both in and out of universe, there's debate on this point. The survivors of the main army insist it was a cowardly betrayal as above, but Loghain and everyone from his army insist the king was beyond saving by that point (in the actual scene the king died ''seconds'' later but it's presented in a way that means a time skip is possible), and all charging would accomplish is getting the relievers all killed by overwhelming Darkspawn numbers. The only neutral observer simply says he quit the field, and according to Solas in the third game the reproduction of the battle in the Fade shows both versions.

* At the Battle of Ostagar in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', the Warden is sent to light a beacon to signal Teyrn Loghain's reinforcements. When Loghain sees the beacon, he does not send the reinforcements as originally planned, but instead orders his forces to withdraw and return to the capital, leaving King Cailan, all of his forces and many of the Grey Wardens to die at the hands of the Darkspawn. Loghain does this because he believes the Darkspawn aren't massing in a true Blight[[labelnote:*]]false[[/labelnote]] and that Cailan's in bed with Orlais, the nation he fought bitterly against for Fereldan's freedom.[[labelnote:*]]True: As established in the "Return to Ostagar" DLC, Cailan's trying to arrange for himself to divorce Loghain's daughter and marry the Empress of Orlais.[[/labelnote]] Both in and out of universe, there's debate on this point. The survivors of the main army insist it was a cowardly betrayal as above, but Loghain and everyone from his army insist the king was beyond saving by that point (in the actual scene the king died ''seconds'' later but it's presented in a way that means a time skip is possible), and all charging would accomplish is getting the relievers all killed by overwhelming Darkspawn numbers. The only neutral observer simply says he quit the field, and according to Solas in the third game the reproduction of the battle in the Fade shows both versions.

* At the Battle of Ostagar in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', the Warden is sent to light a beacon to signal Teyrn Loghain's reinforcements. When Loghain sees the beacon, he does not send the reinforcements as originally planned, but instead orders his forces to withdraw and return to the capital, leaving King Cailan, many of the Grey Wardens, and all of his forces to die at the hands of the Darkspawn. Loghain does this because he believes the Darkspawn aren't massing in a true Blight[[labelnote:*]]false[[/labelnote]] and that Cailan's in bed with Orlais, the nation he fought bitterly against for Fereldan's freedom.[[labelnote:*]]True: As established in the "Return to Ostagar" DLC, Cailan's trying to arrange for himself to divorce Loghain's daughter and marry the Empress of Orlais.[[/labelnote]] Both in and out of universe, there's debate on this point. The survivors of the main army insist it was a cowardly betrayal as above, but Loghain and everyone from his army insist the king was beyond saving by that point (in the actual scene the king died ''seconds'' later but it's presented in a way that means a time skip is possible), and all charging would accomplish is getting the relievers all killed by overwhelming Darkspawn numbers. The only neutral observer simply says he quit the field, and according to Solas in the third game the reproduction of the battle in the Fade shows both versions.

* At the Battle of Ostagar in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', the Warden is sent to light a beacon to signal Teyrn Loghain's reinforcements. When Loghain sees the beacon, he orders his forces to withdraw, leaving King Cailan and all of his forces to die at the hands of the Darkspawn. Loghain does this because he believes the Darkspawn aren't massing in a true Blight[[labelnote:*]]false[[/labelnote]] and that Cailan's in bed with Orlais, the nation he fought bitterly against for Fereldan's freedom.[[labelnote:*]]True: As established in the "Return to Ostagar" DLC, Cailan's trying to arrange for himself to divorce Loghain's daughter and marry the Empress of Orlais.[[/labelnote]] Both in and out of universe, there's debate on this point. The survivors of the main army insist it was a cowardly betrayal as above, but Loghain and everyone from his army insist the king was beyond saving by that point (in the actual scene the king died ''seconds'' later but it's presented in a way that means a time skip is possible), and all charging would accomplish is getting the relievers all killed by overwhelming Darkspawn numbers. The only neutral observer simply says he quit the field, and according to Solas in the third game the reproduction of the battle in the Fade shows both versions.

* At the Battle of Ostagar in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', the Warden is sent to light a beacon to signal Teyrn Loghain's reinforcements. When Loghain sees the beacon, he orders his forces to withdraw, allowing the Darkspawn to slaughter King Cailan's forces. Loghain does this because he believes the Darkspawn aren't massing in a true Blight[[labelnote:*]]false[[/labelnote]] and that Cailan's in bed with Orlais, the nation he fought bitterly against for Fereldan's freedom.[[labelnote:*]]True: As established in the "Return to Ostagar" DLC, Cailan's trying to arrange for himself to divorce Loghain's daughter and marry the Empress of Orlais.[[/labelnote]] Both in and out of universe, there's debate on this point. The survivors of the main army insist it was a cowardly betrayal as above, but Loghain and everyone from his army insist the king was beyond saving by that point (in the actual scene the king died ''seconds'' later but it's presented in a way that means a time skip is possible), and all charging would accomplish is getting the relievers all killed by overwhelming Darkspawn numbers. The only neutral observer simply says he quit the field, and according to Solas in the third game the reproduction of the battle in the fade shows both versions.

* ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuestTheRealAdventures'': That's what drove Ezekiel Rage into becoming a criminal. [[FaceHeelTurn He was a good guy]] until falling victim to the trope - he was a spy for the U.S. Government when his cover got blown, which got worse when it turned out he brought his family along as a cover. He called for assistance and they refused to bail him out. His car ran off the road, killing his wife and daughter and leaving him horribly scarred and a whole lot messed up.

* Subverted at the battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. After the British heavy cavalry performed one of the great feats of horsed warfare by trashing the Russian cavalry (despite being heavily outnumbered and forced to charge uphill) the British light cavalry wished to fall upon the disorganised, fleeing Russians and complete the act of destruction... and were forbdden to do so by their commander. Perhaps partly justified in that (a) the Anglo/French/Turkish forces were somewhat short of cavalry anyway, and needed to ensure they kept a reserve, and (b) the main purpose of light cavalry is scouting, reconnaisance and communications, *not* charging the opposition's heavy units... the ill-fated charge of the Russian guns later in the battle was due to a tragic miscommunication!

* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': Casca's first meeting with Griffith starts with her escaping from a rapist. Instead of helping her, he throws a sword between the two. After a struggle, Casca wins, and Griffith allows her to join him.

* A justified example happens at the midpoint of the CodexAlera novels. When the SuccessionCrisis that's been growing more urgent as [[TheHighKing the First Lord's]] health worsens finally erupts into open rebellion, the First Lord calls upon his remaining loyal vassals for military aid, only to discover that TheUsurper took the precaution of [[IHaveYourWife having at least one of each lord's family abducted to hold as hostages]]. [[spoiler: The heroes do ultimately free the hostages, but not before the First Lord has to resort to some ''very'' DirtyBusiness to buy time.]]

* ''FanFic/BurningBridgesBuildingConfidence'': Chat Noir is ''supposed'' to be Ladybug's partner and fight alongside her, and has done so for quite some time. However, shortly before this story begins, he decides that's not good enough for him: he wants a RelationshipUpgrade, and decides to [[AchillesInHisTent sit on the sidelines]] and refuse to help unless she admits that she needs him and agrees to start dating. When Cole [[WhatTheHellHero calls him out on this]], he dismisses her as just a civilian, prompting her to arm herself with some improvised weapons and jump in instead. This stunt also fails to impress Master Fu, who decides to establish another permanent hero in order to offset this.

* This became a RunningGag in Wrestling/RingOfHonor during the House Of Truth's second major run(the one where Wrestling/JayLethal ended up [[TheBadGuyWins winning everything]]). ROH had security, honest. Real security headed by experienced bouncer and security guard Joey Daddiego. Problem was, Truth Martini paid off Daddiego to undermine his own staff, who often ended up standing around impotently during House Of Truth attacks while Daddiego stood in their routes to the arena.[[/folder]]

* This pretty much happens whenever a face is getting a beatdown. The other faces in the back will rarely come to the rescue no matter how many heels are doing the beating. Whereas if a face is beating a heel, all the heel's friends will come to help. Yes, in ProfessionalWrestling, the bad guys are more loyal than the good guys. This is mostly a product of the post territorial era, as it'd be rare in the Territory System for the baby faces not to spill out of the locker room unless victimized face was someone ''really'' disliked by most of the rest, the mugging occurred too quickly or logistical issue were involved.