History Main / FeudalOverlord

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* While more centralized than other Christian European kingdoms, Dynatoi families in UsefulNotes/ByzantineEmpire received their reputation as this depending on sources (the 12th Century having more romanticized views due to Komenoi's roots from these classed while previous primary sources having mixed-to-harsh opinions). Due to the constant raids and major invasion routes by Arabic armies along with hilly Anatolian terrain, many themes (or provinces) are led by Dynatoi families who would often hold provincial offices and operate their agricultural estates similar to plantations with indentured laborers, whose large numbers consisted of peasants who were forced to sell their lands to the estate and become indebted to them as a result. This often causes contentions with the central government of Constantinople, which often had difficulty in dealing with Dynatoi-led rebellions due to many of their numbers being veterans in dealing with border incursions.

* Lord Farquaad in ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'', who, on top of everything, wants to make the transition to full-blown king.

* While more centralized than other Christian European kingdoms, Dynatoi families in UsefulNotes/ByzantineEmpire received their reputation as this depending on sources (the 12th Century having more romanticized views due to Komenoi's roots from these classed while previous primary sources having mixed-to-harsh opinions). Due to the constant raids and major invasion routes by Arabic armies compounded by hilly Anatolian terrain, many themes (or provinces) are led by Dynatoi families who would often hold provincial offices and operate their agricultural estates similar to plantations with indentured laborers, whose large numbers consisted of peasants who were forced to sell their lands to the estate and become indebted to them as a result. This often causes contentions with the central government of Constantinople, which often face difficulties against Dynatoi rebels due to many of their commanders and troops being seasoned veterans who often fought against raids and invasions from the east.

* While more centralized than other Christian European kingdoms, Dynatoi families in UsefulNotes/ByzantineEmpire received their reputation as this depending on sources (the 12th Century having more romanticized views due to Komenoi's roots from these classed while previous primary sources having mixed opinions). Due to the constant raids and major invasion routes by Arabic armies compounded by hilly Anatolian terrain, many themes (or provinces) are led by Dynatoi families who would often hold provincial offices and operate their agricultural estates not similar to plantations with indentured laborers, many of whom being peasants forced to sell their lands to them. This often causes contentions with the central government of Constantinople, which often leads to revolts.

* While more centralized than other Christian European kingdoms, UsefulNotes/ByzantineEmpire suffer from this issue with Dynatoi families in Anatolia provinces being a major example. Due to the constant raids and major invasion routes by Arabic armies, many themes (or provinces) are led by Dynatoi families who would often maintain their own armies and operate their agricultural estates not similar to plantations with indentured laborers that often included landless peasants.

* The Sheriff of Nottingham in almost every single film version of ''RobinHood'' is a textbook example. He keeps his power mainly because of Prince John, who either supports him or is too weak to stop him. The 1991 film version, starring Patrick Bergin, replaced the sheriff with an {{anti villain}} Norman baron, who was also an example.

* Historically feudalism wasn't (especially in Western Europe) as bad as it is often depicted. If the overlord was overtly harsh, the serfs would desert him and escape to towns, woods or in the service of other lords. A serf who had lived in a town one year and one day was considered to have relinquished his duty on his overlord and become a freeman. In extreme cases a revolt could well ensue, which would always be a bad thing.

* The villains that Franchise/{{Zorro}} fights against are of this kind as well.

* Baron Front de Boeuf in Creator/WalterScott's novel ''Literature/{{Ivanhoe}}'', who imprisons and attempts to [[ColdBloodedTorture torture]] a rich Jew, trying to get hold of his money.

* William Hamleigh in ''Literature/ThePillarsOfTheEarth''. He provides Stephen with armed soldiers and is left alone because of Stephen's weakness as a ruler. He uses this position to tax his serfs to death and rape any woman he sees fit.

Historical examples of this trope are a main reason why AristocratsAreEvil. See also CorruptHick, a modern equivalent who shows up in rural areas such as the DeepSouth. Can also feature in the FeudalFuture, if travel is limited.

* The Shoguns in Japan were like this, as they wielded the real power while the Emperor was simply a figurehead. This all ended in the Meiji Era when the Shogunate was abolished and replaced with a more centralized government.

* The Shoguns in Japan were like this, as they wielded more power than the Emperor. This all ended in the Meiji Era when the Shogunate was abolished and replaced with a more centralized government.

** The Baron of Koka Castle dominates the town around his fortress with the help of his thugs, has the mayor under his thumb, and opresses the people with no fear of outside interference. He demands tribute in gold and prisoners, whom he eats because he is a flesh-hungry Apostle in human form, but when Guts shows up and kills some of his men, he retaliates by riding out to RapePillageAndBurn the town just ForTheEvulz.

* Baron Luthor in the medieval {{Elseworld}} comic ''{{Superman}}: Kal''.

[[quoteright:250:[[Manga/{{Berserk}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/feudal_overlord_the_count_fixed.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:250:The Count grows [[AdiposeRex fat]] while his people [[OffWithHisHead get the axe]].]]

* The Harkonnens in ''Literature/{{Dune}}''.

Historical examples of this trope are a main reason why AristocratsAreEvil. See also CorruptHick, which is a modern equivalent who shows up in rural areas such as the DeepSouth. Can also feature in the FeudalFuture, if travel is limited.

If your story is set in the medieval or early modern period, and if its geographical scope is closer to a town or county than a kingdom or empire, then the villain of choice for you is the Feudal Overlord. This [[AristocratsAreEvil sinister]] [[BlueBlood noble]] rules over villagers and peasants with an [[EvilOverlord iron fist]], being surrounded by a guard of armed {{Mooks}} that enforce his oppressive taxes and [[DroitDuSeigneur get hold of]] [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty beautiful maidens]] that have caught the lord's eye. He may have to answer for his acts to a higher authority such as a King, but either the king [[TheManBehindTheMan will also be evil]], or he will be distant and unaware of the sufferings of the commoners. Therefore the Feudal Overlord will have effectively unchecked authority over the region, and will of course use it for his benefit and pleasure.

Historical examples of this trope are a main reason why AristocratsAreEvil. See also CorruptHick, which is a modern [[TheDeepSouth Deep South]] equivalent. Can also feature in the FeudalFuture, if travel is limited.

On the other hand, he may just as well be a ReasonableAuthorityFigure or DaChief and defend his demesne against the DeadlyDecadentCourt and its minions.

* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': AristocratsAreEvil is in full effect, and because rulers above the local level are often absent or otherwise occupied, some lords practice inhuman depravities on their subjects with impunity.

* The Star Wars Expanded Universe has this with the New Sith Wars time period. As the Galactic Republic began to weaken entire regions of the galaxy were controlled by high-ranking Jedi, who were bestowed titles and privileges by the citizens. Eventually they took the title of Jedi Lords.

* The Sheriff of Nottingham in almost every single film version of ''RobinHood'' is a textbook example. He keeps his power mainly because of Prince John, who either supports him or is too weak to stop him.
** The 1991 film version, starring Patrick Bergin, replaced the sheriff with an {{anti villain}} Norman baron, who was also an example.
* Carnegie in ''Film/TheBookOfEli'' is an post-apocalyptic version of this trope. He rules over his ramshackle of a town with his army of thugs and takes whatever he wants when he pleases.

* Seen in ''{{Literature/Malevil}}'', a French post-WorldWarIII novel were the survivors live in an old castle that survived the nuclear holocaust.

* Most rulers in RealLife lived in a system like this. Historically even the largest [[TheEmpire empires]] were composed of states within states within states in a complicated matrix, rulers of each domain being capable of making war on their own behalf. Whether or not these local authorities were recognized as constitutional varied, but the system remained similar in many places. To this day this arrangement seems to be the case in a number of states which often causes political difficulties for those from countries unused to the system.
** The Shoguns in Japan were like this, as they wielded more power than the Emperor. This all ended in the Meiji Era when the Shogunate was abolished and replaced with a more centralized government.
* Historically feudalism wasn't, especially in the Western Europe, as bad as it is often depicted. If the overlord was overtly cross, the serfs would desert him and escape to towns, woods or in the service of other lords. A serf who had lived in a town one year and one day was considered to have relinquished his duty on his overlord and become a freeman. In extreme cases a revolt could well ensue, which would always be a bad thing.
** It should also be noted that the common cliche of the feudal lord being completely uncaring toward his peasants was a rarity in Western Europe at the time : Feudalism being a system based entirely on personal loyalties and relationships, the great majority of lords (As in, those rarely spoken about due to being rather low on the medieval scale of power and importance, such as landed knights) knew the people working their land personally, and it was in fact quite common for the nobility to invite (Or be invited by) their peasants for a meal. The (pragmatic) reason for this being that people in general are much more likely to be willing to die in battle for someone they know, care about and who treats them well than a tyrannical lord no one ever met.

* Baron Front de Boeuf in Creator/WalterScott's novel ''Literature/{{Ivanhoe}}'', who imprisons and [[ColdBloodedTorture tortures]] a rich Jew, trying to get hold of his money.

* William Hamleigh in ThePillarsOfTheEarth. He provides Stephen with armed soldiers and is left alone because of Stephen's weakness as a ruler. He uses this position to tax his serfs to death and rape any woman he sees fit.

* Norman Arminger in S. M. Stirling's first three books of the {{Emberverse}} series. Feudalism is the standard M.O. of most post-Change societies, to some degree, but only Arminger breaks out the iron collars.