History Main / InItsHourOfNeed

-->--'''[[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfWindsor Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother]]''', at the height of the [[UsefulNotes/TheHomeFront London Blitz]]

* In John Barnes's ''Literature/OneForTheMorningGlory'', Prince Amatus has to be carried out the ruined capital by force. And his father King Boniface stays and dies.

* In Creator/JohnHemry's Literature/TheLostFleet novel ''Invincible'', Geary reflects on how Syndicate Worlds [[OneNationUnderCopyright Planetary CEO]] Gwen Iceni remains on her world when it is threatened with attack, despite ample opportunity to evacuate. Having little to go by to judge her character, he takes it as evidence she's not all bad. [[Literature/TheLostStars The spin-off series]] set during and after Iceni's coup d'etat against the Syndicate Worlds shows he's mostly right.

-->--'''[[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfWindsor Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother]]''', at the height of the [[TheHomeFront London Blitz]]

** UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill stayed in London during TheBlitz. However, he was very concerned for the safety of King George VI as the king decided to stay in Buckingham Palace, and the best pilots of the Luftwaffe had maps telling them where to bomb it. He was actually very close to invoking his executive powers and having George forcibly taken from Buckingham Palace to the Cabinet War Rooms. Churchill had this turned against him later in the war. In the run up to D-Day he was giving [[UsefulNotes/DwightDEisenhower Eisenhower]] heartburn by regularly stating that he intended to watch the landings from the fleet. Ike mentioned the problem to King George at a luncheon meeting and the King informed Churchill that he thought this was a magnificent idea and would join him with the fleet-the King had served in the Royal Navy before his coronation, after all. Churchill was appalled at the idea of needlessly putting the King in danger and sulkily backed down.

* In Creator/JerryPournelle's ''[[Literature/CoDominium Prince of Sparta]]'', upheld in that King Alexander leads the final charge of his palace guard vs. the revolutionary Helots. Subverted in that he was a sick old man with an entirely healthy son, who was at that point safely ensconced in the planet's military command center and running the war.

See also StandYourGround.

** WinstonChurchill stayed in London during TheBlitz. However, he was very concerned for the safety of King George VI as the king decided to stay in Buckingham Palace, and the best pilots of the Luftwaffe had maps telling them where to bomb it. He was actually very close to invoking his executive powers and having George forcibly taken from Buckingham Palace to the Cabinet War Rooms. Churchill had this turned against him later in the war. In the run up to D-Day he was giving [[UsefulNotes/DwightDEisenhower Eisenhower]] heartburn by regularly stating that he intended to watch the landings from the fleet. Ike mentioned the problem to King George at a luncheon meeting and the King informed Churchill that he thought this was a magnificent idea and would join him with the fleet-the King had served in the Royal Navy before his coronation, after all. Churchill was appalled at the idea of needlessly putting the King in danger and sulkily backed down.

* {{Subverted}} in ''Series/{{Merlin}}'' at the end of series four, when Morgana attacks and overwhelms Camelot. Knowing that KingArthur won't leave his kingdom under any circumstances, Merlin casts a spell on him to remove his free will and reduce him to a "simpleton" that complacently lets himself be carried away. One can't help but think that the writers didn't really think through the implications of this one...

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** Danish king Christian X, being stuck in his Copenhagen palace for the entire war and under nazi occupation, was actually the ''brother'' of Norwegian (Danish-born) king Haakon VII, who decided to leave Norway with his government in 1940, to become a lasting symbol of Norwegian resistance. It is said that Haakon was present at his brother´s funeral, and the eulogy stated that "the king remained with his people InItsHourOfNeed". King Haakon took this pretty hard, and never set foot in Denmark again.

* In Creator/LloydAlexander's ''[[Literature/ChroniclesOfPrydain The High King]]'', Math the High King stays in the attacked city and dies.

* In Jerry Pournelle's ''Prince of Sparta'', upheld in that King Alexander leads the final charge of his palace guard vs. the revolutionary Helots. Subverted in that he was a sick old man with an entirely healthy son, who was at that point safely ensconced in the planet's military command center and running the war.

*** Danish king Christian X, being stuck in his Copenhagen palace for the entire war and under nazi occupation, was actually the ''brother'' of Norwegian (Danish-born) king Haakon VII, who decided to leave Norway with his government in 1940, to become a lasting symbol of Norwegian resistance. It is said that Haakon was present at his brother´s funeral, and the eulogy stated that "the king remained with his people InItsHourOfNeed". King Haakon took this pretty hard, and never set foot in Denmark again.

->''The children cannot go without me, and I will not go without the King, and the King will never leave his country.''
->--'''[[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfWindsor Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother]]''', at the height of the [[TheHomeFront London Blitz]]

* In DavidWeber's ''[[Literature/EmpireFromTheAshes Heirs of Empire]]'', the heroes discover there may be a conspiracy to blow up the planet Birhat, their seat of government. The emperor gets his wife to go "vacation" on Earth--though he only gets away with it because she's pregnant--but flatly refuses to go anywhere himself. Even when they locate the planetcracker bomb, determine that it's armed, and start the evacuation, his military officers have to threaten to physically drag him onto a ship before he'll leave.

* In Creator/LloydAlexander's ''[[PrydainChronicles The High King]]'', Math the High King stays in the attacked city and dies.

** Alfred the Great, instead of leaving his kingdom, ''hid in a swamp'' until he could gather enough force to return and have an AwesomeMomentOfCrowning.

* Many monarchs of the countries overrun by the Nazis during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII did leave their countries and were still remembered fondly for being symbols of resistance. Those who did stay behind have mixed reputations. King Leopold III of Belgium is not remembered too fondly, especially since he did get too friendly with the Germans (and was suspected of downright collaboration), and had to abdicate with the Belgian public bitterly divided over his return. King Christian X of Denmark is fondly remembered, on the other hand, for helping to keep the country together under Nazi occupation.

* In SandyMitchell's Literature/CiaphasCain [[note]] HERO OF THE IMPERIUM! [[/note]] novel ''Cain's Last Stand'', Cain goes to rescue the governor when Varan's attack is about to overthrow the capital, and persuades him that it is his duty, it will tell the people that he is organizing resistance elsewhere. Alas, the governor is seriously wounded and can not be removed. [[spoiler: Worse, Varan can take over his mind and have him broadcast on his side.]]

* In an episode of ''TheWestWing'', when it looks like there might be a terrorist attack on the White House, President Bartlet rejects the idea of going to the bunker, saying that when he got out he wouldn't be able to give orders to any of the people who weren't in the bunker and he likes doing that. Leo points out that the Secret Service can take him by force, if it comes to that; Bartlet responds that they better bring more than a couple of guys.

* TruthInTelevision: JosefStalin did not leave Moscow when it was besieged by Nazis. He was right; the city did not fall, but if he ran away, the defenders would be demoralized and the city lost. He even ordered that the annual parade commemorating the Revolution in Red Square take place to give the people hope.
** Creator/GeorgeOrwell, as a consequence, had a scene in ''Literature/AnimalFarm'' where everyone was frightened by an explosion, ducking in fear, and decided to ensure that Napoleon had been there and stood firm because with all his faults, Stalin's courage could not be impugned.
** Some historians have even pegged Stalin's decision to stay as the key turning point of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, the moment when any chance of a Nazi triumph ended. Had Moscow fallen, it's much more likely that the rest of the Soviet Union would have followed...and Japan might have seen it as enough of a sign of weakness that the advocates of the western strategy (war against the Soviets) might have won out against the advocates of the ultimately disastrous eastern strategy (war against America).
* King George VI was repeatedly urged, during World War II, to leave Britain and seek the relative safety of another part of the British Empire, such as Canada. He refused. Queen Elizabeth was asked why they did not at least send the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret away, and she replied, "The children cannot go without me, and I will not go without the King, and the King will never leave his country." The royal family's determination to remain throughout the war earned them the lasting affection of their people.
** WinstonChurchill likewise stayed in London during TheBlitz. However, he was very concerned for the safety of King George VI as the king decided to stay in Buckingham Palace, and the best pilots of the Luftwaffe had maps telling them where to bomb it. He was actually very close to invoking his executive powers and having George forcibly taken from Buckingham Palace to the Cabinet War Rooms.
*** Churchill had this turned against him later in the war. In the run up to D-Day he was giving [[UsefulNotes/DwightDEisenhower Eisenhower]] heartburn by regularly stating that he intended to watch the landings from the fleet. Ike mentioned the problem to King George at a luncheon meeting and the King informed Churchill that he thought this was a magnificent idea and would join him with the fleet-the King had served in the Royal Navy before his coronation, after all. Churchill was appalled at the idea of needlessly putting the King in danger and sulkily backed down.
** Alfred the Great did that one better. Instead of leaving his kingdom he ''hid in a swamp'' until he could gather enough force to return and have an AwesomeMomentOfCrowning.

The capital is about to be overwhelmed, the [[RoyalBlood king]] [[RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething is fighting the battle]], but he ''must'' go to [[LaResistance organize the resistance]] or [[GovernmentInExile abroad to find allies]], and he won't budge.

Sometimes even the ReasonableAuthorityFigure puts HonorBeforeReason. Sometimes, persuasion can do it; sometimes, force is needed; sometimes, he dies in the ruins of the castle, making a LastStand, usually with his personal guard. When he leaves, he is often the last one to do so.

He may, on the other hand, [[MoreHeroThanThou have his heir sent off, by force if needed]]. Can lead to [[AChildShallLeadThem A Child Shall Lead]] LaResistance and the RightfulKingReturns.

Note that you really have to get killed to pull this off. Captivity removes most of the effect, especially if you are used against your own forces.

If the king is supposed to ''return'' InItsHourOfNeed (but is otherwise dead or [[SealedGoodInACan canned]]), that's the KingInTheMountain. If your ''allies'' are supposed to come help your nation in its hour of need, that's GondorCallsForAid.

* In LloydAlexander's ''[[PrydainChronicles The High King]]'', Math the High King stays in the attacked city and dies.
* In ''WorldWarZ'', Queen Elizabeth II follows her father's example (referenced below) and stays in Windsor Castle "for the duration" of the titular ZombieApocalypse. She also lets any and all citizens into the Royal estates who are willing to help with the defense.

* Turgon, King of Gondolin in ''TheSilmarillion'', remains in his city as it falls to the forces of Morgoth, while his son-in-law Tuor and daughter Idril lead the remnants of his people to "safety".

* In Creator/JohnHemry's TheLostFleet novel ''Invincible'', Geary reflects on how Syndicate Worlds [[OneNationUnderCopyright Planetary CEO]] Gwen Iceni remains on her world when it is threatened with attack, despite ample opportunity to evacuate. Having little to go by to judge her character, he takes it as evidence she's not all bad. [[Literature/TheLostStars The spin-off series]] set during and after Iceni's coup d'etat against the Syndicate Worlds shows he's mostly right.

* In JackCampbell's TheLostFleet novel ''Invincible'', Geary reflects on how Syndicate Worlds [[OneNationUnderCopyright Planetary CEO]] Gwen Iceni remains on her world when it is threatened with attack, despite ample opportunity to evacuate. Having little to go by to judge her character, he takes it as evidence she's not all bad. [[Literature/TheLostStars The spin-off series]] set during and after Iceni's coup d'etat against the Syndicate Worlds shows he's mostly right.

->--'''[[TheHouseOfWindsor Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother]]''', at the height of the [[TheHomeFront London Blitz]]

* {{Erfworld}}: After a HeelRealization, Slately decides that he can not leave the city before his son leads the attack; his son must leave before he leads the attack.

* In JackCampbell's TheLostFleet novel ''Invincible'', Geary reflects on how Iceni remains on planet when it is threatened with attack. Having little to go by to judge her character, he takes it as evidence.