History Main / JusttheFirstCitizen

-->'''Octavian''': First Citizen.

---> ''Rome''

* In HBO's {Rome}, this is Octavian's InsistentTerminology name for his position. A consummate politician, he knows that Romans still despise the notion of a king and thus makes himself one in all but name.

* The first Roman Emperors called themselves simply "The First" (''Princeps'', from which the word "Prince" is derived), after the example of Octavian. The title "Caesar" was ofcourse taken from JuliusCaesar but only applied later to the ruler. Augustus was more of a puppetmaster than an explicit dictator (unlike Caesar), seemingly being given the power he had by the senate. I.e. he was ''de facto'' Emperor, but ''de jure'' just "the first citizen" and the first speaker of the senate.

* In the ''CodexAlera'', Alera is ruled over by the First Lord, who is presented as the "first among equals" with the rest of the Realm being ruled by High Lords who preside over each major city, and the First Lord officially being the ruler of Alera Imperia, the chairman of the Senate, and the executive commander of the combined Legions in times of war. Unofficially, the First Lord rules over all of Alera and the High Lords bow to him.

* [[MuammarGaddafi Muammar al-Gaddafi]] has not held any formal position of power since resigning as prime minister of Libya in 1972 -- however, he was dictator all the way up until 2011, and was often referred to as "Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya" or "Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution." This was taken to absurd levels during the recent Civil War. Gaddafi kept insisting that he could not step down because there is nothing to step down from.

* Muammar al-Gaddafi has not held any formal position of power since resigning as prime minister of Libya in 1972 -- however, he was dictator all the way up until 2011, and was often referred to as "Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya" or "Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution." This was taken to absurd levels during the recent Civil War. Gaddafi kept insisting that he could not step down because there is nothing to step down from.

* Muammar al-Gaddafi has not held any formal position of power since resigning as prime minister of Libya in 1972 -- however, he was dictator all the way up until 2011, and was often referred to as "Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya" or "Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution."
** Taken to absurd levels during the recent Civil War. Gaddafi kept insisting that he can not step down because there is nothing to step down from.

** The style of "Mister President" was chosen by GeorgeWashington, who thus had a fancier title when presiding over his lodge of Freemasons than when presiding over the United States of America. (This was in response to the attempts of his vice-president, JohnAdams, to get the Senate to vote Washington the title of "His Democratic Highness" or possibly "His Elective Majesty". The Senate eventually resolved that Adams would receive the title of [[CrowningMomentOfFunny "His Rotundity."]] Adams did not make friends easily.)

See also ModestRoyalty; he is prone to be the rare villainous example of this, as well. Contrast IHaveManyNames.

See also ModestRoyalty; he is prone to be the rare villainous example of this, as well.

* JosefStalin [[ZigZaggedTrope zig-zags]] this by playing it straight and averting it at the same time. For all his power, all the control, all the spy networks and the state he built, he was simply the General Secretary of the Communist Party[[hottip:*:Because of Stalin's use of this trope the de facto leader during the history of the U.S.S.R. was the head of the Communist Party, regardless of whether or not that person was also the Premier.]]. Someone stated that a title that would reflect his ''real'' power would have to be something like "Pope of the Communist church; Czar of Russia; CEO of Soviet inc." In addition he also allowed himself to be called simply "Vozhd" (leader/boss) after his fiftieth birthday celebration in 1929, and was given the title "Generalissimus" (the highest possible military rank), although he never wore the insignia. On the other hand, years before becoming General Secretary he did change his birth name from Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili to the Russian equivalent of [[AwesomeMcCoolname Joe Steel]]. During his personality cult he also accepted an immense number of grandiose titles, including "Coryphaeus of Science", "Father of Nations", "Brilliant Genius of Humanity", "Great Architect of Communism", "Gardener of Human Happiness", and many more.

* The title of "Führer", which AdolfHitler adopted when he became leader of the Nazi Party and elevated to a government title when they took power in Germany can be simply translated to "guide", although it is generally translated as "leader", which is more in line with fascist philosophy. Note that it was styled as ''the'' leader (Der Führer) when referring to Hitler in the third person, not just "leader" by itself. Although not even nearly as ubiquitously used as Führer, Hiler also awarded himself a number of bombastic titles over the years designed specifically to invoke this trope, including "First Soldier of the German Reich", "First Worker of the New Germany", and "Supreme Judge of the German People". In something of an overlap with ModestRoyalty, Hitler's ceremonial uniform was also much more staid than you would expect from a man in the process of conquering the world. He wore a plain uniform with only the awards that he earned in WorldWarOne, which looks funny in contrast to, say, Goering, who swanked it up with silks and furs and every medal he could lay his fat hands on.

* The title of "Führer", which AdolfHitler adopted at the rise of the Nazi party to power in Germany in the thirties can be simply translated to "guide", although it is generally translated as "leader" which is more in line with fascist philosophy. Note that it was styled as ''the'' leader (''Der'' Führer) when referring to Hitler in the third person, not just "leader" by itself. Although not even nearly as ubiquitously used as ''Führer'', Hiler also awarded himself a number of bombastic titles over the years designed specifically to invoke this trope, including "First Soldier of the German Reich", "First Worker of the New Germany", and "Supreme Judge of the German People". In something of an overlap with ModestRoyalty, Hitler's ceremonial uniform was also much more staid than you would expect from a man in the process of conquering the world. He wore a plain uniform with only the awards that he earned in WorldWarOne, which looks funny in contrast to, say, Goering, who swanked it up with silks and furs and every medal he could lay his fat hands on.
* And before him Mussolini did the same thing with "Duce".

* The title of "Führer", which AdolfHitler adopted at the rise of the Nazi party to power in Germany in the thirties can be simply translated to "guide", although it is generally translated as "leader" which is more in line with fascist philosophy. In something of an overlap with ModestRoyalty, Hitler's ceremonial uniform was also much more staid than you would expect from a man in the process of conquering the world. He wore a plain uniform with only the awards that he earned in WorldWarOne, which looks funny in contrast to, say, Goering, who swanked it up with silks and furs and every medal he could lay his fat hands on.
** Although not even nearly as ubiquitously used as ''Führer'', Hiler also awarded himself a number of bombastic titles over the years designed specifically to evoke this trope, including "First Soldier of the German Reich", "First Worker of the New Germany", and "Supreme Judge of the German People".

* The title of "Führer", which AdolfHitler adopted at the rise of the Nazi party to power in Germany in the thirties can be simply be translated to "guide", although it is generally translated as "leader" which is more in line with fascist philosophy. In something of an overlap with ModestRoyalty, Hitler's ceremonial uniform was also much more staid than you would expect from a man in the process of conquering the world. He wore a plain uniform with only the awards that he earned in WorldWarOne, which looks funny in contrast to, say, Goering, who swanked it up with silks and furs and every medal he could lay his fat hands on.

* The title of "Führer", which AdolfHitler adopted at the rise of the Nazi party to power in Germany in the thirties can be simply be translated to "guide", although it is generally translated as "leader" which is more in line with fascist philosophy. In something of an overlap with ModestRoyalty, Hitler's ceremonial uniform was much more staid than you would expect from a man in the process of conquering the world. He wore a plain uniform with only the awards that he earned in WorldWarOne, which looks funny in contrast to, say, Goering, who swanked it up with silks and furs and every medal he could lay his fat hands on.

** Although not even nearly as ubiquitously used as ''Führer'', Hiler did award himself a number of bombastic titles over the years, including "First Soldier of the German Reich", "First Worker of the New Germany", and "Supreme Judge of the German People".

* Arguably MaximilienRobespierre, deputy and Member of the Committee of Public Safety.

* JosefStalin [[ZigZaggedTrope zig-zags]] this by playing it straight and averting it at the same time. For all his power, all the control, all the spy networks and the state he built, he was simply the General Secretary of the Communist Party[[hottip:*:Because of Stalin's use of this trope the de facto leader during the history of the U.S.S.R. was the head of the Communist Party, regardless of whether or not that person was also the Premier.]] Someone stated that a title that would reflect his ''real'' power would have to be something like "Pope of the Communist church; Czar of Russia; CEO of Soviet inc." He also allowed himself to be called simply "Vozhd" (leader/boss) after his fiftieth birthday celebration in 1929. He was also given the title "Generalissimus", the highest possible military rank, although he never wore the insignia. On the other hand, years before becoming General Secretary he did change his birth name from Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili to the Russian equivalent of [[AwesomeMcCoolname Joe Steel]]. During his personality cult he also accepted an immense number of grandiose titles, including "Coryphaeus of Science", "Father of Nations", "Brilliant Genius of Humanity", "Great Architect of Communism", "Gardener of Human Happiness", and many more.

* JosefStalin fits perfectly. For all his power, all the control, all the spy networks and the state he built, he was first of all the General Secretary of the Communist Party. And woe to the one who dared in a personal talk or letter call him ANYTHING with the word "great" included. (Though it did not stop him naming several cities and a ''mountain'' after himself.)
** Then again, years before becoming General Secretary he did change his name from Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili to the Russian equivalent of [[AwesomeMcCoolname Joe Steel]].
** And he called himself "Generalissimus", the highest possible military rank.
*** The title was given to him, but he never wore the insignia. Much of his military awards, too.
** Someone stated that a title that would reflect his ''real'' power would have to be something like "Pope of the Communist church; Czar of Russia; CEO of Soviet inc."
** During the history of the U.S.S.R, the de facto leader was the head of the Communist Party, whether or not that person was also the Premier. Krushchev agreed to step down after the insistence of conspirators led by Brezhnev becuase he thought it was time to retire and he didn't want a violent changeover.
--> '''Krushchev:''' Could anyone have dreamed of telling Stalin that he didn't suit us anymore and suggesting he retire? Not even a wet spot would have remained where we had been standing.

* The title of "Führer", which AdolfHitler adopted at the rise of the Nazi party to power in Germany in the thirties can be simply be translated to "guide".
** Stalin was often called ''Vozhd''', which means the exact same thing.
** Although it was generally translated as "leader" which was more in line with fascist philosophy. The British fascist Sir Oswald Mosley took the title "leader".
*** Which made an almost century-long hook to bite his son with all kinds of butt jokes when said son landed in a scandal being seen and pictured in company of dominatrixes, the kind you can guess.
** In something of an overlap with ModestRoyalty, Hitler's ceremonial uniform was much more staid than you would expect from a man in the process of conquering the world. He wore a plain uniform with only the awards that he earned in WorldWarOne, which looks funny in contrast to, say, Goering, who swanked it up with silks and furs and every medal he could lay his fat hands on.