History Main / JusttheFirstCitizen

** So, actually kinda like the total opposite?

* ''Earthdawn'' sees the leader of the globe-spanning Theran Empire being named the First Governor instead of "emperor." However, this is an EnforcedTrope -- one of the founders of Thera summoned several massive earth elementals to create a Sphinx statue that would sit outside the First Governor's palace, watching him for signs of corruption (including making Thera into an empire), and would go on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge at its discretion. Not taking up the Name of Emperor is a safeguard against that, even though Thera essentially HAS become TheEmpire. The also make sure to make the expansive First Governor's Mansion mostly invisible from the outside, though it's unlikely such a powerful magical construct would be fooled.

* ''Earthdawn'' sees the leader of the globe-spanning Theran Empire being named the First Governor instead of "emperor." However, this is an EnforcedTrope -- one of the founders of Thera summoned several massive earth elementals to create a Sphinx statue that would sit outside the First Governor's palace, watching him for signs of corruption (including making Thera into an empire), and would go on a RoaringRampageOfDestruction at its discretion. Not taking up the Name of Emperor is a safeguard against that, even though Thera essentially HAS become TheEmpire. The also make sure to make the expansive First Governor's Mansion mostly invisible from the outside, though it's unlikely such a powerful magical construct would be fooled.

* ''Earthdawn'' sees the leader of the globe-spanning Theran Empire being named the First Governor instead of "emperor." However, this is an EnforcedTrope -- one of the founders of Thera summoned several massive earth elementals to create a Sphinx statue that would sit outside the First Governor's palace, watching him for signs of corruption (including making Thera into an empire), and would go on a RoaringRampageofDestruction at its discretion. Not taking up the Name of Emperor is a safeguard against that, even though Thera essentially HAS become TheEmpire. The also make sure to make the expansive First Governor's Mansion mostly invisible from the outside, though it's unlikely such a powerful magical construct would be fooled.

[[folder:Literature]]

* And the rules of the Aztec called themselves "Tlatoani", which means "speaker"

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

* 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, Hitler 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.

* ''[[BlakesSeven Blake's 7]]'': First Citizen Hower of planet Obsidian.

* Kim Jong-il is merely the chairman of the North Korean National Defense Commission; the actual office of president gets cycled round other people every year or so.
** He also uses "Supreme Commander", "''Party'' Chairman", "Dear Leader", and "Great Leader". His father holds the post of Eternal President, even though he died in 1994. Basically the exact opposite of this trope.

* [[MuammarGaddafi Muammar al-Gaddafi]] hadn't 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.

* Dolf in ''AlfredJKwak'' does this when he creates a [[ANaziByAnyOtherName National]] [[FunnyAnimal Crows]] [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Party]] and uses it to seize power in Great Waterland, in a clear satire of the rise and fall of Nazism. Like Hitler's "Führer", he demands that others refer to him exclusively as "The President" or "President Dolf".

* Dolf in ''AlfredJKwak'' does this when he creates a [[ANaziByAnyOtherName National]] [[FunnyAnimals Crows]] [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Party]] and uses it to seize power in Great Waterland, in a clear satire of the rise and fall of Nazism. Like Hitler's "Führer", he demands that others refer to him exclusively as "The President" or "President Dolf".

* 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 always the person filling this post, 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.

* In french absolutism (Louis XIV etc.), the king was also called the first servant of the country.

* In the re-imagined ''FlashGordon'' series, Ming is no longer "Emperor Ming the Merciless" who dressed like rulers of Ancient China. Instead, he prefers a military uniform and the self-appointed title of "Benevolent Father". His subjects, though, still occasionally call him "Ming the Merciless" behind his back. His daughter is still called Princess Aura, though.

* The rulers of the Incas called themselves "the Sapa Inca." Then again, it could mean "An Incan" or "The only Incan".

* 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 of course 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.

** The actual title that the emperors used was Augustus, after the first emperor. Later on, when junior emperors were chosen, they were called Caesar. For example, Diocletian appointed Maximian to Augustus (senior co-emperor) and Constantinus to the office of Caesar (junior co-emperor).