History Main / KingOnHisDeathbed

* This kicks off the plot of ''Film/TheDeathOfStalin''. The events recounted in the Real Life section entry on the death of [[UsefulNotes/JosephStalin Stalin]] below are (essentially) a summary of the plot of the film, except the film is funnier.

* This kicks off the plot of ''Film/TheDeathOfStalin''. The events recounted in the Real Life section below are (essentially) a summary of the plot of the film, except the film is funnier.

* UsefulNotes/JosefStalin's death in 1952 was very much like this, as even as his magnates surrounded his bedside they were plotting against each other, but everyone was particularly terrified of his police chief Lavrentiy Beria. When Stalin finally expired, Beria sprung forward, making sure he was the first to kiss Stalin's hand, an act one historian called the equivalent of "wrenching a dead King's ring off his finger," before sweeping out of the room and triumphantly calling for his car. Historians to this day debate whether it was Beria who had actually poisoned Stalin. One magnate said to another, "He's off to seize power," and they all quickly followed after him, calling for their own limousines.

* ''Literature/PonniyinSelvan'' : The emperor of the Chola dynasty - Arulmozhivarman's and Aditya Karalikaran's father - is said be suffering from a deteriorating sickness.
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
** In ''Literature/TheColourOfMagic'', the ruler of the dragon riders gets poisoned by his daughter. However, since she is still in a power struggle with her two brothers, he refuses to pass on, lingering as a lich until he makes sure she is fit to rule on her own.
** In ''Literature/InterestingTimes'', the old Emperor is on his deathbed, but still clinging on (and as murderously insane as he ever was) and all the armies of the other lords are massed outside the city waiting for the civil war to start. The EvilChancellor naturally decides to help things along a little.
* King Guslav in ''Literature/TheFirstLaw''.
* The King of Stormhold in ''Literature/{{Stardust}}''.
* Happens at least twice in Literature/TheBible:
** With King David on his deathbed, the royal court brings the beauty Abishag to warm him up. This does nothing. In the meantime, his son Adonijah attempts to take the throne; his court prophet Nathan and his favored wife Bathsheba inform him of this in such a way that David orders that Bathsheba's son Solomon becomes king. Solomon takes the throne upon David's death, and after a short period orders the execution of Adonijah (he had asked for the hand of Abishag, which would give him a claim on the throne...or so goes the theory).
** With King Solomon in ''his'' deathbed, years later, his ''successor'' is clear (his son Rehoboam), but whether his successor would be ''accepted'' is another matter entirely, with rumblings of discontent across the land. Things come to a head when Jeroboam, a rival claimant, comes up and asks Rehoboam, more or less, if he would be an improvement on Solomon. Rehoboam famously replies, "My father chastised you with whips...I shall chastise you with scourges!!" To which Jeroboam replied, "To your tents, O Israel!" and ten of the 12 tribes split off to form the northern Kingdom of Israel; the tribes of Benjamin and Judah remain loyal to Rehoboam.
** Even before those, in the Literature/BookOfGenesis, Isaac is nearing the end of his life, and knows he doesn't have much time left. So he wants to give his eldest son Esau his blessing and inheritance. His wife, however, favors her younger son, Jacob. (Partly because Jacob stayed close by and helped her with domestic stuff while Esau went off on hunting trips, and partly because by this time Esau had married some local pagan women, who "vexed" her, mainly because they worshipped their own gods and goddesses instead of the Abrahamic {{God}}.) So she doesn't want Esau to get the family inheritance. She enlists Jacob to help: first, Jacob tricks Esau into trading his inheritance for a bowl of lentil soup. Then Rebekah covered Jacob in goat skins to simulate Esau's hairiness (Isaac had gone blind in his old age), and cooked the goat meat and had Jacob pass it off as some of Esau's wild game. The result was that Jacob got the family blessing and the inheritance normally reserved for the firstborn son. When Esau found out, he was (understandably) upset, and Jacob headed East to escape his wrath and find an appropriate wife. (Or, actually four of them.) Many years later, Esau forgives Jacob, and has almost as much wealth and status anyway.
* In ''Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'', it's mentioned that the Emperor of the Galaxy has been on his deathbed for thousands of years, having been placed in temporal stasis because nobody really wanted any of the people who would have inherited the throne when he died. After all his heirs died out, the galaxy became a popularly-elected democracy with the Emperor as a figurehead.
* The second ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' book, ''Mossflower'' has Lord Verdauga the wildcat in this state, while his son [[MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch Ginguivere]] and daughter [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Tsarmina]] tend to him. It doesn't end well, because [[spoiler:Tsarmina is secretly poisoning him to frame her brother.]]

* In ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', Emperor Ran Borune XXIII began the process of slowly dying of old age. Since he had no sons, the various great houses of Tolnedra [[SuccessionCrisis started squabbling over the throne in advance in anticipation of the latest Borune dynasty dying with him]]. This mainly is relevant in one section of the second book, but the matter keeps cropping up until the Emperor finally dies in the first book of the sequel series, [[spoiler:by which time the Emperor had resolved the succession issue by adopting a very competent General from an lesser house aligned with the Borunes as his son and heir.]]
* In the backstory of Creator/TanyaHuff's ''Sing the Four Quarters'', the young princess-protagonist wants to become a bard. Against her older brother's wishes (he wants to marry her off to a neighboring monarch) she asks her father on his deathbed to release her from her royal obligations. He does so, and the moment he dies her brother banishes her.
* Happens twice in ''Literature/{{Julian}}'': Once with Constantius, then later with the titular Julian.
* Occurs in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' halfway through the first book when [[spoiler: King Robert]] is gutted by a boar while hunting and as he lies dying [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen his wife]] immediately starts plotting to secure the throne for [[TheCaligula her son]] but is opposed by TheGoodChancellor (who knows that [[spoiler: the queen's children [[MamasBabyPapasMaybe are not her husband's]])]], setting off the SuccessionCrisis and CivilWar that fills subsequent novels.
* There was no literal death-bed involved (in fact he ultimately got to pull off an [[DyingMomentOfAwesome epic]] HeroicSacrifice) but the plot of the first half of the ''Literature/CodexAlera'' sextet is driven by [[TheHighKing the First Lord's]] failing health, and the SuccessionCrisis arising from it since his only son died in battle without an heir. [[spoiler:Or so everyone thought.]]
* ''Literature/StarTrekEnterpriseRelaunch'': In ''Live by the Code'', the Chancellor of the Klingon Empire is dying, and Klingons being Klingons, everyone's getting ready for the civil war to kick off afterward. Phlox is called in not to save him, but just to figure out what he's dying of. [[spoiler:Turns out he was poisoned by a genetically engineered virus designed by a smooth-headed Klingon. Sure enough, the Chancellor does die, and a civil war very nearly kicks off.]]

* ''Manga/AnatoliaStory'':

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' the Emperor of Mankind has been on life support for ten thousand years, while all around him the "High Lords" politic and scheme. In this case there's no question of succession -- if he ever finishes dying the entire Imperium will probably collapse and die -- but otherwise it fits this trope to a tee.

If it wasn't a DeadlyDecadentCourt already, it probably is now. Expect to see power plays by the EvilChancellor, TheEvilPrince, The [[BastardBastard Royal Bastard]], or — God help you — TheCaligula. Though strangely, you probably don't have to worry about TheBaroness. If this work is DarkerAndEdgier, expect everyone to develop ChronicBackstabbingDisorder; if it's a more lighthearted work, watch the good guys dig up a ReluctantRuler, or rally around TheWisePrince.

-->-- '''UsefulNotes/AlexanderTheGreat''''s chosen successor...

* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''

* This trope is vital in ''Manga/AnatoliaStory'':

[[folder:Film]]
* The Skeksis emperor in ''Film/TheDarkCrystal'', leading to TrialByCombat for his succession.
* In ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'', Emperor Marcus Aurelius isn't literally on his deathbed, but knows he's old and dying, and so names the hero his heir. This, combined with telling his [[TheCaligula psychotic son]] [[HaveYouToldAnyoneElse before telling anyone else who could confirm it]], leads to him passing the deathbed stage and going straight to [[TheEvilPrince all the way dead]].
* Prince Humperdinck's father in ''Film/ThePrincessBride''.

* Kicks off the plot in ''Film/{{Stardust}}''. The King of Stormhold summons his four remaining sons to his deathbed, watches approvingly as one of them kills another, and tells the three who are left that he's sending his magical ruby flying off into the land and [[GameBetweenHeirs whoever finds it is his heir]]. He expires immediately, with an earlier line implying that he was keeping himself alive through sheer willpower.
* King George V in ''Film/TheKingsSpeech''.
* King Stefan's predecessor in ''Film/{{Maleficent}}''.

** In ''Discworld/TheColourOfMagic'', the ruler of the dragon riders gets poisoned by his daughter. However, since she is still in a power struggle with her two brothers, he refuses to pass on, lingering as a lich until he makes sure she is fit to rule on her own.
** In ''Discworld/InterestingTimes'', the old Emperor is on his deathbed, but still clinging on (and as murderously insane as he ever was) and all the armies of the other lords are massed outside the city waiting for the civil war to start. The EvilChancellor naturally decides to help things along a little.

->''"Kratistos."'' [[note]]The strongest.[[/note]]

The King, TheEmperor, or the high commander has become terminally ill, but lingers on his deathbed for weeks or months. His loyal retainers stand vigil at his side, mourning the loss of their leader and dreading the moment of his death... or are they? It seems the anticipated power vacuum has kicked off furious machinations among the members of the court. Heirs and aspirants to the throne are collecting as many supporters as they can beg, bribe or threaten. There may even be whispers of CivilWar.

If it wasn't a DeadlyDecadentCourt already, it probably is now. Expect to see power plays by the EvilChancellor, TheEvilPrince, The [[BastardBastard Royal Bastard]] or--God help you--TheCaligula. Though strangely, you probably don't have to worry about TheBaroness. If this work is DarkerAndEdgier, expect everyone to develop ChronicBackstabbingDisorder; if it's a more lighthearted work, watch the good guys dig up a ReluctantRuler, or rally around TheWisePrince.

** The Emperor of Xing is dying, which is why Ling and Mei have traveled to Amestris - they're looking for the secret to immortality in order to gain the Emperor's favor.
** [[spoiler: What leads to Xerxes' destruction - the king wants immortality when he realizes he's dying and follows [[DealWithTheDevil Father' instructions]] on creating a Nationwide Transmutation Circle.]]
* A major part of the second season of ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}''. The king of Saillune is an old man (Who never actually appears on screen), and various members of the Royal Family are trying to kill off Prince Philionel, the Heir Apparent so that they can claim the throne.

** And later [[spoiler: the one who actually reigns is Kail's half brother Arnuwanda, who appoints Kail as his succesor. Few later, he ''does'' die and that kicks off ''another'' succesion crisis...]]

* In ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'', Emperor Marcus Aurelius isn't literally on his deathbed, but knows he's old and dying, and so names the hero his heir. This, combined with telling his [[TheCaligula psychotic son]] before telling anyone else who could confirm it, leads to him passing the deathbed stage and going straight to [[TheEvilPrince all the way dead]].

* Literature/{{Discworld}}:

** In ''Discworld/InterestingTimes'', the old Emperor is on his deathbed, but still clinging on (and as murderously insane as he ever was) and all the armies of the other lords are massed outside the city waiting for the civil war to start. TheEvilChancellor naturally decides to help things along a little.

* The second ''Series/{{Redwall}}'' book, ''Mosseflower'' has Lord Verdauga the wildcat in this state, while his son [[MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch Ginguivere]] and daughter [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Tsarmina]] tend to him. It doesn't end well, because [[spoiler:Tsarmina is secretly poisoning him to frame her brother.]]

** In ''Discworld/InterestingTimes'' the old emperor is on his deathbed, but still clinging on (and as utterly psychotically insane as he ever was) and all the armies of the other lords are massed outside the city waiting for the civil war to start. TheGrandVizier naturally decides to help things along a little.

* The deathbed of [[UsefulNotes/LetatCestMoi King Louis XIII]] is a classic example as the courtiers and his devious brother Gaston of Orléans were wondering whether first minister Cardinal Mazarin would manage to retain his position (in the end, the answer was yes) and who would become the regent during the successor's minority (Louis' widow, Anne of Austria). The deathbed is also well remembered because St. Vincent of Paul was on hand to lend his spiritual support and for the exchange that occurred when the five-year-old Dauphin was brought to see his dying father:

* King George V in ''TheKingsSpeech''.

The King, TheEmperor, or the high commander has become terminally ill, but lingers on his deathbed for weeks or months. His loyal retainers stand vigil at his side, mourning the loss of their leader and dreading the moment of his death... or are they? Is seems the anticipated power vacuum has kicked off furious machinations among the members of the court. Heirs and aspirants to the throne are collecting as many supporters as they can beg, bribe or threaten. There may even be whispers of CivilWar.

* Occurs in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' at the end of the first book, when [[spoiler: King Robert is dying after being gutted by a boar he was hunting]] and his wife immediately sets her plot in motion to secure the throne in for her [[spoiler: ([[MamasBabyPapasMaybe but not his]]) ]] son.

* UsefulNotes/JosefStalin's death in 1952 was very much like this, as even as his magnates surrounded his bedside they were plotting against each other, but particularly everyone was terrified of his police chief Lavrentiy Beria. When Stalin finally expired, Beria sprung forward, making sure he was the first to kiss Stalin's hand, an act one historian called the equivalent of "wrenching a dead King's ring off his finger," before sweeping out of the room and triumphantly calling for his car. Historians to this day debate whether it was Beria who had actually poisoned Stalin. One magnate said to another, "He's off to seize power," and they all quickly followed after him, calling for their own limousines.

* In TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} the Emperor of Mankind has been on life support for ten thousand years, while all around him the "High Lords" politic and scheme. In this case there's no question of succession -- if he ever finishes dying the entire Imperium will probably collapse and die -- but otherwise it fits this trope to a tee.