History Main / ShadowDictator

* The Shi Emperor in ''{{Fallout 2}}'' [[spoiler:Turns out to be an advanced non-AI computer used to advise the actual ruler: Ken Lee, officially a representative of and advisor to the Emperor.]]
** President John Henry Eden in ''{{Fallout 3}}'' [[spoiler:is an AI.]]
** Mr. House in ''FalloutNewVegas''. [[spoiler:'''Not''' an AI, but [[ManInTheMachine something else entirely]].]]

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* In ''[[Literature/NineteenEightyFour 1984]]'', Big Brother is never seen in person, yet his face is worshiped throughout Oceania.

->You know, I'd really like to know how the "almighty Despot" looks. I mean, why is it that nobody has ever even seen a picture of the guy who runs our city!?
-->'''Civilian''' ''TheNamelessMod''

They rule the entire city/country/world/galaxy... but has anyone ever seen them?

* The Principal in the ''SchoolRumble'' manga.
* [[{{Naruto}} Pain]] starts out as one. He rules the Hidden Rain Village as a god after annihilating everyone even remotely associated with the old leader, but nobody's ever actually met him in person.

* In ''[[NineteenEightyFour 1984]]'', Big Brother is never seen in person, yet his face is worshiped throughout Oceania.

<<|AuthorityTropes|>>

* The ruler of Tolbi city, Lord Babi from ''GoldenSun''. Even though the heroes get to see him in the game, very few normal people actually see the old geezer themselves

* By the second season of ''DeathNote'', [[spoiler:most of the world's countries have declared their support for Kira, and the United States eventually backs down and obeys his orders. Japan doesn't, however.]]

* By the second season of ''DeathNote'', [[spoiler: most of the world's countries have declared their support for Kira, and the United States eventually backs down and obeys his orders. Japan doesn't, however.]]

* Adam Selene, leader of the Lunar revolution, in ''TheMoonIsAHarshMistress''. [[spoiler: Actually the [[VirtualCelebrity virtual avatar]] of the supercomputer AI Mycroft Holmes, aka "Mike"]].

* On ''{{Lost}}'' the Others follow the orders of Jacob who only talks to Ben. Locke suspects that Jacob is not real and Ben is the one really giving orders. [[spoiler: Jacob is real and quite powerful but Ben was actually tricked into following the orders of the Man in Black]]

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[[AC:{{Video Games}}]]

* The Shi Emperor in ''{{Fallout}} 2'' [[spoiler:Turns out to be an advanced non-AI computer used to advise the actual ruler: Ken Lee, officially a representative of and advisor to the Emperor.]]
** President John Henry Eden in ''{{Fallout}} 3'' [[spoiler:is an AI.]]

--> The current emperor took power over 1,100 years ago, and despite coming from a species whose lifespan rarely exceeds 100, the official line is that he merely 'under the weather' which is why he is no longer seen in public.

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[[AC:{{Real Life}}]]

* For years many people suspected that Osama bin Laden was already dead and his terrorist organization was controlled by others. This was proven wrong in 2011 when US troops stormed his compound in Pakistan and killed him.
* Kim Jong-il's voice has only ever been broadcast once, for seven seconds at a 1992 military rally. His speeches are usually read out on radio or television by actors. In 2008, it was claimed that he had died in 2003 of diabetes and had been replaced by a body double at public appearances. There were also rumours that, even if he was still alive, he was extremely sick and not exercising power. He was even Photoshopped (badly) into a photo of some soldiers. He nominated his son Kim Jong-un as successor in 2010 and made a few public appearances, quashing rumours of his death.
** Then died for real in 2011.

<<|AuthorityTropes|>>

* While not a world leader, Dr. Mabuse in ''DrMabuseTheGambler'' and its sequels has a vast crime network that allows him to control the economy of pre-WWII Germany. [[spoiler: Mabuse goes mad at the end of the first movie. In ''The Testament of Dr. Mabuse'' someone follows the "manual of crime" he scrawls in the madhouse before he dies. Subsequent movies, not as good, feature would-be masterminds copying his methods.]]

* The king of Legara in ''LookingForGroup'' has not been seen for years resulting in some suspicion among the upper ranks of his Legion.

* In ''SluggyFreelance'', His Masterness, the ruler of 4U City, has so far fulfilled this trope.

* The Shi emperor in ''{{Fallout}} 2'' [[spoiler:Turns out to be an AI.]]
** President John Henry Eden in ''{{Fallout}} 3'' [[spoiler:is also an AI. Sensing a trend?]]

* On ''Lost'' the Others follow the orders of Jacob who only talks to Ben. Locke suspects that Jacob is not real and Ben is the one really giving orders. [[spoiler: Jacob is real and quite powerful but Ben was actually tricked into following the orders of the Man in Black]]

* While not a world leader, Dr. Mabuse in ''Dr. Mabuse der Spieler'' and its sequels has a vast crime network that allows him to control the economy of pre-WWII Germany. [[spoiler: Mabuse goes mad at the end of the first movie. In ''The Testament of Dr. Mabuse'' someone follows the "manual of crime" he scrawls in the madhouse before he dies. Subsequent movies, not as good, feature would-be masterminds copying his methods.]]

* In ''TheWonderfulWizardOfOz'', few of his own people had ever seen the wizard, and those who claimed to have seen him disagreed as to who or what they'd seen. [[spoiler: he turns out to be his own ManBehindTheMan, using special effects to create an illusionary appearance.]]

* Isn't this how Pain in ''{{Naruto}}'' was set up? Rules all of The Hidden Rain Village after annihilating everyone even remotely associated with the old leader, but nobody's sure what he really is?

May not exist at all, or could be dead. TheManBehindTheCurtain is also possible.

** Mr. House in ''FalloutNewVegas''. [[spoiler:'''Not''' an AI, but [[TheManInTheMachine something else entirely]].]]

They rule the entire city / country / world / galaxy... but has anyone ever seen them?

* ''[[{{Ptitlehjs85wn4}} 1984]]'''s BigBrother.

*The "ruler" of Sigil the Lady of Pain in {{Planescape}} is seen partially, but direct interaction tends to be a bad idea.
** The Silent King of the [[TheNecrocracy Dead Nations]] is never seen by anyone but Hargrimm, who speaks for him. [[spoiler:Because the Silent King is dead, and the Dead Nations would collapse if anyone knew this.]]
*Despot in TheNamelessMod is never seen, doesn't use an avatar when he [=PMs=] people and leaves everything to his second in command Ghand, but as he is a CloudCuckooLander things fall to the defacto second in command, King Kashue.
* [[{{Ptitlehjs85wn4}} 1984]]'s BigBrother.

* Lord Azzur, ruler of Port Blacksand in the ''Fighting Fantasy'' gamebooks.
* In {{Drowtales}}, no one has seen Queen Val'Sharess Diva'ratrika Val'Sharen for 16 years. [[spoiler:She is dead and three of her daughters, who arranged her death, now rule as the ManBehindTheMan. They pulled this off because Diva was already well known for liking solitude, though the illusion is starting to crack...Oh, and you know 'Blueberry'? That's her!]]
** However, both the Sullisin'rune and the Sarghress factions know what's up, and the other factions seem to have suspected it as well. Aside from [[spoiler:Liriel/Ragini]].
* Comedians joked about this with former U.S. vice president Dick Cheney, who allegedly spent a significant portion of his term at 'an undisclosed location'.
* In TheWonderfulWizardOfOz, few of his own people had ever seen the wizard, and those who claimed to have seen him disagreed as to who or what they'd seen. [[spoiler: he turns out to be his own ManBehindTheMan, using special effects to create an illusionary appearance.]]
* The ruler of Tolbi city, Lord Babi from GoldenSun. Even though the heroes get to see him in the game, very few normal people actually see the old geezer themselves
*''[[{{Discworld}} Monstrous Regiment]]'': The sovereign of Borogravia is the Duchess, who has not been seen in decades. [[spoiler: It is eventually revealed that she died some time ago, but her spirit has remained as a harassed demi-goddess because the citizens of the country have gotten in the habit of praying to her.]]
* Malkariss in the ''{{Redwall}}'' series only communicates by speaking to TheDragon Nadaz through his statue, refefusing to let anyone see him directly. [[spoiler:When we find out what he actually looks like, he turns out to be weak and crippled, making him TheManBehindTheCurtain.]]
* The Shi emperor in Fallout 2 [[spoiler:Turns out to be an AI.]]
* President John Henry Eden in ''Fallout3'' [[spoiler:is also an AI. Sensing a trend?]]
* The God-Emperor of Mankind in ''{{Warhammer40000}}''.
* Ribbons Almark in {{Gundam00}}
* The Principal in the SchoolRumble manga.

* Wolfram and Hart's "Senior Partners" in {{Angel}}.
* The Real President of the Galaxy in TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy.
* Isn't this how Pain in [[Naruto]] was set up? Rules all of The Hidden Rain Village after annihilating everyone even remotely associated with the old leader, but nobody's sure what he really is?
* By the second season of DeathNote, [[spoiler: most of the world's countries have declared their support for Kira, and the United States eventually backs down and obeys his orders. Japan doesn't, however.]]