| 1 | [[quoteright:307:[[UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/napoleon-throne.jpg]]]] |
| 2 | [[caption-width-right:307:When ruling just [[UsefulNotes/{{France}} one country]] isn't enough.]] |
| 3 | |
| 4 | ->''"No world shall be beyond my rule. No enemy shall be beyond my wrath."'' |
| 5 | -->-- '''The Immortal God-Emperor of Mankind''', ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' |
| 6 | |
| 7 | The ruler of an empire,[[note]]As in "a monarchy whose ruler is titled 'emperor' or 'empress'", not in the broader senses of "a political state of any government form that has an extensive territory under its centralized authority" or "a group of states or other territories that owe allegiance to a foreign power".[[/note]] usually but not always TheEmpire. Historically, Emperors outranked Kings, so when you need an authority figure to convey the highest possible power and rank, you can't get any higher than making them The Emperor (unless you go to UsefulNotes/ThePope, or into the otherworldly realms of {{Galactic Conqueror}}s, DemonLordsAndArchdevils, CelestialParagonsAndArchangels, and at the most accepted highest tier, GodEmperor). The previous steps are GodSaveUsFromTheQueen, TheHighQueen, SheIsTheKing, TheGoodKing and PresidentEvil. |
| 8 | |
| 9 | If a ruler is known as The Emperor, it is almost a sure sign that he is an EvilOverlord and the BigBad of the story, or ''at least'' a major villain, especially if you are in a {{Fantasy}} setting. Kings, Princes, and Presidents are as likely to be good (TheGoodKing, TheWisePrince, PresidentSuperhero) as they are to be bad (TheCaligula, TheEvilPrince, PresidentEvil) but somehow The Emperor is almost always a villain of some sort. This is probably for the same reasons as GoodRepublicEvilEmpire. Though, the Emperor is often distinct from the EvilOverlord in that he is much more likely to be the ruler of the world, or at least the ruler of the largest and most influential country in it, instead of simply being a Sauron/Kim Jong-Il dictator cackling it up over in Latveria[=/=]{{Mordor}}land. They will frequently invoke RankScalesWithAsskicking, which can often make them the most dangerous man on the planet. |
| 10 | |
| 11 | At the same time, Emperors have a tendency to be {{Disc One Final Boss}}es. It is very common for a villainous version to be hyped up as the main villain initially, before being superseded by a GreaterScopeVillain (perhaps a SealedEvilInACan that [[EvilIsNotAToy they released]]), TheManBehindTheMan, or TheDragon [[DragonTheirFeet after their defeat by the heroes]] and/or after [[TheStarscream betrayal]] from within their organization. When used like this, it is often for escalation purposes, as the initial Emperor is usually fairly normal within the setting besides his political power and ([[RankScalesWithAsskicking sometimes]]) exceptional skills, wheras their successor [[DragonInChief often has far more intimidating powers at their command]]. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | This villainous depiction is ubiquitous in Western media. Only in historic plotlines involving the leaders of the real-life [[UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire Roman Empire]] will they get any sympathetic depiction at all, and even then they are usually portrayed as incompetent or otherwise unflatteringly. In contrast, in China, Emperors[[note]]"Huangdi", the primary title of the Chinese monarchs, literally means "Son of Heaven", but its usually translated as "Emperor" in English due to having similar connotations.[[/note]] actually served as legitimate rulers for most of recorded history, and thus Eastern media (particularly Chinese wuxia films, but also occasionally anime) do have the occasional non-evil Emperor. However, if the Emperor is legitimate and non-malevolent, his role in the plot is usually purely as a background character, often serving as an [[AuthorityInNameOnly impotent]] {{foil}} to an EvilChancellor who [[TheManInFrontOfTheMan holds the true reins of power]]; plot-significant Emperors usually serve in the role of BigBad. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | '''The Emperor might be:''' |
| 16 | * The EvilOverlord, a very standard BigBad (often complete with SpikesOfVillainy and ShouldersOfDoom), is essentially a cliché bully who, despite having no real diplomatic or political skills, has attained his position through [[AsskickingLeadsToLeadership strength or special combat skills]]; if this is seen as too oafish, a very powerful EvilSorcerer or EmperorScientist, [[ObviouslyEvil who still lacks subtlety]], will suffice. Expect him to [[VillainousDemotivator abuse his followers, intimidate his subordinates]], [[TinTyrant wear battle-armor all the time]], and be [[LargeAndInCharge built like a tank]]. The LegionsOfHell and AlwaysChaoticEvil races are this guy's {{mooks}}. A GeneralRipper, if significantly promoted, is a more intelligent derivative of this type. |
| 17 | * The [[TrueFinalBoss Shadow Emperor]] is an extremely powerful form of The Emperor, who rules from [[ManBehindTheMan behind the scenes]] with much [[Creator/NiccoloMachiavelli Machiavellian scheming]], delegating much of his powers, and almost always has a [[HiddenAgendaVillain hidden agenda]]. Though they are usually not as physical as {{Blood Knight}}s like the EvilOverlord, they will probably have hidden magic or PsychicPowers. [[Franchise/StarWars Emperor Palpatine]] (who was originally a President Charisma) and [[Anime/CodeGeass Charles zi Britannia]] are prime examples. Of all these types, the Shadow Emperor will be the most likely to try and obtain {{immortality}}. He's likely to be TheGhost for at least the first part of the story, usually operating through {{Mooks}} or TheDragon. |
| 18 | * The [[PresidentEvil President Charisma]], typically a leader of EagleLand, is a VillainWithGoodPublicity, who always puts on a good face for the public, but is a conniving ManipulativeBastard behind the scenes. A more [[TruthInTelevision realistic]] and politically oriented emperor, he is often a TakeThat at the nation's current administration (or somebody else's). An EngineeredPublicConfession is one of his more common foes. Examples include virtually all fictional references to UsefulNotes/RichardNixon. The [[ComicBook/VForVendetta Norsefire]] leader attempted to be this, and most other [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler Hitler]] [[{{Expy}} expies]] will usually come off as one (in his own country, anyways). |
| 19 | * The [[TheGoodKing Benevolent Emperor]]. Usually located in East-Asia ([[FantasyCounterpartCulture or an equivalent]]), the wise king is a [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin benevolent]] (if usually distant from the heroes and their struggle) leader, who sides with the heroes when he finally shows up, and may act more as a promoted spiritual guide or priest than pure authority. They are the BigGood and/or GreaterScopeParagon of the story. The few western examples will just be an expansion of the wise RoyalBlood "True King". The Emperors of ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}'' and ''Film/TheLastSamurai'' are prime examples. A President Charisma may be confused for this before TheReveal. |
| 20 | ** A common derivative is a once-great benevolent Emperor who has grown senile and surrounded by corruption. |
| 21 | ** A KnightTemplar Emperor tries to be this, but usually ends up becoming one of the above. |
| 22 | ** Messiah-Emperors usually qualify as one of these, though like all benevolent leaders ([[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} some cases]] [[Franchise/{{Dune}} in particular]]) may use heavy amounts of NecessarilyEvil. |
| 23 | ** Roughly half of the [[UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire Roman Emperors]] depicted in fiction will be of this sort. The other half will be [[TheCaligula Caligulae]] to a man. |
| 24 | * JustTheFirstCitizen: Any of the above, but with a much more modest title. |
| 25 | |
| 26 | This trope isn't necessarily related to GodEmperor, but it may be. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | JustForFun/NotToBeConfusedWith the BlackMetal band Music/{{Emperor}}. |
| 29 | |
| 30 | Of course, just because the trope is titled "The '''Emperor'''" doesn't preclude the existence of actual '''[[DistaffCounterpart Empresses]]''', as some of the examples in both fiction and RealLife illustrate. [[DoubleStandard An Empress is likely to be depicted more sympathetically than an Emperor]]. Less sympathetic female rulers are more often [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen queens]]. However, some older works do [[HeirClubForMen presuppose]] that the occupant of the throne is always an Emperor, never an Empress Regnant. |
| 31 | |
| 32 | See also TheHighKing, for a king with so much power and authority that other kings are subordinate to him. |
| 33 | |
| 34 | ---- |
| 35 | !!Examples: |
| 36 | |
| 37 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 38 | |
| 39 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 40 | * ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': [[GodEmperor Yhwach]], the King of the Quincies and the Emperor of the [[PuttingOnTheReich Vandenreich]], is the final arc's BigBad. He's a hands-on military leader, not the "isolated on the golden throne" type, who is as willing to kill his own [[BadBoss troops]] as his enemies. When he fights, he becomes an AxCrazy BloodKnight. There's an indication that his soul thrives on war to keep functioning. Without the ability to absorb the souls of those he kills, he would be nothing more than a vegetable who can neither move nor has functioning senses. As a result, he incites war and violence wherever he can. |
| 41 | * Souther from ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' follows the EvilOverlord template to a tee. He calls himself the "Saint Emperor" and has his minions kidnap children to use as slave labor in the construction of a giant pyramid dedicated to his dead master, and he is one of the few villains in the series to hand Kenshiro an outright defeat. |
| 42 | * The BigBad Emperor Charles zi Britannia in ''Anime/CodeGeass'' presides over a WorldHalfEmpty, and does everything in his power to keep it that way. [[spoiler:This appearance is actually a front for his AssimilationPlot]]. |
| 43 | ** Empresses Jiang Lihua and [[spoiler: Nunnally vi Britannia]] are the good version. |
| 44 | * The BigBad of ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'' is the Zaibach Empire's Emperor Dornkirk, [[BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy who is actually]] Sir UsefulNotes/IsaacNewton, and is currently a 200-year-old man inside a pickle jar with a telescope attached. |
| 45 | * ''Anime/SamuraiSeven'' has the unnamed Emperor who kidnaps women from peasant villages and implants clones of himself within them to create a perfect line of successors. He apparently had a lot of such clones: [[spoiler:Ukyo, the series' true BigBad, is revealed to be his 49th clone. He promptly kills the old Emperor and takes his throne for the purpose of world domination.]] |
| 46 | * In ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', Ken's villain persona "the Digimon Emperor" fits this trope as well as his name would suggest. A whip-wielding EvilOverlord with a Floating Base of Doom and a costume which includes gold shoulder pads and a cape, his goal is to enslave all Digimon and take over their world. All at the tender age of eleven, too. |
| 47 | * ''Anime/DragonBallZ'': |
| 48 | ** Frieza, having spent his entire life at the top of a galaxy-spanning empire, likes to refer to himself as "emperor of the universe" while posturing. He's very much the EvilOverlord type, with his diplomatic skills amounting to "do what I say and ''maybe'' I won't kill you and destroy your entire planet." That said, he’s not so cocky to believe he is the top dog: there are several PhysicalGods that he surpasses in strength, but there are plenty others that completely outclass ''him''. He’s just lucky that they’re all [[AlienNonInterferenceClause bureaucratic]] and [[TheGodsMustBeLazy idle]]. |
| 49 | ** Frieza's briefly-seen father, by contrast, is exclusively referred to as ''King'' Cold. |
| 50 | * ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'': |
| 51 | ** Azusa Masaki Jurai, the Juraian Emperor, is an interesting case. In the anime he is somewhat of a jerk, [[AllThereInTheManual but actually]] leans to the Benevolent Emperor category, and is a kind of [[TheDitz a ditz]], easily controlled by his mother-in-law, for whom he still keeps an immense crush, despite being HappilyMarried (twice). You see, [[RoyallyScrewedUp Juraian royalty]] are indeed one BigScrewedUpFamily. |
| 52 | ** His mother-in-law can control him '''''more''''' than because he has a crush on her. She's one of the most dangerous people in the universe to anyone: to her enemies because she is an expert tactician and leader; to her allies because she loves to use them for humor, often causing sheer chaos. |
| 53 | * Shi Ryuuki from ''Literature/TheStoryOfSaiunkoku'' is a rare benevolent emperor and a main character of his show. |
| 54 | * Emperor Hotohori or Saihitei from ''Manga/FushigiYuugi'' is another example of a [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure Benevolent Emperor]] who genuinely cares and works for the improvement of his nation. [[spoiler:When he first visited Tamahome's house, he was surprised by the poverty he found there and is seen making a mental resolution to do something about the problem, although Tamahome was his rival in love.]] He also went to war for his country and [[spoiler: died fighting.]] |
| 55 | ** He has a {{Foil}} in the form of the Kutou Emperor. Where Hotohori is young, ''very'' handsome, [[ChasteHero chaste]], and does his best to rule with fairness and kindness, the Kutou Emperor is (relatively) old (maybe in his late 40s or early 50s), HollywoodHomely, lecherous, and rules with an iron fist. |
| 56 | ** Later, we meet [[spoiler: Hotohori's son and sucessor, [[AChildShallLeadThem little]] Boushin alias Emperor Reiteizei.]] With the help of [[spoiler: his kind mother, Empress Dowager Houki]], he's shaping into a ReasonableAuthorityFigure, and he [[spoiler: tells [[JerkAss Mayo]] to shut up and [[MaliciousSlander stop lying]] about Miaka.]] |
| 57 | * ''Anime/{{Grenadier}}'' gives us a benevolent Empress, [[spoiler:though she is imprisoned and impersonated by her identical (villainous) bodyguard for the most of the story, so her ''other'' identical bodyguard has to free her]]. |
| 58 | * ''Literature/CrestOfTheStars'' has the Humankind Empire Abh as the series' focus and at the top is none other than Empress Ramaj. A relatively benevolent figure considering she responded to provocation by plunging half of humanity into war with the other half. |
| 59 | * TheEmpire in ''Literature/LegendOfTheGalacticHeroes'' is, naturally, ruled by The Emperor, an inherited title of the ruling House Goldenbaum, whose dynasty has continued unbroken since the Empire's foundation. The emperor at the beginning of the series is Friedrich IV, a peace-loving old man who never aspired to the throne due to [[SpareToTheThrone being far down on the list of claimants in his youth]]. He's uninterested in ruling or the ongoing war with TheFederation and content with living in peace and enjoying the finer things in life, like his private rose garden, and lets his chief of staff and admirals run things. He's consequently quite impotent as an actual ruler, but reasonable and harmless and quite fond of main character Reinhart von Lohengramm. |
| 60 | ** [[spoiler:His natural death of old age one third through the series kicks off an imperial civil war between the old noble houses who seek to keep the status quo, and a reformist faction of the military and lesser houses led by Reinhard. Reinhard wins a crushing victory and takes effective control of the empire, eventually disposing of the Goldenbaum dynasty nonviolently and establishing the Lohengramm dynasty in its stead. Reinhard becomes a reformer and rules as an enlightened and quite benevolent emperor, though he thinks nothing of using his imperial authority to force reforms through.]] |
| 61 | * Emperor Ganishka of ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' is of the EvilSorcerer[=/=]EvilOverlord variety. His typical [=M.O.=] is of the Shadow Emperor variety, although [[RankScalesWithAsskicking he can back it up]] with a great deal of magical mojo when required. |
| 62 | * And here's a fascinating absence. Japan, home of anime, is ruled by an emperor. Yet in any anime set in the "real" Japan, modern, historical, or future, the actual emperor of Japan '''''never''''' makes an appearance. Ever. Go on, try to think of any remotely successful anime where a real Emperor of Japan has so much as a cameo. |
| 63 | ** It should probably be pointed out, though, that for much of its history, the Emperor of Japan had very little concrete power. For many centuries, Japan was ruled by the Shoguns, and nowadays the country is ruled by the democratically elected government led by the Prime Minister. The most well known period when the emperor directly ruled the country is known as UsefulNotes/ImperialJapan (from the Meiji Restoration to WWII). There's also the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysanthemum_taboo Chrysanthemum taboo]] where you're not supposed to make fun of him and his family. |
| 64 | * ''Manga/OnePiece'': |
| 65 | ** The Four Emperors (Yonko), the four most powerful pirates in the world, and the rulers of the New World. Currently among them is: |
| 66 | *** Shanks, generally the nicest one and Luffy's childhood idol. |
| 67 | *** Big Mom, a woman who doesn't give a damn about anything except her candy. |
| 68 | *** [[spoiler:Blackbeard, major contender for overall series BigBad]] |
| 69 | *** Kaido, who is the closest to the actual trope in terms of being an EvilOverlord. |
| 70 | *** Former includes [[spoiler:Whitebeard, the WorldsStrongestMan, who died at the Paramount War]]. |
| 71 | *** As one of the many twists in the Reverie Arc, [[spoiler: Luffy is declared the Fifth Emperor following his bounty hitting 1.5 billion Berries]]. |
| 72 | *** Following the [[WhamEpisode Wano Arc]], [[spoiler: Kaido and Big Mom are deposed, with Luffy officially replacing one of them and Buggy the Clown ([[MistakenForBadass of all people]]) taking the other spot, once again making the number four]]. |
| 73 | ** The story later introduces [[spoiler: Im, the secret leader of the World Government who rules over the 170 nations therein and is the only person who can sit on the Empty Throne]]. |
| 74 | * In ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', the Decepticon leader commonly carries the title of Emperor of Destruction. This has recently started to come up in the American media. |
| 75 | * In ''Manga/FairyTail'', Emperor Spriggan aka [[spoiler:Black Mage Zeref]] is the ruler of the Albareth Empire. Said empire was formed when Spriggan single-handedly united all 700+ Light and Dark guilds on the western continent and formed a magocracy that overthrew that continent's previous governments and Magic Council. Ishgar is quite wary of the man who could accomplish that. Yajeel, one of Spriggan's subordinates, claims that the Emperor is actually a ReasonableAuthorityFigure. He's often absent from court for years, but he has also helped maintain peace by keeping the more HotBlooded people like the Spriggan Twelve in check. |
| 76 | * Emperor Jircniv in ''Literature/Overlord2012'' is a (mostly) benevolent example. Although he is known as "[[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast The Bloody Emperor]]" for his ruthless culling of the nobility upon coming to power, most of these nobles were rich parasites draining the country. Jircniv seems to genuinely desire to better the lives of his people, and he turned the Baharuth Empire into a prosperous country very much contrasting the rotten cesspit of corruption that is the Re-Estize Kingom. Ainz himself likes to observe him remotely using scrying spells to learn from his leadership style. |
| 77 | * Nasubi Hui Guo Rou in ''Manga/HunterXHunter'' is the ruler of the Kakin Empire who is publicly a jolly person, but is actually a ruthless man who makes his children fight for the throne's succession. |
| 78 | * ''Manga/VinlandSaga'' chronicles the rise of [[HistoricalDomainCharacter Canute the Great]] from meek Danish prince living in his brother's shadow to ruler of the North Sea Empire, and depicts the [[TheChainsOfCommanding moral compromises]] he has to make to achieve his goals. |
| 79 | * Manga/EdensZero: Poseidon Nero is part of the Oración Seis Galáctica who unlike the others rules openly in the Aoi Cosmos. His minions take any meddling on his planets as an open challenge to his authority, and they treat his decrees as those of an absolute ruler. His son and heir Poseidon Shura [[spoiler: becomes emperor in Universe Zero]]. |
| 80 | [[/folder]] |
| 81 | |
| 82 | [[folder:Arts]] |
| 83 | * Art/SistineChapel: The “Delivery of the Keys” includes the Arch of Constantine, a monument synonymous with the Christian emperor, to remind the audience that Saint Peter was not just given spiritual authority, but aso earthly authority to make the Papacy a legitimate successor of the Roman Emperor. |
| 84 | [[/folder]] |
| 85 | |
| 86 | [[folder:Card Games]] |
| 87 | * In the [[UsefulNotes/TarotCards Tarot]] the Major Arcana usually include the Empress (III) and the Emperor (IV). While encarnating different and opposite ideas (the Empress fecundity and feminity and the Emperor power and masculinity), they share to be represented seated in thrones [[RequisiteRoyalRegalia crowned, generally dressed as royalty, and holding symbols of power]]. |
| 88 | [[/folder]] |
| 89 | |
| 90 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 91 | * Ming the Merciless of ''ComicStrip/FlashGordon'', Emperor of Planet Mongo. Decadently evil, magical powers (in some adaptations), the works. |
| 92 | * ''ComicBook/StarWarsLegacy'' is a comic that takes place a [[TimeSkip hundred and thirty years]] after the movies. The Sith are all over the place, the Empire is back in power, there is an Emperor - but the Sith and the Empire aren't on the same side. Emperor Fel (confirmed as the descendant of [[AcePilot Soontir Fel]] and the sister of [[ImprobablePilotingSkills Wedge Antilles]], possibly also Leia and Han) isn't quite evil, though in [[DarkerAndEdgier that setting]] there's not a whole lot of difference. |
| 93 | ** BigBad Darth Krayt ''also'' uses the title Emperor (of the Sith and Sith-aligned Imperials). So the series has ''two'' emperors, one unambigiously evil, and the other ruthless but well-meaning. In fact, Roan Fel's empire not only lets women and aliens serve as stormtroopers, but also has more reasonable economic solutions and foreign policy. The remnants of Fel's empire even join the Jedi to fight Krayt's resurgent Sith. |
| 94 | * Tsar Vladimir the Conqueror in ''ComicBook/NikolaiDante'' is somewhere between the evil overlord and shadow emperor. |
| 95 | * ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}'' seems to have been written by someone taking notes from this page. The Emperor: Spikes of evil and shoulders of doom, check. NighInvulnerable in battle, check. Built like a tank, check. (He's maybe 30-50 feet tall.) Abuses and executes subjects, check. Secretly controlled by an unassuming ordinary man hiding in the shadows, check. |
| 96 | * Serpentor from ''ComicBook/GIJoeARealAmericanHeroMarvel'' is a cloned amalgamation of some of the greatest warrior/conquerors of all time, and it isn't long after his creation that he usurps power from Cobra Commander and declares himself ruler of Cobra Island. |
| 97 | * ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'': One story involves the Roman emperor Augustus Caesar spending a day [[KingIncognito disguised as a beggar]]. He is rather personable and sympathetic, but may not quite qualify as benevolent: he [[spoiler: plots to undermine the Roman Empire and bring it to an early end, with the implication that he sees this as revenge against his CreepyUncle Julius]]. |
| 98 | * Issue 12 of the ''ComicBook/InvaderZimOni'' comics sees Zim and Dib accidentally sent into a BadFuture where Earth has been successfully conquered by Zim's future self, who now styles himself as "Emperor Zim" and rules [[EvilOverlord with an iron fist]] (and a [[BeardOfEvil goatee]]). |
| 99 | * ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'': |
| 100 | ** [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Volume 1]]: The Saturnain Emperor rules over the bodies orbiting Saturn with an iron fist, has developed a ranking within the nobility based entirely on AsskickingLeadsToLeadership with failures in battle harshly punished, and is plotting to invade earth using abducted human slaves to build the infrastructure needed to do so. For bonus points he looks like a horned Devil. |
| 101 | ** [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1987 Volume 2]]: The Sangtee Emperor is the Emperor of an Empire that spans at least two star systems. [[spoiler:Her]] [[TheEmpire Empire]] has a history of cruel and deadly misogyny and chattel slavery but under the current Emperor they're moving away from these practices. |
| 102 | [[/folder]] |
| 103 | |
| 104 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 105 | * ''Fanfic/CodePrime'': [[Characters/CodePrimeMegatron Megatron]] had ruled the Decepticon Empire since he first started the war and had conquered half of Earth in order to annex them a part of his empire. |
| 106 | * Emperor Vakudos from ''[[http://alaxr274.deviantart.com/gallery/37280372 Hottie 3: The Best Fan Fic in the World]]'', later his daughter "Princess Lotora" becomes empress. |
| 107 | ** In the SpinOff, [[http://fanfiction.wikia.com/wiki/Hottie_x_Supetastic_6:_March_Madness Hottie x Supetastic 6: March Madness]], Princess Jody declares herself Crowned Princess and Empress after converting the Anti-Monitor's body (from ''WesternAnimation/GreenLanternTheAnimatedSeries'') into her new throne. |
| 108 | * ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' has the Kings and Queens of Asgard as ''de facto'' Emperors/Empresses, with multiple subordinate monarchs on Asgard itself (Queen Karnilla of Nornheim is the most prominent example) and a HegemonicEmpire over the rest of the Nine Realms - one which is implied several times to have, at points in Asgard's very long history, to have been a much less benevolent and more iron-fisted actual Empire, Bor's reign being given as an example. |
| 109 | * ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'' presents us with two heroic examples and one villanous instance: |
| 110 | ** [[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname The Emperor of the Shining Concord Empire]], a pompous fairy emperor who controls all of the southern continent. |
| 111 | ** [[ADungeonIsYou Keeper]] [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Zarekos]], the emperor of the Avatar Islands by right of conquest who's trying to become a GodEmperor. |
| 112 | ** And finally [[spoiler: [[BadPowersGoodPeople Keeper]] [[Anime/SailorMoon Mercury]]]], the [[GodOfGood Light]]'s declared new empress of the Avatar Islands. |
| 113 | * ''Fanfic/AnEmpireOfIceAndFire'' has a heroic example, as Jon and Daenerys eventually declare themselves the Emperor and Empress of the Targaryen Empire, which lays claim to all of Westeros and New Valyria (the renamed Slaver's Bay). |
| 114 | ** For a villainous example, Joffrey -- [[TheCaligula who is even more insane than in canon]] -- rules over Westeros with an iron fist, eventually declaring himself a GodEmperor. |
| 115 | * ''FanFic/MyHostageNotYours'': After Zim conquers the Earth, he declares himself Emperor. Despite that, he's still subservient to the Tallest, the true rulers of the Irken Empire. |
| 116 | * The BigBad of ''[[FanFic/TheEquestriaChronicles Legends of Equestria]]'' is a being known only as The Emperor, leader of a race of highly advanced reptilian beings and ruler of a world-wide empire of which Equestria is merely "a speck". |
| 117 | * ''[[FanFic/MLPNextGenerationKnowFear MLP Next Generation: Know Fear!]]'': The BigBad is Stratus, ruler of the Griffon Empire, who starts a war with Equestria for no reason other than FantasticRacism and a desire to TakeOverTheWorld. |
| 118 | * Harry Potter in ''FanFic/KingOfKingsRulingOverRulers'' is crowned as the Roman and Russian Emperor in the wizarding world. |
| 119 | * In the ''Franchise/CodeGeass'' AlternateUniverseFic ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/334086 Mosaic]]'', Suzaku is the emperor of Japan. A subplot of the fic is him taking on a larger role in governing his country. |
| 120 | * ''Fanfic/TarkinsFist'': Emperor Palpatine's purges of the Empire's officer corps and draconian rule serve as a motivator for most of the members of Tarkin's Fist to sign on with Tarkin's plan of building a secret force behind Palpatine's back. After being stranded in the Milky Way Galaxy, the leader of Tarkin's Fist, Fleet Admiral Aveo Yos, is crowned Emperor of the 1st Martian Empire. [[spoiler:His daughter Phasma succeeds him as Empress following his assassination, and reforms the state into the more democratic 2nd Galactic Empire]]. |
| 121 | [[/folder]] |
| 122 | |
| 123 | [[folder:Films -- Animation]] |
| 124 | * The Chinese Emperor in ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}'' is depicted as noble and wise, even grandfatherly. |
| 125 | * Lord Shen from ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'', who is the tyrannical peacock ruler of China who actually wants to threaten his subjects with a barrage of cannons and destroy kung fu. |
| 126 | * Emperor Kuzco, the antihero of ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewGroove'', is a rare example of an Emperor who is neither old, evil, powerful, or particularly impressive at all. Rather, he's a foppish, immature young man mostly interested in satisfying his own whims. At the end, after he's [[AnAesop learned his lesson]], he [[CharacterDevelopment starts edging into]] [[TookALevelInKindness Benevolent Emperor]] territory. |
| 127 | [[/folder]] |
| 128 | |
| 129 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 130 | * Many films focus on or feature the Emperor of the UsefulNotes/{{Fr|ance}}ench from 1804 to 1814 (and briefly in 1815), UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte. His coronation, which was famously the subject of a huge painting by Creator/JacquesLouisDavid, is often reenacted. Empress UsefulNotes/JosephineDeBeauharnais also appears in many cases. |
| 131 | ** ''Désirée'' (1954), portrayed by Creator/MarlonBrando. Features the coronation. |
| 132 | ** ''[[Film/Napoleon1955 Napoléon]]'' (1955), portrayed by Raymond Pellegrin. Features the coronation. |
| 133 | ** ''Film/{{War and Peace|1956}}'' (1956), portrayed by Creator/HerbertLom. |
| 134 | ** ''Film/{{Austerlitz}}'' (1960), portrayed by Creator/PierreMondy. Features the coronation. [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome Sort of]]. |
| 135 | ** ''Film/{{War and Peace|1966}}'' (1966), portrayed by Vladislav Strzhelchik. |
| 136 | ** ''Film/{{Waterloo}}'' (1970), portrayed by Creator/RodSteiger. |
| 137 | ** ''Film/TheEmperorOfParis'' (2018) - Napoleon briefly appears at the end, portrayed by reenactor Mark Schneider. The title otherwise refers to something else. |
| 138 | ** ''Film/{{Napoleon|2023}}'' (2023). Portrayed by Creator/JoaquinPhoenix. Features the coronation. |
| 139 | * [[Characters/StarWarsEmperorPalpatine Emperor Palpatine]] (Creator/IanMcDiarmid) of ''Franchise/StarWars'' is probably the archetypical example, being an EvilOverlord, the series' main BigBad, and an incredibly powerful Sith Lord famous for blasting people with lightning and being a formidable lightsaber duelist. |
| 140 | * 1984's ''Film/{{Dune|1984}}'' has Shaddam IV Corrino, Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe, played by Creator/JoseFerrer. |
| 141 | * Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV appears in ''Film/DunePartTwo'', played by Creator/ChristopherWalken. He was TheGhost in ''[[Film/Dune2021 Part One]]''. |
| 142 | * ''Film/TheMummyTombOfTheDragonEmperor'' features the Emperor of China (who knows Kung Fu and has superpowers) as the main villain, played by Creator/JetLi. |
| 143 | * In ''Film/Hero2002'', the Emperor of China fills an ambivalently antagonistic role. The heroes of the story want to kill him due to the losses they suffered in his war to unify the five kingdoms into a single country (they were from the four losing kingdoms), and because they consider him as a tyrant. Ultimately the main character decides to spare the Emperor's life, since unifying the kingdoms is the only way to stop them from constantly fighting each other and thus bring peace. Regardless, midway through the film a failed assassination fight scene shows the Emperor is perfectly capable of matching a master swordsman blow-for-blow. |
| 144 | * ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'' shows Marcus Aurelius (Creator/RichardHarris) as a Benevolent Emperor, and his son [[KlingonPromotion and successor]] Commodus (Creator/JoaquinPhoenix), [[TheCaligula not so benevolent]]. Much later and still directed by Creator/RidleyScott, Phoenix would play Film/{{Napoleon|2023}}. |
| 145 | * The Emperor of the Galaxy from ''Film/{{Starcrash}}''. An interesting subversion is that the Emperor is one of the Good Guys. |
| 146 | * Emperor Hirohito is the namesake of ''Film/Emperor2012''. As portrayed near the end, [[spoiler: he's actually really awesome!]] |
| 147 | * Empress Sabina in ''Film/DungeonsAndDragons2000'' is an unique example that she is [[TheHighQueen both female and benevolent]] while at the same time in charge of an corrupt and decadent [[TheMagocracy regime due to the mage court]]. She does want to extend equal rights to her non-mage subjects, but is opposed by TheArchmage [[BigBad Profion]]. |
| 148 | [[/folder]] |
| 149 | |
| 150 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 151 | * Anaander Mianaai from ''Literature/ImperialRadch''. She's not ''evil'', exactly, but she does oversee the aggressive militaristic expansion of her multi-system [[TheEmpire empire]] to create a buffer zone for the DysonSphere at its center, and she has no problem with turning people into meat puppets for her ships' A.I.s. Oh, and she oversees everything personally by using [[HiveMind thousands of linked identical clone bodies]] and [[BodyBackupDrive has been alive for a few thousand years]]. |
| 152 | * Emperor Jagang is a ''communist'' EvilOverlord and the BigBad of the ''Literature/SwordOfTruth'' series, especially the later books in the series. [[TheProtagonist Protagonist]] Richard Rahl also rules an Empire, although he doesn't use the title himself. |
| 153 | * In ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'', Aslan's father was known as the [[{{God}} Emperor-Across-the-Sea]]. Also, when the Pevensie children are made rulers of Narnia, one of Peter's titles as High King is ''Emperor of the Lone Islands''. |
| 154 | * In ''Literature/ElConquistador'' there are several ones, in three continents. |
| 155 | * ''Literature/TheNeverendingStory'' (and [[Film/TheNeverendingStory the films based on the same]]) featured the benevolent Childlike ''Empress''. |
| 156 | * Leto Atreides II, the ''Literature/GodEmperorOfDune''. And before him, his father [[Literature/DuneMessiah Paul]] who usurped the position from [[Literature/{{Dune}} Shaddam Corrino IV]]. Leto especially appears to his subjects to be the EvilOverlord, but thanks to the omniscient narrator viewpoint, readers can see his ultimate goal is actually quite benevolent. |
| 157 | ** All Padishah-Emperors and Paul and Leto II can be traced back to the ruling dynasty of the Old Empire. The Corrino line was founded by Faykan Butler (who took the name Faykan Corrino at crowning) and his wife, who is descended from the Old Emperors. Paul Atreides also has Corrino lineage through his grandmother Helena. |
| 158 | * Emperor Gregor Vorbarra of the ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'' ascends to the throne as a frightened young boy, comes into full power at twenty-one when Lord Regent Aral Vorkosigan steps down, and matures over the series into a noble, good-hearted, and just ruler. If you didn't frequently get to see him in non-Emperor mode he'd be too good to be true. Contrasted (sort of) with Emperor the haut Fletchir Giaja of Cetaganda, who isn't precisely ''evil'' per se, but is definitely not someone you'd trust further than you could comfortably spit a dead rat. |
| 159 | ** Contrasted much more directly with his grandfather, the late Emperor Ezar Vorbarra, who was such a scheming bastard that he died praying there was no such thing as an afterlife, because he knew the kind of welcome he'd get if there actually was one. But all his [[{{Chessmaster}} machinations]] ended up getting Barrayar more or less on the right track, as well as putting grandson [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure Gregor]] on the throne as opposed to his son [[TheEvilPrince Prince]] [[TheCaligula Serg]], so it was definitely a case of [[IDidWhatIHadToDo doing what he had to do]]. |
| 160 | ** All of the above are much better than [[TheCaligula Emperor Yuri]], who appears in such backstory references as "Yuri's massacre", "Yuri Vorbarra's Defenestration of the Privy Council", and "the Dismemberment of Mad Emperor Yuri". |
| 161 | * In David Wingrove's ''Literature/ChungKuo'' series, each of the Seven T'ang, or kings, rules a part of the world-city Chung Kuo, and together they exercise a sort of collegial emperorship. |
| 162 | * Emperor Mage Ozorne of the ''Literature/TheImmortals'' series by Creator/TamoraPierce. He's power-hungry, narcissistic, and vengeful, ending up as the BigBad of the next book too. His nephew, Kaddar, who takes the throne after him, is a much nicer person who actually cares about ruling the country properly. |
| 163 | * Two examples in the third series of Pierce's ''Literature/CircleOfMagic'' books. |
| 164 | ** Empress Berenene of Namorn, who makes no bones about enjoying sport and the company of handsome young men, but is also an extremely skilled politician and ruler who has the love (and fear) of her courtiers and no intention of having her wishes subverted. The whole book is titled ''The Will of the Empress''. She's based on Catherine the Great of Russia, which Namorn is a FantasyCounterpartCulture of. |
| 165 | ** Emperor Weishu of Yanjing is emperor of Circleverse China, more militant and capricious than Berenene. He likes to flaunt his ''considerable'' power, deals [[YouHaveFailedMe lethal punishment]] for the tiniest mistakes, and wants to conquer Gyongxe to increase his standing. |
| 166 | * ''Literature/TheBelgariad'': Emperor Zakath of Mallorea is depicted as being effective, ruthless, [[AffablyEvil urbane and civilised]]. He's also somewhat CrazySane, cold and emotionless, fixated on killing Taur Urgas and destroying the entire Murgo race as a prelude [[TakeOverTheWorld to world domination]], firmly believing that he and Garion are on a collision course that will leave one man standing. In ''The Malloreon'', it's implied that he's a DeathSeeker and his past is revealed to be a major plot point; the heroes cannot win without him, but his past prevents him from cooperating. When Garion lectures him about being a good king, Zakath politely points out that it's very easy for Garion to be a good king on a tiny island where he knows most of his subjects by sight, but Mallorea is the largest territory in the world, made up of fractious states, petty kingdoms, and the most vile religion in the world, making it completely impossible for ''anyone'' to be a good king. [[spoiler:As a young man, Zakath was smart, sensitive, wise and all set to become one of Mallorea's greatest emperors. Taur Urgas feared his potential so bought the debts of the family of Zakath's lover in a plot to assassinate him on his wedding night. Only after Zakath was forced to sentence them to death, did he learn that his lover had been completely innocent. He [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone locked himself away]] for a month, where he crossed the DespairEventHorizon and returned as a cold-blooded monster hell-bent on destroying Taur Urgas, all his family, and even his entire race. The only way for the heroes to win is for them to overcome decades of vengeful grief, guilt and self-loathing, so that he finds his way back to becoming a mentally health and emotionally healed human who can help the Prophecy of Light start the process of converting the world to the gospel of the true God of Angarak and, eventually, the entire world... Eriond.]] |
| 167 | * David Eddings likes this trope. In ''Literature/TheTamuli'', Emperor Sarabian is personally charming, intelligent and one of the few people at court who isn't corrupt. Bizarrely, [[spoiler:his eventual coup which overthrows the quasi-democratic government and institutes an absolute monarchy under martial law]]. |
| 168 | * In Creator/NickPerumov's ''Literature/DiamondSwordWoodenSword'', we have a '''good''' emperor, fighting against the [[TheMagocracy evil Magocracy]], which turns out not so evil (and by fighting them he [[NiceJobBreakingItHero actually helps the true baddies]], though he understands this in time to help ruin their plans). He is ruthless enough (when needed), however, to be a realistic emperor portrayal. |
| 169 | * In the ''Literature/{{Sten}}'' series (Bunch, C and Cole, A), the Immortal Emperor starts out as a pretty nice guy, devoted to ''laissez-faire'' capitalism, and long-forgotten recipes and skills, who only sends in the troops when the realm is genuinely threatened with instability. It helps that he has a nigh-unbreakable monopoly on [=AM2=], the fuel that the Empire runs on, and it is worth noting that someone developing/finding another source of [=AM2=] counts as a threat of destabilising the Empire. [[spoiler:And then a ''successful'' assassination attempt and a random bit of meteor damage to his Resurrection Ship turn him into a megalomaniacal despot who is not only ridiculously tyrannical, but no longer capable of supplying [=AM2=] and, more importantly, ''no longer immortal'']]. |
| 170 | * In ''Literature/TheSongOfRoland'', there are the good ''and'' the bad kind, Charlemagne and Baligant. Naturally, they end up in a personal life-and-death clash of civilizations. |
| 171 | * Emperor Titus from the two ''Literature/DarkLordOfDerkholm'' books by Diana Wynn Jones is a case of a benevolent emperor being surrounded by corruption. He was shown in a very positive light, in sharp contrast to the corrupt politicians of the senate trying to undermine his authority and kill his sister for being of marsh-woman blood. |
| 172 | * Emperor Mornhaven of the ''Literature/GreenRider'' series. He's the heir to the Emperire of Arcosia, although after sailing to Sacoridia and losing contact with the Empire he declares himself Emperor of a new empire, Mornhavia. |
| 173 | * Empress Lionstone XIV of the early ''Literature/{{Deathstalker}}'' series was the original BigBad and after her death she stayed a boogey-man. Not even [[EldritchAbomination the Recreated]] could truly supplant her. |
| 174 | * In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', Empress Radhanan of the Seanchan Empire is only known by name in the books, and is later [[spoiler:succeeded by her daughter, Tuon, who becomes Empress Fortuona.]] Whilst the Seanchan are antagonists, they are not evil (excepting [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil the slave trade]]), just very different. |
| 175 | * King Gorice of Witchland in E. R. Eddison's ''Literature/TheWormOuroboros'', EvilOverlord and BigBad of the book. |
| 176 | * [[GodEmperor The Lord Ruler]] in ''Literature/{{Mistborn}}'' is somewhere between the EvilOverlord and Shadow Emperor types [[spoiler: until he's killed off. In the last book [[BadassBookworm Elend]] becomes Emperor, and though he tries his hardest to be a Benevolent Emperor he's very worried about following in the Lord Ruler's footseps]]. |
| 177 | * Several of the characters in the Literature/BelisariusSeries are Emperors(or some sort of equivalent title) which makes sense as it is about an epic war between Empires. The Malwan Emperor(before being overthrown that is) is Evil and the rest are to a greater or lesser degree ReasonableAuthorityFigure s. |
| 178 | * The Empress of Taysar in the ''Literature/Spaceforce2012'' books rules many worlds as an absolute monarch, and technically owns, personally, 'every rock and stone' on those worlds. It seems that Taysar always has an Empress, not an Emperor. |
| 179 | * ''Literature/TrappedOnDraconica'': The first one is Gothon, emperor of Baalaria, who expands his domain by swallowing those of others. [[spoiler: The second is Taurok, who succeeds Gothon. Rana elavates from Princess to Empress by marrying him.]] |
| 180 | * In ''The Psalms of Isaak'', [[spoiler: Ahm Y'Zir]] is a Shadow Emperor; the founder and ruler of TheEmpire of Y'Zir (which reveres him as a living god), he's a hideous cyborg kept alive by a combination of LostTechnology and BloodMagic. Exactly how much direct power he has remains unclear (Regent Eliz Xhum handles the day-to-day running of things and [[spoiler: Ahm's daughter]] the [[DarkMessiah Crimson Empress]] is being groomed to take the throne once she comes of age), even his physical location remains hidden, and the processes which keep him alive have left him ''quite'' [[TheCaligula insane]], but it's made clear that the Empire marches to the design he set for it two thousand years ago, and he still has hold of his ancestor's spellbook and with it enough power to pop into his enemies' dreams and threaten them. |
| 181 | * In ''Literature/TheWitcher''-saga Emperor Emhyr var Emreis of the brutal and expansionist Nilfgaard Empire, also known as the White Flame Who Dances Upon the Barrows of His Foes, is a major antagonist in the main storyline, but develops into a more well-rounded character than his EvilOverlord reputation might suggest. He's still an amoral tyrant, but not entirely without sympathetic goals or standards. |
| 182 | * Sanlitun Malkeenian ''Literature/ChronicleOfTheUnhewnThrone'' is of the Benevolent Emperor variation, though not everyone thinks so. His son Kaden, the current Emperor of Annur, is hopelessly inept but slowly moving down the same route. |
| 183 | * Emperor [[OnlyOneName Grey]] in ''Literature/LineOfDelirium''. He is mostly hands-off, as far as ruling [[TheEmpire the Human Empire]], and everyone still remembers how he came to power (a high-ranking SpaceNavy officer, who disobeyed his incompetent superiors and took charge of Earth and its colonies, prevented humanity's defeat at alien hands, established the Empire, and turned it into a galactic power). He is almost two centuries old thanks to [[ResurrectiveImmortality aTan]] and has mostly lost interest in governance, preferring the individual worlds to run themselves, as long as they obey the Imperial laws. In his own palace on PlanetTerra, he exercises his prerogative to follow any planetary law in his domain he chooses. His current sexual preferences involve prepubescent teenage girls, following a certain world's practices (he treats them with respect, though, and their families reap the benefits). He does have some harsh laws, such as a strict ban on genetic engineering and cloning. He also doesn't tolerate attempts to secede from the Empire. The population of a world attempting it ended up getting brutally slaughtered by Imperial-hired mercenaries. Also, when the Shedar colonies were invaded by the Sakkra, he had the colonies undergo OrbitalBombardment, killing all the invaders and members of LaResistance (no one really blames him, though, as attempting to retake the planets would've cost many more lives). He then proceeded to exterminate all the Sakkra in the galaxy as punishment. |
| 184 | * In ''Literature/SeekersOfTheSky'', the Roman Empire [[AlternateHistory never collapsed]] and continues to dominate Europe (now known as the State). The ruler of the State is called the Possessor, although he's an Emperor in all but name. The backstory also mentions that the Redeemer (another [[TheMessiah Messiah]] sent by God after Jesus's death as a baby) became the Roman Emperor 2000 years ago, later realizing that, by doing that, he had failed God's mission. |
| 185 | * In ''Literature/TheGoblinEmperor'', Maia, the eponymous emperor. Though he's actually just half-goblin, from his mother's side. When he inherits the throne of the Elflands, many are not happy, even though Maia tries very hard to be a [[TheGoodKing good]] emperor. The fact that he has to [[ArrangedMarriage arrange]] a marriage for himself, in which the chosen lady of course will [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe not get a veto]] to secure his reign, [[BabyFactory father a heir]] and discourage conspirators from using his underage nephew against him, does not help. It is the expected thing to do for a good emperor, but Maia feels that it is not exactly something a good ''person'' ought to do. |
| 186 | * Emperor Kellanved, instigator and ruler of the Malazan Empire in ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'', who started out as the owner of a bar in Malaz City and assembled a group of highly competent friends with wich he took over first little Malaz Island and then entire continents. |
| 187 | * The King of Westeros in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' is an Emperor in everything but name as he's the ruler of a large Empire made by several semi-autonomous kingdoms with their respective local lords and in one case, a prince. The man who originally united the realm, Aegon the Conqueror, pretty much did the opposite thing to the historical German Empire by ''demoting'' all of the previous Kings to High Lords rather than naming himself something like "King of Kings". The one province where the rulers are still called "prince" is the only one they weren't able to subjugate through force. |
| 188 | * Czar Alexander IV in ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'', the Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias, who rules a restored Russian Empire in the story's near-future setting. He is [[ValuesDissonance depicted by the author as a Good King.]] |
| 189 | * ''Literature/TheTraitorBaruCormorant'' has an unusual example in the Masked Emperor, who sits on the Faceless Throne of the Imperial Republic of Falcrest. Because modern Falcrest is a republic founded by an anti-monarchist revolution, its Emperor is not some famous royal heir but a meritorious citizen appointed in secret for a five-year term, which It spends masked and completely anonymous ''even to Itself.'' Every Emperor drinks an amnestic potion when It takes the throne, wiping out Its memories for the duration of Its term while keeping all other knowledge and faculties intact. Without identity, It has no self-interest except the common good, ensuring just and fair rule. However, [[spoiler:all of the above is a lie. Falcrest's chemists never figured out how to make the potion. The Emperor is some random schmuck who gets lobotomized into a drooling vegetable and propped up on the throne for five years. All power is held by the Throne, a camarilla of “special advisers to the Emperor”, which uses the Emperor’s seal as a convenient source of absolute authority.]] |
| 190 | * In ''Literature/ShadowOfTheConqueror,'' this was [[EvilOverlord Dayless's]] official title when he ruled the Dawn Empire. Notably, [[ShownTheirWork he actually met the legal definition]] (a male monarch in charge of more than one country). |
| 191 | * In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'', the Yeerk Empire is led by the Council of Thirteen, which is officially headed by an Emperor. However, for security reasons, no one outside of the Council knows which member is the Emperor, so effectively the group rules by committee. |
| 192 | * Although the villain of the ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'', Galbatorix, just styles himself as the King of Humans, he rules over Alagaësia, and all the races therein, through what is called the Broddring Empire. |
| 193 | * Justinian is, of course, a historical Byzantine emperor, but ''Literature/TheDivineComedy'' reflects this by making his monologue a grand re-telling of the Roman Empire's history. It begins by invoking the imperial eagle, continues into a genealogy of the kings and emperors who preceded and succeeded Justinian, and winding down with a sweeping criticism of Italy's current politicians have tarnished the empire's legacy. |
| 194 | * ''Literature/ShatterTheSky'': Rafael, the emperor of Zefed. He's also often called the Flame of the West. A cruel tyrant, he rules over four conquered kingdoms, whose monarchs are answerable to him, with the Aurati (an all-female order) and {{dragon rider}}s enforcing his will. The [[BigBad main villain of the story]], he is a man driven by {{greed}} who will do anything to get his way. Due to his increasing repression which incites common people's hatred, [[ZeroPercentApprovalRating almost nobody really likes him]]. |
| 195 | * Dekarta Arameri from ''Literature/InheritanceTrilogy'' is the Shadow Emperor type, with ''gods'' at his disposal, but officially speaking he's just an [[JustTheFirstCitizen "advisor"]]. |
| 196 | [[/folder]] |
| 197 | |
| 198 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 199 | * Ubiquitous in Chinese historical and fantasy series, for [[ImperialChina obvious reasons]]. |
| 200 | ** ''Series/AshesOfLove'': Tai Wei, the Heavenly Emperor, is a villainous example. He's succeeded by his son Run Yu, who's an AntiVillain but still far from a Benevolent Emperor -- he's willing to declare war on his brother over a love triangle, after all. |
| 201 | ** The Kangxi Emperor of Qing is a major character in ''Series/TheDeerAndTheCauldron2014'', ''Series/RoyalTramp'', and other adaptations of ''Literature/TheDeerAndTheCauldron''. He's also a minor character in ''Series/{{Palace}}'' and ''Series/ScarletHeart''. |
| 202 | ** ''Series/EmperorsAndMe'' has the title characters, three emperors from three different dynasties. |
| 203 | ** ''Series/TheEmpressOfChina'': UsefulNotes/WuZetian, China's only female emperor, and her husbands, Emperor Taizong and Emperor Gaozong, are the series' main characters. |
| 204 | ** ''Series/GeneralAndI'': Sima Hong, Emperor Xiao Wu of Jin, is one of the antagonists. At the end of the series Chu Bei Jie succeeds him and becomes a Benevolent Emperor. |
| 205 | ** ''Series/TheGreatEmperorInSongDynasty'' has the title character, the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty. |
| 206 | ** The Hongwu Emperor is a minor character in ''Series/HeavenlySwordAndDragonSlayingSabre'', ''Series/TheHeavenSwordAndDragonSabre2009'', and other adaptations of ''Literature/HeavenSwordAndDragonSabre''. |
| 207 | ** ''Series/JoyOfLife'' has the Emperor of Southern Qing and the Emperor of Northern Qi. The latter is actually [[SheIsTheKing a woman]], but referred to and treated as a man. |
| 208 | ** Ying Zheng, better known as UsefulNotes/QinShiHuangdi, is one of the main characters in ''Series/TheKingsWoman''. He's definitely a villainous example, who does things like murdering his half-brothers and threatening to kill his wife's baby. |
| 209 | ** ''Series/TheLegendOfDugu'': Ban Ruo's husband becomes Emperor of Northern Zhou, Man Tuo's son becomes the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and Jia Luo's husband becomes the founding emperor of the Sui Dynasty. |
| 210 | ** Emperor Jingzong of Liao is a main character in ''Series/TheLegendOfXiaoChuo''. |
| 211 | ** The Yongzheng Emperor of Qing is a major character in ''Series/TheLegendOfZhenHuan''. In its sequel ''Series/RuyisRoyalLoveInThePalace'' he's a minor character and his son the Qianlong Emperor is a main character. The Qianlong Emperor also appears in ''Series/PrincessReturningPearl'' and ''Series/StoryOfYanxiPalace''. |
| 212 | ** Emperor Xuanzong of Tang is a minor character in ''Series/TheLongestDayInChangAn''. |
| 213 | ** ''Series/LostLoveInTimes'': Yuan An, Emperor of Great Wei, is a villainous example. By the end of the series he's succeeded by his son Yuan Zhan, who becomes a Benevolent Emperor. |
| 214 | ** ''Series/TenMilesOfPeachBlossoms'' and ''Series/LoveAndDestiny'' both feature a Heavenly Emperor. The one in the first series has a bigger role and is much more villainous than the one in the latter. |
| 215 | ** The emperor in ''Series/NirvanaInFire'' is a villainous example of the paranoid and murderous variety. |
| 216 | ** ''Series/PrincessSilver'' has three: the Emperor of Northern Lin; Rong Qi, Emperor of Western Qi; and the Emperor of Chen. By the end of the series Wu You's become the new emperor of Northern Lin. |
| 217 | ** ''Series/OhMyEmperor'' has the title character, the emperor of Huang Dao Guo. |
| 218 | ** ''Series/ThePrincessWeiYoung'' has four emperors: Tuoba Jun's grandfather, Tuoba Yu (briefly), Tuoba Jun, and (in the final scene) Tuoba Hong. |
| 219 | ** ''Series/TheRiseOfPhoenixes'' has the emperor of Tiansheng. At the end Ning Yi succeeds him and declares his intention to become a much better emperor than his father was. |
| 220 | ** The Chenghua Emperor of Ming is a minor character in ''Series/TheSleuthOfTheMingDynasty''. |
| 221 | * ''Series/DoctorWho'': |
| 222 | ** The Dalek Emperors. [[EmperorScientist Davros]], their Kaled creator, held the title of Dalek Emperor for some time, sparking a civil war between Imperial (Davros) and Renegade factions. The most recent one showed up at the end of the 2005 series, having narrowly survived the Time War and developed a [[AGodAmI god complex]] after saving its followers from extinction. |
| 223 | ** The Draconian Emperor from "Frontier in Space" is a ReasonableAuthorityFigure who doesn't favour war with Earth. The Doctor was apparently on good terms with the 15th Emperor for saving the Draconians from a plague and was made a nobleman. |
| 224 | ** Oddly enough, one iteration of the Daleks has apparently eschewed Emperors and employs a ''parliamentary democracy'', complete with a Dalek Prime Minister! |
| 225 | * ''Series/IClaudius'', across its truly epic span, takes in [[Creator/BrianBlessed Augustus]] (who only avoids looking evil by comparison to what comes after him), his scheming MagnificentBastard of a wife [[TheManBehindTheMan Livia]], her son Tiberius (a colossal pervert and largely useless as a ruler), the original UsefulNotes/{{Caligula}} (for more detail, consult his page), Claudius (unwillingly thrust onto the throne, but proves rather good at it - except for his complete blindness to the machinations of his ''own'' scheming third wife), and, in its last moments, UsefulNotes/{{Nero}}. |
| 226 | * The emperor of the Centauri Republic in ''Series/BabylonFive'' was a rather benevolent ruler at the start of the series, even apologizing to the Narn for his predecessor's atrocities. Unfortunately he died early in the second season and was replaced by [[TheCaligula Cartagia]], [[spoiler: who was assassinated by Vir Cotto and Londo Mollari and succeeded by Londo who was in turn succeeded by Vir]]. |
| 227 | * ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' has a few villains that fit this trope: |
| 228 | ** The first season of ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' has Rita Repulsa, who her minions frequently call her the Empress of Evil. The second season introduces Lord Zedd, who, in his first appearance, proclaims to be the 'Emperor of all he sees'. Later the two villains form an UnholyMatrimony. |
| 229 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersZeo'' starts with Rita and Lord Zedd being chased away by the evil Machine Empire. Like the British Empire in Real Life, the monarchs of this political body, Mondo and Machina, call themselves king and queen, rather than emperor and empress. |
| 230 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersInSpace'' reveals that above mentioned empires (along with a band of space pirates) are mere vassals of the DimensionLord Dark Specter, who leads the United Alliance of Evil and proclaims to be the Monarch of all Evil himself, thus also fitting type 1 of this trope. [[spoiler: Strangely enough, when Astronema takes over after Dark Specter's destruction, she is proclaimed to be the queen of all evil, rather than empress.]] |
| 231 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'' has Emperor Gruum as BigBad and ruler over the Troobian Empire [[spoiler: until it is revealed Gruum has a ManBehindTheMan in the form of Omni the Magnificence, which is a huge godlike being rivaling Dark Specter in terms of size and power.]] |
| 232 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersSuperMegaForce'' has Emperor Mavro of the Armada. |
| 233 | * Considering a good chunk of evil factions in ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' are Empires (or at least, [[InNameOnly called an "Empire"]], it's natural that many of factions are led by Emperors. |
| 234 | ** ''Series/KagakuSentaiDynaman'''s Emperor Aton is the earliest example, leading the Tailed-People Clan Jashinka Empire. |
| 235 | ** ''Series/ChoushinseiFlashman'' has the ''Great'' Emperor Ra Deus, who's invaded many different planets albeit mainly just to obtain more HumanResources for his EvilGenius Lee Keflen to use to create more monsters. |
| 236 | ** ''Series/HikariSentaiMaskMan'' has Earth Emperor Zeba, ruler of the Underground Empire Tube, who in fact meets the actual definition of a Emperor as Tube is shown to be made up of several different tribes. |
| 237 | ** Galactic Empress Meadow in ''Series/ChikyuuSentaiFiveman'' has at least ''999'' planetary conquests to her name, though instead of ruling over the planets she conquers she instead has her followers [[OmnicidalManiac wipe out all life]] on them as a sacrifice for a ritual to give her immortality. |
| 238 | ** ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'' features Emperor Ackdos Gill, ruler of the Space Empire Zangyack, who has a multitude of planets in his domain. |
| 239 | * The Goa'uld in ''Series/StargateSG1'' were divided between a number of {{Evil Overlord}}s with [[AGodAmI claims to godhood]], but several aspired to control over the entire Goa'uld domain. Ra of the first movie was retconned to have been a symbolic Emperor who maintained the fiction of unity, with subsequent infighting breaking out among the other System Lords [[EvilPowerVacuum over his succession]]. Several come close (including Lord Yu, who is a CompositeCharacter of two mythical or semi-mythical Chinese emperors), but Ba'al is the only one to outright claim to be the 'Sovereign of the Goa'uld Domain' in his near-victory. |
| 240 | * ''Franchise/StarTrek'' has the Romulan Emperor, ruler of the Romulan Star Empire. The Klingons also use to have an Emperor but the position was abolished somewhere around three centuries before the first series begins. The office gets restored under solely religious and decorative functions once the clone of Khaless (the first emperor) is created in the 24th century. The MirrorUniverse has the Terran Emperor, though the only one we ever see is the mirror counterpart of [[spoiler:Philippa Georgiou]] in ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'', whose full title is [[spoiler:Her most Imperial Majesty, Mother of the Fatherland, Overlord of Vulcan, Dominus of Qo'noS, Regina Andor, Philippa Georgiou Augustus Iaponius Centarius]]. |
| 241 | * As mentioned in the literature section, the King of Westeros in ''Series/GameOfThrones'' is in reality the textbook definition of an emperor despite the name "King", as he is the ruler of seven kingdoms, each with their own laws and local nobilities. |
| 242 | * ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance'': The [[LizardFolk Skeksis]] Emperor skekSo is an example at the start of the series, commanding his DecadentCourt and the various [[OurElvesAreDifferent Gelfling]] clans with an iron grip. Halfway through the series, he grabs the VillainBall with an iron grip, which causes the Gelflings to rebel. By the start of [[Film/TheDarkCrystal the film]], his empire is essentially limited to the [[DyingRace nine remaining Skeksis]] and the [[TheSoulless Garthim]]. |
| 243 | * ''Series/Foundation2021'': The Galactic Empire essentially has ''three'' emperors at once, as part of their "genetic dynasty" tradition. Each of the three is a clone of the original Emperor Cleon I, created at different points and thus being at different ages -- Brother Dawn is a child/young man, Brother Day is a man in his prime, and Brother Dusk is an elder. And while strictly speaking they rule as equals, in practice the current Day clone is always the reigning monarch, as Dawn is still learning from experience and Dusk is more of an elder statesman acting as an advisor. [[spoiler: However, it's revealed late in Season 2 that the entire dynasty are actually [[PuppetKing puppets]] of [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots Demerzel]], who uses her position as [[EvilChancellor their majordomo]] to manipulate them into following Cleon I's vision; Cleon XVIII (the Brother Dawn of the season's time period), upon deducing this, refers to her as the "eternal Empress".]] |
| 244 | [[/folder]] |
| 245 | |
| 246 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 247 | * ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' has Karl Franz of TheEmpire, one of the few benevolent figures in the setting, a savvy ruler, and a military genius who leads from the back of his griffon while wielding the eponymous warhammer. Other emperor figures include Lord Settra The Imperishable of Khemri, who is able to boss around the ''other'' [[{{Mummy}} Tomb Kings]], and the dragon-riding Witch King Malekith of the Dark Elves, who is a real [[ParentalIncest momma's boy]]. |
| 248 | * ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': One of the major figures is an individual [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep known only as]] [[GodEmperor the God-Emperor]] [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin of Mankind]]. An incredibly powerful psychic genius, he guided humanity as a Shadow Emperor before launching the Great Crusade to reunite mankind in an enlightened, secular galactic empire. But the Literature/HorusHeresy wrecked all that, so the Emperor has spent the last ten thousand years stuck on a [[PoweredByAForsakenChild soul-eating]] life support system that powers the psychic lighthouse necessary for interstellar travel, while his [[TheEmpire Imperium]] has devolved into a totalitarian VestigialEmpire that praises him as its god even while jumping over the MoralEventHorizon in His name. |
| 249 | ** The fluff suggests that the modern Imperium's worst actions are misinterpretations of the Emperor's original intent, but the more we learn about the guy in the Literature/HorusHeresy series, the more morally ambiguous he comes across as. He definitely wanted the best for humanity, but to that end he [[FlatEarthAtheist ruthlessly suppressed religion]] in an attempt to [[GodsNeedPrayerBadly starve the Chaos Gods]], and while not as xenocidal as the modern Imperium, still offered human colonies influenced by alien civilizations a choice between forsaking their old ways and annihilation. His intelligence and psyker powers led him to claim an OmniscientMoralityLicense, but he made some catastrophically poor decisions leading up to the Literature/HorusHeresy, and was a terrible parent to his clone-sons. All in all, the Emperor wavers between the MessianicArchetype and a WellIntentionedExtremist. |
| 250 | * The Scarlet Empress in ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' cultivates an appearance of moral ambivalence: while responsible for saving the world, and running one of the most stable nations she also ruthlessly pursued war, and deliberately made her government so that it would fall apart with out her and raised her children to fight among themselves for her favor. In ''actuality'', she originally gained control of the Imperial Defense Grid via human sacrifice, and just recently sacrificed her youngest daughter (just 12 years old!) to one of the rulers of Hell in a failed attempt to gain immortality... and at least in the first case, [[IDidWhatIHadToDo saved Creation by doing so]]. The setting goes out of its way to make the Empress' morality as grey as possible. |
| 251 | * Empress Kiova in ''TabletopGame/{{Heroscape}}'' started out evil, but turned good. Also, oddly enough, her husband bears the title of "General." |
| 252 | * ''TabletopGame/LegendOfTheFiveRings'' has had several emperors over three dynasties. As the game is based on East Asian myths, the emperors are usually the benevolent variety, but at least one was the EvilOverlord variety, and another was a mix of that and the Shadow Emperor style after a DemonicPossession. |
| 253 | * Emperor Strephon in the ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}'' default time of the GURPS version is a ReasonableAuthorityFigure. |
| 254 | * Queen Abrogail II of Cheliax in ''TableTopGame/{{Pathfinder}}''. Though she doesn't bear the title of empress, she still rules over not just Cheliax but also the neighboring lands of Nidal and Isger, who follow her edicts through puppet governments. |
| 255 | ** On the other hand, the only character in the Inner Sea region who actually calls himself an emperor (among other titles) is Grand Prince Stavian III of the Empire of Taldor--a small, sniveling little man too small for his imperial crown who can barely keep his shambled empire together. He claims rulership over all of Taldor's former holdings, including Cheliax, but has no power to actually enforce his rule. He barely does anything as emperor, leaving the actual rule of Taldor to the empire's overburdened and inefficient bureaucracy. |
| 256 | * The Giovanni dynasty and later the Barbados one in ''TabletopGame/AnimaBeyondFantasy''. Not only Emperors (Empress in the case of the current one), concentrating on them both the political and militar powers, but also the [[UsefulNotes/ThePope heads]] of the [[CrystalDragonJesus Church of Abel]]. All but one of them can be considered to fall more or less into the benevolent category of above. |
| 257 | * The Emperors of the Third Imperium in ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}''. For the most part they [[UnreliableNarrator are presented by canon]] as [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure Reasonable Authority Figures]]. |
| 258 | * ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'': In last days of the Terran Hegemony, Stefan Amaris assassinated the young First Lord Richard Cameron, and the rest of the Cameron line, and took over the Hegemony, he stamped out rebellion with nukes, and executed anyone who failed him the slightest. In the end Aleksandr Kerensky and the SLDF captured him and was executed by the Star League. Even today Amaris remembered as the most sinister man in the Inner Sphere. |
| 259 | [[/folder]] |
| 260 | |
| 261 | [[folder:Pinballs]] |
| 262 | * Ming the Merciless from ''Pinball/FlashGordon''. |
| 263 | [[/folder]] |
| 264 | |
| 265 | [[folder:Roleplay]] |
| 266 | * ''Roleplay/FireEmblemOnForums'': Fitting the game's origins, there are quite a few examples of these: |
| 267 | ** [=FEF2=]: Emperor Yurgen, the FinalBoss and BigBad of the entire game. |
| 268 | ** ''[[Roleplay/FireEmblemOnForumsChainsOfHorai Chains of Horai]]'': Empress Genmyo / Yukito Yamauchi, the Empress of Amatsu, Cursed God of the Zodiac and the BigBad of the game. While she's a selfish, obsessive tyrant in the present day, it's heavily implied ''something'' drove her mad, with flashbacks portraying her as an incredibly kind, sweet and bubbly woman. |
| 269 | * In ''Roleplay/TheGamersAlliance'', Takeshi Ofuchi is the Emperor of Yamato at the beginning of the Unification of Yamato arc in the Third Age. He's very much a selfish tyrant and a SorcerousOverlord, but he's eventually betrayed by one of his trusted generals, Shogun Masamori Hyuga, who assassinates him and takes his place as the leader of Yamato (albeit Masamori never crowns himself emperor and instead keeps using the title shogun). |
| 270 | [[/folder]] |
| 271 | |
| 272 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 273 | * ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'': |
| 274 | ** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyII'' was the first {{JRPG}} to play with this trope in detail, though it's since become genre standard fare. Emperor Mateus starts out as a typical Big Bad who commands [[TheLegionsOfHell monsters from hell]] and wants to [[TakeOverTheWorld conquer the world]], well, just because. Then the heroes kill him, which has [[NiceJobBreakingItHero unforeseen]] [[FromBadToWorse consequences]]: [[spoiler: his spirit goes to Hell, takes over, and comes back stronger than before.]] The GBA remake adds a sidestory where we learn that [[spoiler:his soul was actually split in half at death, and his 'good' side has not only gone to Heaven, but taken over ''there'' as well.]] LightIsNotGood, indeed. |
| 275 | ** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' likewise features TheEmpire as the main enemy, led by Emperor Gestahl. Until one of his lieutenants, Kefka Palazzo, already a messed-up-in-the-head PsychoForHire, decides to go OmnicidalManiac... |
| 276 | ** ''VideoGame/DirgeOfCerberus'', which takes place after ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', introduces Weiss. He is the supreme commander of the Deepground forces, and his title in the original Japanese is Emperor. |
| 277 | ** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' has Emperor Gramis, who doesn't really fit neatly into the categories detailed above (he's not exactly benevolent, but he's no cackling EvilOverlord either). [[spoiler: His son Vayne, who eventually offs him and takes over, is a combination of the "President Charisma" type with JustTheFirstCitizen. Though he's also quite capable of kicking your ass, especially after he goes OneWingedAngel.]] |
| 278 | ** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'': |
| 279 | *** Emperor Solus zos Galvus acts as the elderly leader of the Garelan Empire and is the GreaterScopeVillain of the 1.0 storyline. Unlike other examples, [[KarmaHoudini he's never fought and gets to die of natural causes]]. [[spoiler: Or so it seems untill the tail end of the ''Stormblood'' patch quests.]] |
| 280 | *** Emperor Varis zos Galvus, grandson of Solus, takes over as the GreaterScopeVillain of whenever the Empire is involved in the plot. [[spoiler: He gets killed by his own son at the end of ''Shadowbringers'', and his death and subsequent succession crisis herald the beginning of the end of the Empire.]] |
| 281 | *** Emperor Xande was the first Emperor of the [[AbusivePrecursors Allagan Empire]], who was later resurrected (or cloned, more accurately) within the Crystal Tower. After this event, he turned into a StrawNihilist and made a DealWithTheDevil to [[OmnicidalManiac kill off everyone for their own good]]. |
| 282 | * Ganondorf from ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' series is basically one by definition, considering that he repeatedly is shown as ruler of the whole Dark World, a shadow mirror of the game's world. His status is solidified whenever he takes over Hyrule on top of whatever realm he had control of at the beginning of the game; otherwise, he's referred to as "The King of Evil" (or "Thieves", before the evil). |
| 283 | * ''VideoGame/SuikodenI'' features the Scarlet Moon Emperor as the BigBad and FinalBoss, [[spoiler:although the ''real'' villain is [[TheManBehindTheMan the (Wo)man Behind the Man]], Lady Windy]]. |
| 284 | * ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireI'' features as antagonists the Dark Dragons, who are led by the BigBad Emperor Zog (who, oddly, is the only Dark Dragon who is actually, you know, a dragon. All the other Dark Dragons are insectile monster thingys). Furthermore, while Zog is the Emperor, the Dark Dragons' organization never seems to be referred to as an Empire. |
| 285 | ** ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireIV'' features Fou Lu, the founder and first emperor of the Fou Empire, [[spoiler:being persecuted by the very empire he founded under the orders of incumbent Emperor Soniel]]. |
| 286 | * In ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'', the enemies are all members of the demonic Vigoor Empire, and naturally the game's BigBad is a superdemon known only as the Vigoor Emperor. |
| 287 | * ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'' features the Emperor as the BigBad. He's also a kungfu-fighting undead ghost... thingy. After he's dead, TheStarscream claims the throne and takes over as the BigBad. On the other hand, the Open Palm ending has the first Emperor's daughter ascending to the throne, and the WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue says she's a good leader. In the Closed Fist ending you decide TheStarscream had the right idea, but [[GodhoodSeeker didn't go far enough.]] |
| 288 | * Throughout ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series and in the backstory, the leaders of various Cyrodiilic Empires have held the title of Emperor. Dozens are noted throughout the series lore, and while they vary greatly in personality and actions, the vast majority have leaned toward the "[[TheGoodKing benevolent]]" end of the spectrum. Some of the particularly notable examples: |
| 289 | ** The [[FounderOfTheKingdom very first Cyrodiilic Emperor]] was St. Alessia, also known as the "Slave Queen". BornIntoSlavery during the [[AbusivePrecursors Ayleid]] rule of Cyrodiil, she escaped and prayed to the [[OurGodsAreDifferent Aedra]] for aid. As the Ayleids were primarily [[JerkassGods Daedra]] worshipers, the Aedra answered her prayers as part of a BargainWithHeaven. They sent Alessia divine aid, both in subtle and direct ways, allowing Alessia to defeat the Ayleids and drive the survivors out of Cyrodiil. Alessia was crowned as the first Empress of Cyrodiil, declared that the religion of the Eight Divines (which worships the Aedra who sent her aid) would be the official religion of her new Empire, was "[[ClaimedByTheSupernatural imbued with Dragon Blood]]" by Akatosh (the [[DragonsAreDivine draconic]] [[TopGod chief deity]] of the Aedra), and had her soul placed in the central stone of the Amulet of Kings which symbolized Akatosh's covenant with mankind to protect Mundus (the mortal plane) from the forces of Oblivion (the Daedra). This also meant that all recognized Cyrodiilic emperors would also be {{Barrier Maiden}}s, able to perform the ritual of lighting the "Dragonfires", which limit the power and influence of the Daedric Princes within Mundus. |
| 290 | ** Over a thousand years later, the Alessian Empire would fall apart due to religious infighting and provincial uprisings. The Ruby Throne of Cyrodiil would sit empty until Reman Cyrodiil rose to power. His father, the petty king Hrol, would be visited in a vision by the spirit of St. Alessia and Akatosh himself, with this union creating Reman. Reman was birthed from the land of Cyrodiil itself, found born atop a mound of mud the size of a small mountain with the Amulet of Kings, long since lost, in hand. He was [[AChildShallLeadThem coronated as a child]] and rose to the height of his power after defeating the [[{{Wutai}} Akaviri]] invaders. Though he never took the title of Emperor himself, his lineage founded the Second Cyrodiilic Empire, which would come to dominate nearly all of Tamriel. |
| 291 | ** Following a series of assassinations, the Reman line would end, leading to the beginning of the 2nd Era of Tamriellic history. During a period known as the Interregnum, Tamriel would descend into chaos with various groups vying for control. Out of this chaos came one of Tamriel's most legendary figures - Tiber Septim. He was believed to be of [[HornyVikings Nordic]] descent, but beyond that, he has several [[MultipleChoicePast highly-conflicting origin stories]] with the truth likely lost forever to history, as well as buried under centuries of [[WrittenByTheWinners Imperial propaganda]], and possibly even permanently ''changed'' following his [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence apotheosis]]. He was either born as Talos Stormcrown in Atmora or Hjalti Early-Beard in High Rock. In either case, he spent his youth in Skyrim and rose to prominence when he, at the age of 20, used [[LanguageOfMagic the Voice]] to defeat the Witchmen at Old Hroldan. He was declared "Ysmir, Dragon of the North" by the [[OldMaster Greybeards]] and then came into the service of the Colovian Petty King Cuhlecain as a General. When Cuhlecain was assassinated, Septim took over Cuhlecain's young empire. From there, he would become many things - hero, conqueror, villain - and ultimately, the Emperor of the first truly pan-Tamrielic Empire. He is said to be descended metaphysically from the Slave Queen Alessia, as well as Reman Cyrodiil. As a Dragonborn (in both senses of the word), his dynasty was one of several supernatural barriers to keep Tamriel and Oblivion distinct. Septim (possibly [[MergerOfSouls among others]]), through unclear and hotly debated means, would become the DeityOfHumanOrigin Talos after his death, becoming the Ninth Divine. |
| 292 | ** Uriel Septim VII was the 21st Emperor of the Septim line, and the Emperor during each game from ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsArena Arena]]'' to his death in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]''. Uriel VII was both TheGoodKing and a ReasonableAuthorityFigure, genuinely caring for the people of Tamriel. Nearly everything he did as Emperor wass for the greater good of the people of Tamriel. Due to the lost strength of his legions and rampant unrest in the provinces, he has to [[TheChessmaster rely on his wit]] in order to avert multiple crises for the Empire. Uriel VII would unfortunately be [[TheKingslayer assassinated]] by the [[ApocalypseCult Mythic Dawn]] to begin the Oblivion Crisis. |
| 293 | ** Martin Septim was the bastard son (and HiddenBackupPrince) of Uriel VII. He plays a major part in the events of ''Oblivion'', as a SupportingLeader and ReasonableAuthorityFigure. Ultimately, [[spoiler:he [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifices himself]] to end the Oblivion Crisis and to permanently seal the barrier between Oblivion and Mundus]]. |
| 294 | ** Between ''Oblivion'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', the Septim Empire [[VestigialEmpire severely crumbles]]. The local warlord Titus Mede is able to capture the Ruby Throne, and declares himself Emperor. Later, Mede's grandson, Titus Mede II, inherits the throne. The reformed [[AntiHumanAlliance Aldmeri Dominion]], the ancient enemy of the Cyrodiilic Empires under the leadership of the extremist [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Thalmor]], goes to war with Mede's Empire. Titus Mede II was responsible for both leading the Empire to victory against and signing the highly controversial White-Gold Concordat, a treaty which (among other things) bans the worship of Talos throughout the Empire (though it is heavily hinted to be a purely political move to buy the Legion time to prepare for the inevitable next war with the Dominion). Due to Talos' popularity there, Skyrim erupts into {{Civil War}} over this move. In-game, he is met [[spoiler:at the end of the Dark Brotherhood questline, where he's your target.]] He comes off as a surprisingly personable individual and remarkably calm for a man [[spoiler:facing his killer.]] When you take into consideration all the things he has done up until your meeting, the worst thing that can be said about him is that his successes are overshadowed by his failures. |
| 295 | * An alien Emperor is the BigBad and final boss of ''MDK 2''. He's so big that part of the fight involves him eating you, and you fighting his internal organs. |
| 296 | * Emperor Percival Tachyon, the BigBad of ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureToolsOfDestruction''. "Emperor" is likely a self-imposed title, but he has conquered a galaxy, so not many folk are in a position to object. |
| 297 | * ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' has Emperor Peony IX, a Benevolent Emperor -- this is the man that commissions battle costumes for the party and goes incognito to fight crime. Despite his goofy tendencies and extreme informality, he's the most reliable ReasonableAuthorityFigure in the game. |
| 298 | * Since ''VideoGame/{{Avernum}}'' features TheEmpire, it makes sense that it features emperors as well. Emperor Hawthorne was a BigBad in ''Avernum 1''. After your adventuring party assassinates him, Empress Prazac takes charge and is definitely benevolent. She gets assassinated in turn at the start of ''Avernum 5'' and the choices your adventuring party makes decides who becomes the next emperor. |
| 299 | * The Emperor of Cantha in ''VideoGame/GuildWars'' is shown to be a decent and well-meaning man, but one who's hopelessly out of touch with the people he rules. |
| 300 | * One player in each galaxy plays the emperor in ''VideoGame/ImperiumNova''. Because an actual player plays the emperor, the style of rulership in the game is quite varied. Every one of them is inevitably labeled an EvilOverlord by his or her opponents. |
| 301 | * Emperor Solarius of ''VideoGame/OverlordII'' is of the Shadow Emperor variety, having risen from power by taking advantage of the people's fear of magic due to the plague [[spoiler:which he himself unintentionally caused]] by presenting himself as something of a DarkMessiah out to exterminate magical beings. He's never seen personally addressing his people, a duty he leaves for his ProfessionalButtKisser Marius and constantly hides behind a mask to hid the fact that [[spoiler:he's an Elf]]. His true plan however is to [[spoiler:collect all the magic from the lands to prepare for his [[GodhoodSeeker ascension to Godhood]].]] |
| 302 | * Emperor Geldoblame of ''VideoGame/BatenKaitos'' is an EvilOverlord BigBad. [[spoiler:He eventually gets deceived and betrayed by [[TheManBehindTheMan Melodia]], but [[AssholeVictim that's not to say he didn't have it coming.]]]] |
| 303 | * The Emperor is the BigBad in ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'', sending out his [[CoDragons Dragons]] to undo seals on the [[McGuffin Mana Seeds]] in order to unleash a ForgottenSuperWeapon in order to TakeOverTheWorld. [[spoiler:But gets taken out by the ManBehindTheMan Thanatos, who wishes to destroy it.]] |
| 304 | * The usual BigBad of ''Franchise/MortalKombat'', Shao Kahn. In storyline, Onaga came before him, though. |
| 305 | ** Thanks to the ContinuityReboot of ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'', by ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'' a {{Mayincatec}} fellow named "Kotal Kahn" is now the ruling body of Outworld (this also confirms that "Kahn" is merely a title, not part of Shao Kahn's full name). |
| 306 | * ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'' has [[Creator/GeorgeTakei Emperor Yoshiro]], who also believes in RankScalesWithAsskicking. |
| 307 | * Emperor Strada from ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'', a rare good guy example. [[spoiler: He gets killed off by Lord Deus in the second episode of the game.]] |
| 308 | * ''Franchise/StarCraft'': When Mengsk overthrows the Confederacy, he immediately makes himself the Emperor of the new [[TheEmpire Terran Dominion]]. |
| 309 | * In a figurative sense we have ''Franchise/StreetFighter''[='s=] Sagat, whose RedBaron title is "Emperor of Muay Thai". He has no political power, but '''is''' one of the most badass fighters in the whole series. (Plus he was a high-ranked member of the Shadaloo organization, but ultimately left them.) |
| 310 | ** In ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'', the BigBad Gill can be seen as the emperor of his {{cult}}, which may be a PathOfInspiration. |
| 311 | * Out of all the rulers seen in ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'', the ones that hold the Emperor/Empress title are few: |
| 312 | ** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight'': In [[spoiler:Hardin]]'s ending, he marries Nyna and becomes the king of Archanea... but in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]'', he pulls a DemonicPossession-induced FaceHeelTurn, reorganizes the Kingdom into TheEmpire with himself as its emperor, and becomes the BigBad. |
| 313 | ** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden'': Rudolf is the emperor of the Rigelian Empire who is waging war on Zofia. After his death, [[spoiler:his son Alm briefly assumes the role of de facto emperor before marrying Celica and uniting the continent as a king]]. |
| 314 | ** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'': The second generation's [[spoiler:Arvis, formerly the Duke of Velthomer, who becomes Emperor after marrying the Princess of Grannvale (Dierdre) and unifying a good part of the continent under his leadership... which later turns into a tyrannical reign under the influence of the [[ReligionOfEvil Lopto Sect]]]]. Also, [[spoiler: Seliph at the end of the game (who ironically is the son of Dierdre with another man, [[TragicHero Sigurd]]. It's... a long story.)]]. |
| 315 | ** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones'': "Silent Emperor" Vigarde of Grado. Before the main game, Grado was a rare example of a ''good'' [[TheEmpire Empire]], with [[RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething Emperor Vigarde spending a large chunk of his day listening to the needs of his people]] and his son Prince Lyon being a kind-hearted [[spoiler: (if [[EvilIsNotAToy slightly]] [[ArtifactOfDoom misguided]])]] soul who truly wished to use his knowledge of BlackMagic to aid his people and the world at large. |
| 316 | ** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]'': Sanaki, Empress of Begnion. [[spoiler: Though technically speaking, the true Empress should be her long-lost older sister, [[RagsToRoyalty Micaiah]]. Sanaki remains as Empress, however, whereas Micaiah becomes the Queen of Daein instead.]] |
| 317 | ** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' has Emperor Walhart of Valm. He's a fairly standard "conquer and subjugate" emperor villain, [[WellIntentionedExtremist although he does so out of a sincere belief that his actions will lead to peace under his rule.]] He also intended to unify the world in order to fight the [[ReligionOfEvil Grimleal]] and stop [[SealedEvilInACan the resurrection of]] [[BigBad Grima]], but you kill him in a BossBattle before he can do so. |
| 318 | ** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'' has two characters going by the title of Emperor. [[spoiler: Actually, they're one and the same.]] |
| 319 | *** A mysterious masked villain called the Flame Emperor spends the first half of the game manipulating everyone to destroy the Church of Seiros. |
| 320 | *** Edelgard is the heir apparent to the Adrestian Empire. Shortly before the end of Part I, she convinces her old and infirm father to abdicate and officially assumes the title of Emperor, which she holds for the rest of the game. Interestingly, she is a rare example of an Emperor who is a protagonist, provided you choose to join her at the beginning of the game [[spoiler:and stay with her when she makes her move against the Church]]. |
| 321 | * While his official title is merely "Demon King", [[BigBad Bowser]] of the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series fits this trope, as he has a massive empire that he plans to expand, sometimes [[GodhoodSeeker across the entire universe]]. He even has countless Kings as mere [[KingMook high-ranking minions]] of his. |
| 322 | * In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyDimensions'', the Emperor of Avalon [[spoiler:also known as Elgo]] looks like an EvilOverlord TinTyrant type [[spoiler:at least his empty suit of armor does]] but he's actually a Shadow Emperor scheming to obtain eternal life and power from the Crystals. He's such a serious threat that the Crystals split the world into two dimensions just to get away from him. [[spoiler:He "aids" the Warriors of Light and Darkness so he can [[MacguffinDeliveryService personally rip the Crystals' power out of them.]]]] |
| 323 | * From ''VideoGame/{{Battleborn}}'': |
| 324 | ** The Empress Lenore former monarch of the star-spanning Jennerit Empire before [[TheUsurper Lothar Rendain usurped]] her. |
| 325 | ** Having usurped Empress Lenore to become the leader of her empire now renamed the Jennerit Imperium, BigBad Lothar Rendain is naturally this by position. |
| 326 | * In ''VideoGame/{{Ravenmark}}'', the Empire of Estellion has recently lost its beloved Emperor Sergius Corvius, kicking off a SuccessionCrisis. While the late Emperor's daughter Adrise has no desire to become Empress, Adrise's younger brother Gratian wants nothing less than that. The crisis comes from Sergius not wanting his son from ascending to the Obsidian Perch after his death, secretly grooming another successor from the numerous ranks of royal bastards. In the sequel, Empress [[spoiler:Livia Corvius]] (AKA the [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Scarlet Empress]]) has become ruthless in her determination to crush her enemies, costing the Empire its allies and starting a MeleeATrois with the Commonwealth of Esotre (a former ally) and the newly-risen Varishah Federation (made up of former Imperial conquests and the remaining Kaysani. |
| 327 | * The highest attainable title in ''VideoGame/CrusaderKings'' is Emperor, which the player can attain once their territorial holdings encompass multiple kingdoms. Alternatively, it is possible to simply choose to play as an emperor from the outset of a campaign if the player chooses, for example, to play as the Holy Roman or Byzantine imperial families. Then the challenge is staying in power. |
| 328 | * From ''Franchise/DragonAge'': |
| 329 | ** Empress Celene of the Orlesian Empire is a female example. She might appear like TheHighQueen at first glance, but is an utterly ruthless BitchInSheepsClothing, since she doesn't consider elves worthy of living (except for [[MoralityPet her lover Briala]]) and is willing to make an mountain out of their corpses if it means securing her power. In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', she may become better if [[spoiler:reconciling with Briala]] or else she will remain the same. If the Inquisitor plays their cards right, [[spoiler:she can be replaced by her cousin Grand Duke Gaspard, who is a straight example of this trope, since his policies are expantionism, warmongering and ruling through force rather than diplomacy]]. |
| 330 | ** The [[TheMagocracy Tevinter Imperium]] has the Archon, which is an position similar to the Roman Emperor (either by blood relation, apprenticeship to the previous holder or being elected by the legislative body). Throughout the history of Thedas, Archons had a sinister reputation as {{Sorcerous Overlord}}s among the southern nations. However, the current one by the time the series takes place, Archon Radonis, is portrayed as a ReasonableAuthorityFigure with a [[KindHeartedCatLover soft spot for cats]]. |
| 331 | * In ''VideoGame/FateExtra'', The playable Saber-Class servant is this. More specifically, her true identity happens to be [[spoiler:Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Fifth Emperor of the Roman Empire]], making this a three-way cross between this trope, SheIsTheKing (as she insists on referring to herself as Emperor) and HistoricalGenderFlip- the third of which is a ''Franchise/{{Nasuverse}}'' staple. As revealed by her backstory, she's actually somewhat on the benevolent side, as her poor reputation turns out to be undeserved, and she was beloved by her people. |
| 332 | * In ''VideoGame/RomancingSaga2'', the main {{PlayerCharacter}}s are the various emperors/empresses of the Varennes Empire, and a good-natured example of the trope. The player assumes the roles of many different sovereigns over many millennia, culminating in one they get to name themselves, aptly named The Final Emperor/Empress. Throughout the game, the player also has to pick and choose which person gets to succeed the throne every generation. |
| 333 | * In ''VideoGame/CryingSuns'', Emperor Oberon is the founder and ruler of the Galactic Empire, a position he has held for the last 700 years. [[spoiler:He dies at the end of Chapter 5, and you if you chose to off him yourself you'll end up taking his place.]] |
| 334 | * The Empire of Erebonia from the ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'' is obviously headed by an Emperor, however...he doesn't hold nearly as much power as it first seems. The Empire of Erebonia is actually a constitutional monarchy, thus the power of the Emperor are rather limited, in fact the Emperor we see throughout the games [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure isn't a bad guy at all]], and most expansionistic wars done by Erebonia were done in spite of him, not because of him. Ironically, [[EvilChancellor Chancellor Osborne]] fits the mold of the typical Emperor much better, having extreme, almost totalitarian control over the government, annexing smaller countries through manipulation and realpolitiks, threatening war with the continent's other major superpower, etc. |
| 335 | * In the Dark Side ending of ''VideoGame/JediKnightDarkForcesII'', Kyle uses the power of the Valley Of The Jedi to overthrow the New Republic and declare himself Emperor, with TheUnfought (in that path. He kills her on the Light Side path) Sariss as his [[TheDragon Dragon]]. |
| 336 | [[/folder]] |
| 337 | |
| 338 | [[folder:Web Comics]] |
| 339 | * In ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob,'' Princess Voluptua's dad is the Emperor of the local space empire (which includes Earth, though humanity is unaware of it). She clearly has some issues with him, as do his subjects the [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons of planet Butane]], but there have been no indications that he is actually evil. |
| 340 | * ''Webcomic/DriveDaveKellett'': The current Emperor killed his uncle for the position, and framed one of the protagonists. He fits the President Charisma description above. |
| 341 | * Webcomic/KarateBears have [[http://www.karatebears.com/2011/05/empire.html a very SMALL empire.]] |
| 342 | * While all the Demiurges of ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'' are described as emperors -- and are {{Dimension Lord}}s, which pretty much automatically qualifies them for ruling over other rulers -- Solomon David is the truest example, being the only one who actually governs his domain instead of just [[MightMakesRight lording over it with his overwhelming power.]] He’s described as a just, even-handed, and incredibly brutal dictator, with at least one massacre attributed to his name, and his Celestial Empire is peaceful and prosperous but low on freedoms. |
| 343 | * ''Webcomic/TheMeek'': Luca deSadar is the leader of the Pasori peoples, and the Emperor of the Northern Territories. Despite his stranglehold on the north, he finds himself losing his grip on his family, his people, and perhaps [[SanitySlippage his sanity.]] |
| 344 | * ''WebComic/TowerOfGod'': Though called ''King'' of the Tower, Jahad is the ruler of the Jahad ''Empire'', comprised of all (continent-sized) floors of the Tower up to number 134. His subordinates include the heads of the Ten Great Families, at least some of whom would qualify as GodEmperor in their own right otherwise. There are also kingdoms in the Outer Tower that have never even heard of him but which he could presumably bring to heel immediately if he needed to. |
| 345 | [[/folder]] |
| 346 | |
| 347 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 348 | * ''Website/{{TED}}'': The [[TwelveCoinsPuzzle counterfeit coin riddle]] features an emperor who jails the protagonist just for speaking out against his taxation policies. |
| 349 | * The cleric Asher Walters becomes a literal Messiah-Emperor at the end of ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7153098/1/The_Chronicles_of_Utopia The Chronicles of Utopia]]''. After resurrecting an army of warriors that had been forced into serving a lich, he carves out an Empire for himself by deposing the Mad Overking Ivid and taking over his lands, turning it into a bastion of reason and enlightenment in ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7893756/1/The_Chronicles_of_Utopia_Volume_II The Chronicles of Utopia Volume II]]''. |
| 350 | * In ''WebOriginal/ImperiumNova'' each galaxy has an Emperor, initially the first player on the server but later the senate or the GM can install a new imperial house. Depending on the galaxy and the current RP the emperor may be an all-powerful overlord or an ignored figurehead. |
| 351 | * ''Literature/{{Eclipse}}'' has Auerbach, the Emperor of the hellish Apocesis - essentially a "domestication" center for Ghouls (demons that are not sufficiently human-looking). He runs it like an officer in a concentration camp and acts in a manner very similar to a TortureTechnician. |
| 352 | * ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Mistral was ruled by an Emperor who was responsible for most of the tension that triggered the Great War. With the help of its trading partner, Mantle, the Mistral Emperor conquered Anima, selectively enforcing Mantle's decree of suppressing the population's emotions as a way to fight the Grimm, and engaging in practices such as exploiting the people and using slave labour. When the Emperor decided to expand into Sanus, clashes with Vale began. This triggered the Great War, with Mistral and Mantle trying to conquer Vale. Only when they tried to force Vacuo to supply them with Dust for their own good, did Vacuo decide that they needed to be stopped -- entering the war on Vale's side. |
| 353 | [[/folder]] |
| 354 | |
| 355 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 356 | * Averted in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. When the BigBad, Fire Nation's [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderFireLordOzai Fire Lord Ozai]] decides to promote himself to ruler of the entire world, the title he comes up with is simply "Phoenix King", even though there is already an "Earth King" (and several lesser Earth Kingdom Kings, like King Bumi). This was probably done because "Phoenix Emperor" is way too many syllables to be practical. The Earth King himself is an example of the Benevolent Emperor, though his [[EvilChancellor Grand Secretariat]] is the one who actually rules the country. |
| 357 | * On the other hand, in SequelSeries ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', when [[Characters/TheLegendOfKorraKuvira Kuvira]] usurps Earth King Wu, she declares her new nation the Earth Empire, and herself its [[SheIsTheKing Emperor]]. One of the cases where AsskickingLeadsToLeadership, as she conquered her way to the title. |
| 358 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'': Tired of being ignored by her husband and her son, the Queen of Yugopotamia used Baby Poof's scary (by Yugopotamian standards) cuteness to rule through him, passing baby Poof as Emperor. |
| 359 | * Like his comic book counterpart, Serpentor is the cloned combination of some of history's greatest conquerors, created by Doctor Mindbender and Destro to put the terrorist nation Cobra back on track. But this version of Serpentor is even more [[LargeHam bombastic]] and [[VillainousValor bold]] than the print version, making him an even more concrete example of the trope. |
| 360 | * ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' has the benevolent flavor in Jack's father, who was the Emperor of Japan when [[BigBad Aku]] first invaded. He had a magic katana forged from a piece of his own soul and a substantial boon from several pantheons, kicked Aku's ass with it, and when Aku appeared a second time, gave the sword to his son so that he might do the same. In the same vein, Jack himself technically qualifies as a benevolent Emperor since he is his father's only descendant, and is busting his ass to find a way to undo Aku's oppression. However, since his kingdom was destroyed even before he got sent to the future, Jack has nothing to be emperor of anymore. [[spoiler:And then he went back to the past in the final episode. What little we see of his royal lifestyle on the epilogue shows that he's doing a good job himself.]] |
| 361 | * ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'' has [[spoiler: [[Characters/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPowerHordePrime Horde Prime]]]], Emperor of the Galactic Horde, the true BigBad of the series who rules the entire universe with such impunity and has conquered entire galaxies with his powerful armada. |
| 362 | * [[PrincessesRule In keeping with its longstanding tradition of getting royal titles wrong]], ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' has a notable [[AvertedTrope aversion]]. There is a place called the Crystal '''Empire''', but its former ruler - a brutal SorcerousOverlord [[CastingAShadow with shadow powers]] [[TheDreaded whose very name induces abject fear into his subjects]], a perfect fit for a Type 1 - is known as '''King''' Sombra instead. Huh. Granted, from what we see of the Crystal Empire, it seems more like a single city-state than an actual empire, but that's neither here nor there. |
| 363 | ** A more accurate example would be Grogar who was the Emperor of Equestria in ancient times before the three tribes united as one. During his reign he was also known as the "the Father of Monsters" who unleashed monsters to spread their evil across the lands, until Gusty the Great defeated him. |
| 364 | * [[Characters/TheOwlHouseEmperorBelos Emperor Belos]] of ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' is the reclusive, shadowy dictator, although the first season finale shows he can more than handle himself in a fight if necessary. He claims to be able to speak to the Titan - the giant creature whose corpse makes up the Boiling Isles - and has used this "divine mandate" to set up a restrictive Coven system that forces everyone on the Isles to practice magic ''his'' way. |
| 365 | [[/folder]] |
| 366 | |
| 367 | [[folder:Real Life]] |
| 368 | * The Western tradition of this trope can be traced back to [[UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire the Emperors of Rome]], and in particular [[UsefulNotes/{{Augustus}} Caesar Augustus]], who during their reigns ruled one of the greatest empires in the world. The word "emperor" derives from the Latin term ''Imperator'', or "commander" (it's also where we get the word "imperative" from), as Rome had historical reasons to oppose anyone who claimed the title of ''Rex'' (king).[[note]]Augustus didn't invent the term; it had already used for some time for successful military commanders--notably, it could not be bestowed by authority, only proclaimed by a general's own soldiers--and was considered one of the highest honours in republican society. In that respect, Augustus was simply the latest of many ''imperatores''. Even he himself didn't personally attach the current sense to it, since he always claimed to be JustTheFirstCitizen, preferring the less formal title of "''princeps''" (itself a contraction of "Primus Inter Pares" which translates as "First Among Equals" and is the root of the word "Prince") or "chief" if he had to be singled out for special status. Nevertheless, it was thanks to Augustus and the tradition he established that it did acquire its modern usage, so in that sense, it did indeed originate with him.[[/note]] Similarly, the German and Russian words "Kaiser" and "Czar" are both derived from "Caesar". |
| 369 | * During the Dark and Middle Ages, UsefulNotes/{{Europe}}an rulers who called themselves "emperor" were specifically invoking UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire. The UsefulNotes/ByzantineEmpire ''was'' the Roman state so their claim was obvious, the UsefulNotes/HolyRomanEmpire laid claim to the former Roman empire in the West which (initially) they contested with [[UsefulNotes/{{Istanbul}} Constantinople]] (indeed, Charlemagne was originally crowned for the Pope's own purposes: partly over the Iconoclasm controversy with Empress Irene, partly to make Rome independent of Constantinople), the Russian Tsars and Ottoman Sultans both claimed to be Byzantine successors[[note]]One of the many official titles of the Ottoman Sultans was "Kayser-i Rûm" (Caesar of Rome), and another was the Greek "basileus" (monarch) which had previously been used by the Byzantine Emperors. The Ottoman Sultans could also claim to be the successors of the Byzantines by right of conquest...which wasn't exactly an unusual way for a change in ruling dynasty to happen in the ''original'' Roman Empire.[[/note]] (both monarchs had imperial Byzantine blood), and Serbia and Bulgaria both based it at least partially on Roman/Greek traditions - though Bulgaria had had imperial ambitions since at least the early 9th century and claimed the title during the 10th. This practice continued until nearly the present day: until the mid-twentieth century, there was always at least one European ruler (and sometimes several) in power whose title invoked Caesar, UsefulNotes/{{Augustus}}, or some derivation thereof. |
| 370 | ** Only in later eras did the title become removed from a continuation of the Roman Empire, and became used when a country was really frickin' big or powerful, prime examples being Mexico, Brazil, and [[UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte Napoleonic France]]. (When Napoleon declared himself Emperor, it aggravated Music/LudwigVanBeethoven something fierce - he had dedicated his third Symphony, ''Eroica'', to Napoleon when he appeared to be a liberator of the people, but scratched out that dedication so fiercely that the pen ripped through the page.) Other times it was used to make a political point: the [[UsefulNotes/PrussianKings Kings]] of UsefulNotes/{{Prussia}} declared themselves [[UsefulNotes/ImperialGermany German Emperors]] to make themselves higher-ranked than other German kings (like the one of Bavaria) without having to demote them[[note]]With the added benefit of allowing the Prussian kings to claim equal rank to their Austrian rivals.[[/note]] (the German unification after the UsefulNotes/FrancoPrussianWar being conducted by integrating the existing German states into a federal structure rather than starting from scratch), three of them reigned (Wilhelm I, Frederick III and UsefulNotes/WilhelmII, altough Frederick III reigned only four months and died of an illness); Napoleon III did it to link his regime to that of his uncle; the rulers of Austria needed a new title after the UsefulNotes/HolyRomanEmpire disappeared and didn't want to step down in rank; Queen Victoria had herself declared Empress of India to make it clear that Britain was more powerful than Germany (and because she didn't want to be outranked by her daughter, who had married the heir to the German throne)[[note]]Victoria strongly considered the title of "Empress of Great Britain, Ireland and India" and officially upgrading the United Kingdom itself into an empire, but her Prime Minister, UsefulNotes/BenjaminDisraeli, convinced her that merely adding "Empress of India" to her existing title of "Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland" would be more acceptable to the public.[[/note]]; and a couple others besides. However, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Bedel_Bokassa Jean-Bédel Bokassa's]] short-lived Empire was little short of a farce. |
| 371 | * According to Website/TheOtherWiki England had already been technically an empire since [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statute_in_Restraint_of_Appeals 1533]], however the titles King and Kingdom were retained. It is however unknown, what effects the Acts of Union had on this… |
| 372 | * The trope codifier in East Asia is UsefulNotes/QinShiHuangdi, the "First Emperor" of China. The word for "emperor" in Chinese and Chinese-influenced languages was first coined by Qin Shi Huangdi himself, by combining the two characters hitherto used for semidivine sage-kings from ancient Chinese mythologies. |
| 373 | ** Outside China, there were four more emperor dynasties in the Sinosphere: the ''Tennō'' (literally "Heavenly Sovereign") of UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} (still reigning today) and the extremely short-lived imperial dynasty of the Korean Empire, formed in the late 19th century. No other contenders to the title were there, mostly because no-one else was bold enough to use the title that could challenge the primacy of the Chinese ''huangdi'': Japan, being an island country, was isolated from the rest of East Asia and thus could use whatever title they wanted, while Korea only declared itself an empire when China was in decline and torn by civil war. The monarchs of Vietnam (especially those who had gave invaders from China a good beat) zig-zagged this by proclaiming themselves "emperors" while accepting the title of king from China as the formal recognition of sovereignty and diplomatic relation. There was also the short-lived [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_Vietnam Empire of Vietnam]] propped up by the Japanese during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. |
| 374 | * Many polities outside of Europe and East Asia also had imperial titles. |
| 375 | ** The Achaemenid Persian rulers claimed the title ''Khshayathiyanam Khshayathiya'', later corrupted into ''Shah-en-shah'' (King of Kings). Later on, this title was changed into ''Padishah'' (Great King), used by Persian rulers as well as the Ottoman Sultans. |
| 376 | ** The Islamic world in general has the title of Caliph, meaning "inheritor". It was rougly comparable to the title of Emperor: it implied the bearer was a successor of Prophet Muhammad himself and thus, in theory, given right to rule over the entire Muslim community. However, from the late Middle Ages onwards, the Abbasid caliphs gradually lost power, becoming [[PuppetKing Puppet Kings]] to other rulers. Caliphs would once again become the leading power in the Middle East during the early Renaissance, but only because the Ottoman Sultans (mentioned above) took the title for themselves. After the Ottomans, the title is vacant - though the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant "Islamic State"]] terrorist group has tried to claim it for their leader. |
| 377 | ** Ancient India had several imperial dynasties stretching from the ancient Maurya and Gupta dynasties to the heavily Persian-influenced Mughal dynasty. Many of the older Emperors during the Buddhist era took on the title "Chakravartin" or "turner of the wheel (of Dharma)" referring to an idealized universal monarch, and "Samrat" or (literally) "Ruler of all", and the Mughals took on the Persian title "Padishah" or "Badshah". |
| 378 | * Ethiopian monarchs for nearly 3,000 years (according to tradition, at least) used the title Nəgusä Nägäst ("King of Kings"), which was translated as "Emperor". Legend has it that the first Emperor was a son of the Biblical Solomon, which is perhaps the only reason a rather small African nation was able to get away with calling itself an Empire. Well that and the fact that it was the only African nation to successfully resist European colonialism purely by military force, thoroughly embarrassing the Italians in the process. |
| 379 | * Interesting RealLife twist on the trope: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Norton Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico]]. [[AuthorityInNameOnly He wasn't really a ruling emperor]]; he was just some British guy who [[CloudCuckooLander went a little bonkers]] following a bad trading deal that left his funds in shambles. [[EnsembleDarkhorse He was enormously popular among the inhabitants of San Francisco, though]] - he got entry to the city's finest restaurants and theatres for free, had his own currency which was officially accepted by the city, single-handedly prevented a violent Anti-Chinese riot from breaking out, the townsfolk rallied to get him released when he was unjustly arrested by the San Francisco Police Department, and his funeral was attended by 30,000 people at a time when San Francisco's population was 230,000. |
| 380 | ** Most of the tales surrounding Emperor Norton are really PR ploy invented by San Francisco's businesses and citizens, however. While many businesses were happy to use Norton as a prop to accentuate the city's image for tolerance and eccentricity, the man himself was actually treated miserably most of the time. His dogs were poisoned. He was kicked out of many business establishments. He lived in a crummy room at a cheap boarding house with only shabby clothes and not much more to his name. Only his funeral, ironically, matched the hype. |
| 381 | * ''Literature/TheBible'' had Solomon. |
| 382 | * UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst and his grandson UsefulNotes/EdwardIII were the closest pre-UK England had for Emperors as they are the only monarchs powerful enough to get the title "Arbiter of Europe". |
| 383 | ** UsefulNotes/HenryTheSecond and UsefulNotes/HenryV had significant continental possessions as well, the latter being the ''only'' English monarch to have his claim to the throne of France legitimized in treaty. |
| 384 | ** Later, UsefulNotes/QueenVictoria took the title "Empress of India". Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, and George VI were all styled "Emperor of India" after her until the title was abolished. Sometimes they were referred to as "King-Emperor". |
| 385 | ** As noted above, the status of the British monarchs is complicated, Website/TheOtherWiki even has an extra article for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Emperor British Emperor]]. |
| 386 | * Medieval Spain had Several [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperator_totius_Hispaniae Emperors of all Spain.]] |
| 387 | * The first emperor in recorded history was Sargon of Akkad, whose armies overran most of Iraq in the twenty-fourth century, BCE. He was able to do this because he also had the first professional army in recorded history, giving him a decisive edge over his contemporaries. For thousands of years to come the kings of Assyria and Babylon would take Sargon as their idol and aim to equal or succeed his achievements. |
| 388 | * The First Emperor of México was Agustín de Iturbide, later Agustín I. After a brilliant and undefeated military career in the War of Independence on the side of the royalists, Iturbide crafted his own plan to liberate México. Said plan expressly called for an Independent México, with a Mexican congress but a Spanish ruler, leaving himself out of the possibility of becoming Emperor. After almost single-handedly achieving the Independence in 7 months, a treaty was signed with the last Viceroy of New Spain, who added a clause that allowed for congress to elect the Mexican ruler if Spain declined it's right to appoint a king for México. Spain refused to acknowledge the Mexican Independence, and public opinion turned to Iturbide, who was, for once in this trope, reluctant to take the charge (he already held what would be the equivalent to the presidency at the moment). A public proclamation then took place, hailing him as Emperor. The next day, congress ratified the election and he was made Emperor. But congress had declared itself sovereign from day one, which led to power struggles between the two powers. After members of congress conspired to kill him, Iturbide was forced to disband congress and reform it as a smaller organism, which gave his political enemies a rallying point. Iturbide eventually elected to resign and exile himself and thus ended the First Mexican Empire. |
| 389 | * The Second Emperor of México was Maximilian of Habsburg. He was installed by the french intervention in México, which in turned was brought about by the Mexican conservatives seeking to counter the U.S support of the liberal party. Maximilian accepted the offer on the condition that he be convinced that the Mexican people wanted him as a ruler. Maximilian was also largely a benevolent ruler, who truly sought to help Mexico become a better country and had many liberal ideas. However, as the U.S emerged from its Civil War to support the liberal government of Juárez, the French retreated their support of Maximilian, as they were facing the coming Franco-Prussian War. Choosing to stand his ground, Maximilian and his forces could not prevail against the U.S backed liberals. He was captured and unjustly executed by President Juárez, who had compromised Mexican sovereignty and territory in order to secure U.S support of his regime. |
| 390 | * UsefulNotes/GenghisKhan, first Khagan of the Mongol Empire. The title "Khagan" can be translated as "Khan of Khans", similar to the "King of Kings" titles mentioned in the entries for Persia and Ethiopia above. Began his ruling career leading a small tribe in east Asia, died ruling the largest land empire in history. After his death the empire split into four Khanates which themselves could have been considered empires in terms of size and power, although officially there was only one Khagan to whom the other Khans were subordinate. |
| 391 | [[/folder]] |
| 392 | ---- |
| 393 | ->''[[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 The Emperor Protects]]'' |
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