History Main / AProtagonistShallLeadThem

* Monkey D. Luffy of ''Manga/OnePiece'' is both TheProtagonist and TheCaptain of his own crew, the Straw Hat Pirates. And in the Straw Hats' alliances with other parties, even when they're ostensibly equals, Luffy's stubbornness, independence, and headstrong personality usually result in him being the ''de facto'' leader since he refuses to follow anyone else. It gets taken UpToEleven after Dressrosa, where six other pirate crews of various sizes declare themselves his underlings (against his wishes), forming the Straw Hat Grand Fleet of over 5,000 strong.

* ''Anime/EntakuKishiNoMonogatariMoeroArthur'': Arthur (under the tutelage of Merlin and Ector) is TheLeader of the knights, and also the rightful king of England.

TheHero of a character, frequently a ChosenOne who rises out of adversity to unite and lead their people. The people in question also tend to be threatened; by disunity, by the [[BigBad villain]], by being a dying civilization, or other variations on the theme "their hour of greatest need". Through the leadership of the hero, the people see a considerable boost in quality of life and a renewed sense of pride, and masses will flock to his banner.

* Referenced in an Creator/IsaacAsimov story, "Robot Dreams", where a robot has this kind of messianic dreams (complete with references to the story of Moses). [[ShootTheDog Susan Calvin shoots him in the head.]]

* Arren/Lebannen from ''Literature/TheFarthestShore''.

* Caesar for the apes in ''Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' and its [[Film/DawnOfThePlanetOfTheApes two]] [[Film/WarForThePlanetOfTheApes sequels]].

* Aang of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. All Avatars have this, as it is their job to 'keep the balance of the world', but Aang in particular as he must end 100 years of war.

* Myth/KingArthur

** The Macabees.
** Jesus in the New Testament, who gathers a lot of followers and was/is often called a king. If the Book of Revelation is any indication...

** Interestingly, he might not be the most straight example, despite being a prime contender. Sokka seems to do a lot more of the day to day leading, being the strategist of the group, while Aang would much prefer to go around and play. (Although, Sokka does let Aang make choices on Avatar matters). By the end of the series [[spoiler: Zuko also takes this role, becoming de facto leader of the gAang while Aang's away, and then becoming Fire Lord.]]

SisterTrope to RightfulKingReturns and OfferedTheCrown; this trope is not exclusive to lost royalty, nor will the protagonist always gain an official title afterwards. Very often also a MagneticHero.

* Dreamy Smurf in ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' who dreams of being taken to the land of the Pookies where his SecondComing portends a deliverance from the tyrannical Norf Nags.

* Youko of ''LightNovel/TheTwelveKingdoms'' is thrust into this, at first unwillingly. All the emperors of the world are chosen by the kirin and without a ruler, the kingdom falls into chaos. Some successions are more smooth than others though, and Youko had to be sought out in "our" world by Keiki.

A TheHero of a character, frequently a ChosenOne who rises out of adversity to unite and lead their people. The people in question also tend to be threatened; by disunity, by the [[BigBad villain]], by being a dying civilization, or other variations on the theme "their hour of greatest need". Through the leadership of the hero, the people see a considerable boost in quality of life and a renewed sense of pride, and masses will flock to his banner.

* The ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'' has the protagonists of their respective series, [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky Estelle Bright]] in the Liberl arc, [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesZeroNoKiseki Lloyd Bannings]] in the Crossbell arc, and [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel Rean Schwarzer]] in the Erebonia arc, leading the team.

OlderThanFeudalism. May overlap with TheParagon. If the people are pressed by a foreign power, the heroic leader may become part of LaResistance. Their story will frequently include an AwesomeMomentOfCrowning. When a secondary hero rather than the protagonist is the leader, it's a SupportingLeader.

* The ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'' has the protagonists of their respective series, [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky Estelle Bright]] in the Liberl arc, [[VideoGame/ZeroNoKiseki Lloyd Bannings]] in the Crossbell arc, and [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel Rean Schwarzer]] in the Erebonia arc, leading the team.

A HeroicArchetype of a character, frequently a ChosenOne who rises out of adversity to unite and lead their people. The people in question also tend to be threatened; by disunity, by the [[BigBad villain]], by being a dying civilization, or other variations on the theme "their hour of greatest need". Through the leadership of the hero, the people see a considerable boost in quality of life and a renewed sense of pride, and masses will flock to his banner.

* Youko of ''LightNovel/TheTwelveKingdoms'' is thrust into this, at first unwillingly. All the emperors of the world are chosen by the kirin and without a ruler the kingdom falls into chaos. Some sucessions are more smooth than others though, and Youko had to be sought out in "our" world by Keiki.

* ''Literature/ReapersGale'', the seventh volume of the ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'', sets out to deconstruct this with the character of Redmask. He walks out of the Wastelands claiming he's the ChosenOne who once was banished but is now back to unite the tribes of the Awl against the invading and oppressive Letherii. He forcibly takes leadership of the tribes and initially it seems like he was right all along. But, eventually, [[spoiler:he badly miscalculates a battle and is slain by his own giant pet lizards.]] Left to their own devices, leaderless and defeated, the Awl never recover and are assimilated into another invading tribe. In the end it turns out that Redmask himself [[spoiler:was not even an Awl, but a Letherii who was kidnapped by the Awl as a boy and then driven out into the Wastelands for some minor transgression.]]

* ''Literature/SwordOfTruth'': The hero Richard Rahl is revealed as the heir of the D'Haran Empire, the initial enemy, after he defeats its leader as the first book concludes. He initially resists taking up the role, but accepts this when another, worse threat is revealed who everyone must unite against to stop.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* Sheridan from ''Series/BabylonFive'' leads the fight both against the corrupt President Clarke, and also [[AbusivePrecursors the Shadows and the Vorlons]].

* A main quest in VideoGame/GuildWars in actually named "And a Hero shall lead them". The whole point of the Nightfall campaign (and the other to a lesser extent) is the hero (i.e. the player) leading others to save the day.

** Interestingly, he might not be the most straight example, despite being a prime contender. Sokka seems to do a lot more of the day to day leading, being the strategist of the group, while Aang would much prefer to go around and play. (Although, Sokka does let Aang make choices on Avatar matters). By the end of the series [[spoiler: Zuko also takes this role, becoming defacto leader of the gAang while Aang's away, and then becoming Fire Lord.]]

* The ''VideoGame/KisekiSeries'' has the protagonists of their respective series, [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky Estelle Bright]] in the Liberl arc, [[VideoGame/ZeroNoKiseki Lloyd Bannings]] in the Crossbell arc, and [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel Rean Schwarzer]] in the Erebonia arc, leading the team.