What would cause a King in the Mountain for a Republic?

This is easier to happen for a Monarchy as many kings back up their rule by claiming they were divinely ordained to lead. Thus, they are the only one who are allowed to rule the nation. However, this doesn't really happen in a republic. So what would it take for a republic or democracy to develop a King in the Mountain myth?

Just change it to "President in a Mountain" and you basically have someone like JFK, except with a less educated population.

Or consider that the founder(s) of the republic might be thought of that way. Consider Simon Bolivar.

Hasn't it already been done in real life? George Washington is held up as a marbleized demigod, with all those associated myths: chopping down the cherry tree, "I cannot tell a lie," throwing a silver dollar across the Potomac river, etc.

It's certainly the sort of thing that can lead to a King in the Mountain belief, but there's no legend that Washington is waiting somewhere and will return in America's Darkest Hour. But that's how you could make it plausible for a republic.

edited 8th Dec '16 11:09:13 AM by Madrugada

True fact: George Washington has tomb in DC, and that tomb is EMPTY! (Actually, he is just buried, per his request, at Mount Vernon.)

edited 22nd Feb '17 1:12:45 AM by Sharur

Four words: Walt Disney is frozen.

In a republic a King in the Mountain is usually a capitalist or culture icon.

Elvis isn't dead. He was abducted by space aliens. Yeah, rather than political or authoritative figures, pop culture icons would be the go-to.

A Bolívar figure seems the most plausible to me, honestly: A legendary liberator who fought for the equality of all people and died trying to keep the country afloat before it was even truly born, who may one day return to free the country from tyranny, corruption, and oppression of the poor and downtrodden, whether by foreign or domestic powers. It's a very hopeful myth.

The thing about using pop culture icons as a King in the Mountain is that the people who subscribe to those theories are either conspiracy theorists or people who can't cope with their idols passing. No one who buys into those theories believes that Walt Disney will return one day and restore Disneyland to its former glory (Though that would be an interesting idea).

Well Britain has Francis Drake, so that might be a good start.

Marx would be a good bet.

This actually applies to actually King under the mountain scenarios. Especially if the King valiantly failed, i.e the Byzantine Emperor Constantine the 11th was idolized by the Greeks to help them cope with having to live under Turkish rule.

As for an actual King under the Mountain in a Republic, maybe set it in the future where it is actually conceivable the President was just put into Cryo.

It can also be created by comparing past heroes with the present's idiot politicians. For example South Africans booed their President at the Funeral of Nelson Mandela because Zuma's presence effectively made the comparison between him and Mandela, and he did not stand up well. In the US it's something of a joke that it would be better to revive a dead President, who. could run the country better than some of our current politicians. Give it time, and a population that is ether more spiritual, or undereducated, and you have the origins of a King under the mountain story.

What I would do is use a very popular former war hero, rather than a ruler for a republic. Such as how Confederate sympathisers see Robert E. Lee.