History Main / KingOfBeasts

There is another possible explanation about the royal title. Let's remember lions have not always been African animals, they did live in temperate forests in the past, even in ''Ancient Greece'': this means lions were around not far away Aristotle, while other powerful wild animals such as elephants and tigers were exotic critters and still are seen as such in modern Europe. In ancient Greek and Anatolian settings, the lion was easily the top-predator, outstanding even wolves and brown bears (European bears are much smaller than North-American grizzlies and kodiak): hence KingOfBeasts. Then the title became a meme and remained even when modern explorations made tigers, elephants and other exotic large mammals more familiar to general public.

However, RealLife lions ''have'' many potential enemies to look for: an elephant, rhino, hippo, giraffe, and Nile crocodile can all kill a fully-grown male more easily than the opposite, and spotted hyenas can defeat a solitary lion if they are in group. Interesting to note that many African people consider the elephant the ''real'' emperor of the savanna, while in Indian tales the Elephant and the Lion are often portrayed as they are contending their supremacy over all animals. And in Europe before and in some cases after Christianization, it's the bear that is considered the lord of the beasts. In many Eastern countries, the tiger often take role of the king of beasts [[TigerVersusDragon despite having to compete with what Westerners call the "Chinese dragon."]] The tiger is often associated with the Earth (king of earthly beasts) and the dragon is associated with the Heavens (king of mythical beasts).

[[AC:MMORPGs]]

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/KingOfBeasts_8558.jpg
[[caption-width:222:It's Good To Be The King]]

** Yugioh also have "Behemoth the King of All Animals" and much more the humongous or elephant type.

However, RealLife lions ''have'' many potential enemies to look for: an elephant, rhino, hippo, giraffe, and Nile crocodile can all kill a fully-grown male more easily than the opposite, and spotted hyenas can defeat a solitary lion if they are in group. Interesting to note that many African people consider the elephant the ''real'' emperor of the savanna, while in Indian tales the Elephant and the Lion are often portrayed as they are contending their supremacy over all animals. And in Europe before and in some cases after Christianization, it's the bear that is considered the lord of the beasts. In many Eastern countries, the tiger often take role of the king of beasts [TigerVersusDragon despite having to compete with what Westerners call the "Chinese dragon."] The tiger is often associated with the Earth (king of earthly beasts) and the dragon is associated with the Heavens (king of mythical beasts).

However, RealLife lions ''have'' many potential enemies to look for: an elephant, rhino, hippo, giraffe, and Nile crocodile can all kill a fully-grown male more easily than the opposite, and spotted hyenas can defeat a solitary lion if they are in group. Interesting to note that many African people consider the elephant the ''real'' emperor of the savanna, while in Indian tales the Elephant and the Lion are often portrayed as they are contending their supremacy over all animals. And in Europe before and in some cases after Christianization, it's the bear that is considered the lord of the beasts. In many Eastern countries, the tiger often take role of the king of beasts ({{TigerVersusDragon}} despite having to compete with what Westerners call the "Chinese dragon.") The tiger is often associated with the Earth (king of earthly beasts) and the dragon is associated with the Heavens (king of mythical beasts).

However, RealLife lions ''have'' many potential enemies to look for: an elephant, rhino, hippo, giraffe, and Nile crocodile can all kill a fully-grown male more easily than the opposite, and spotted hyenas can defeat a solitary lion if they are in group. Interesting to note that many African people consider the elephant the ''real'' emperor of the savanna, while in Indian tales the Elephant and the Lion are often portrayed as they are contending their supremacy over all animals. And in Europe before and in some cases after Christianization, it's the bear that is considered the lord of the beasts. In many Eastern countries, the tiger often take role of the king of beasts [{{TigerVersusDragon}} despite having to compete with what Westerners call the "Chinese dragon."] The tiger is often associated with the Earth (king of earthly beasts) and the dragon is associated with the Heavens (king of mythical beasts).

However, RealLife lions ''have'' many potential enemies to look for: an elephant, rhino, hippo, giraffe, and Nile crocodile can all kill a fully-grown male more easily than the opposite, and spotted hyenas can defeat a solitary lion if they are in group. Interesting to note that many African people consider the elephant the ''real'' emperor of the savanna, while in Indian tales the Elephant and the Lion are often portrayed as they are contending their supremacy over all animals. And in Europe before and in some cases after Christianization, it's the bear that is considered the lord of the beasts. In many Eastern countries, the tiger often take role of the king of beasts despite having to compete with what Westerners call the "Chinese dragon." The tiger is often associated with the Earth (king of earthly beasts) and the dragon is associated with the Heavens (king of mythical beasts).

However, RealLife lions ''have'' many potential enemies to look for: an elephant, rhino, hippo, giraffe, and Nile crocodile can all kill a fully-grown male more easily than the opposite, and spotted hyenas can defeat a solitary lion if they are in group. Interesting to note that many African people consider the elephant the ''real'' emperor of the savanna, while in Indian tales the Elephant and the Lion are often portrayed as they are contending their supremacy over all animals. And in Europe before and in some cases after Christianization, it's the bear that is considered the lord of the beasts.

* Similarly, ''HyakujuuSentaiGaoranger'' has a lion associated with the team leader, and the chest of the god of animals is also a lion.
* Because ''Gaoranger'' did it, ''PowerRangersWildForce'' naturally did the same.

* In the Disney version of ''{{Aladdin}}'', lions are briefly seen in one of the music numbers with the [[EverythingsWorseWithBears bears]].

* Happens every so often in ''{{Transformers}}''. ''[[TransformersGeneration1 Generation 1]]'' had the Predacons, whose leader, Razorclaw, had a mechanical lion for an altmode. ''BeastWarsII'' gave us Lio Convoy, another lion, an leader of the series' Maximals.
* In ''[[FireEmblemTellius Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance/Radiant Dawn]]'', it's the Lion Clan of Laguz that rule Gallia. The lions are also the strongest of the beast tribe.

* In ''[[WorldOfDarkness Werewolf: the Apocalypse]]'', the Simba, or werelions, claim authority over all the Bastet (though most Bastet would rather follow the Khan, or tiger tribe).
* In Disney's ''TheLionKing'', the lions are acknowledged as the Kings of the Savannah - even by those species they generally prey upon.
* In Disney's ''Disney/RobinHood'', King [[RichardTheLionHeart Richard]] and Prince John are lions. Richard (who also provides a StealthPun) fits the regal image perfectly. John, on the other hand, is scrawny and pathetic.
* ''King Leonardo and his Short Subjects''
* ''Hyakujuu-oh GoLion''- it's made up of five lions, and the "Hyakujuu-oh" means "King of a Hundred Beasts".
* Similarly, ''HyakujuuSentaiGaoranger'' has a lion associated with the team leader, and the chest of the god of animals is also a lion.
* Because ''Gaoranger'' did it, ''PowerRangersWildForce'' naturally did the same.
* Aesop's fables (and later, the RomanDeRenart (''i.e.'', Reynard the [[CunningLikeAFox Fox]]) and la Fontaine's fables) have the lion as King of Beasts (called Noble the Lion in mediaeval beast fable). As fables have very deep, archaic mythological roots, the trope may very well be OlderThanDirt; however, Aesop was definitely the TropeCodifier.
** There's also a similar motif in some Chinese fables, such as "The Fox Usurps the Lion's Authority", though in others "Lioness" (or "Tigress") is symbolic a particularly fearsome wife.
* There's a ''[[{{Yu-Gi-Oh Card Game}} Yu-Gi-Oh]]'' card called King of Beasts, [[CaptainObvious astoundingly enough]], it's a lion.
* Aslan in ''TheChroniclesOfNarnia'' is [[CrystalDragonJesus Narnia's version of Jesus]], and he's a lion. Also, his name actually [[MeaningfulName means]] "lion" in Turkish.
* After he gains courage, the Cowardly Lion becomes King of the Beasts in ''TheWizardOfOz''.

* Alex on ''{{Madagascar}}''. When he was at the Central Park Zoo, he was known as the King of New York, and in the sequel he is revealed to be the son of the alpha male of a pride in Africa.
* On ''TheWuzzles'', Bumblelion (he's [[MixAndMatchCritters half lion]], so it counts) is the ''de facto'' leader of the group. At the very least he's the one who takes the initiative.
* On AlfredJKwak, the king was a lion, though a somewhat feckless one who constantly needed shouting at from Alfred.

* In the Disney version of Aladdin, lions are briefly seen in one of the music numbers with the [[EverythingsWorseWithBears bears]].
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However, RealLife lions ''have'' many potential enemies to look for: an elephant, rhino, hippo, giraffe, Nile crocodile and Cape Buffalo can all kill a fully-grown male more easily than the opposite, and spotted hyenas can defeat a solitary lion if they are in group. Interesting to note that many African people consider the elephant the ''real'' emperor of the savanna, while in Indian tales the Elephant and the Lion are often portrayed as they are contending their supremacy over all animals. And in Europe before and in some cases after Christianization, it's the bear that is considered the lord of the beasts.

* Aslan in ''TheChroniclesOfNarnia'' is [[CrystalDragonJesus Narnia's version of Jesus]], and he's a lion. Also, his name actually means "lion" in Turkish.

However, RealLife lions ''have'' many potential enemies to look for: an elephant, rhino, hippo, giraffe, Nile crocodile and Cape Buffalo can all kill a fully-grown male more easily than the opposite, and spotted hyenas can defeat a solitary lion if they are in group. Interesting to note that many African people consider elephant the ''real'' emperor of the savanna, while in Indian tales the Elephant and the Lion are often portrayed as they are contending their supremacy over all animals.

However, RealLife lions ''have'' many potential enemies to look for: an elephant, rhino, hippo, giraffe, Nile crocodile and Cape Buffalo can all kill a fully-grown male more easily than the opposite, and spotted hyenas can defeat a solitary lion if they are in group. Interesting to note that many African people consider elephant the ''real'' emperor of the savannah, while in Indian tales the Elephant and the Lion are often portrayed as they are contending their supremacy over all animals.

* On ''TheWuzzles'', Bumblelion (he's [[MixAndMatchCritters half lion]], so it counts) is the ''de facto'' leader of the group. At the very least he's the one who takes the iniciative.

However, It/RealLife lions ''have'' many potential enemies to look for: an elephant, rhino, hippo, giraffe, Nile crocodile and Cape Buffalo can all kill a fully-grown male more easily than the opposite, and spotted hyenas can defeat a solitary lion if they are in group. Interesting to note that many African people consider elephant the ''real'' emperor of the savannah, while in Indian tales the Elephant and the Lion are often portrayed as they are contending their supremacy over all animals.

If exotic animals play a major part in a story, it's likely that lions will be in a position of power or authority. They might command all the other animals, or just the carnivores, or even just the felines. They might not have any real authority, but the other animals (except possibly the tigers) will pay them due respect.