History Main / MilitaryCoup

** On June 30, 1989, the democratic government that al-Dahab had stepped down in favor of was overthrown by Colonel Omar al-Bashir, who set himself up as the leader of the new junta. He'd then stay in power until being overthrown by a popular revolution in 2019.

* On October 25, 2021, the Sudanese military forcibly dissolved the Sovereignty Council, the joint civilian/military transitional government that had been running the county ever since the revolution that overthrew Omar al-Bashir in 2019, detaining the civilian members while the army assumed total control.

* ''Manga/{{Akira}}''. When Colonel Shikishima, who already has his hands full in trying to stop the [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity rampaging]] [[PersonOfMassDestruction Tetsuo]] from destroying Neo-Tokyo, learns that the civilian government plans to arrest him, he declares a state of emergency and orders the military to overthrow the government. In the manga, the Colonel, desperate to find Akira, initiates the military coup in response to the government's tepid response to the crisis.

* ''Anime/Patlabor2TheMovie''. A series of terrorist attacks give the appearance of a military coup.

* ''Film/PowerPlay'' (1978) is a British-Canadian film inspired by the non-fiction strategy book ''Coup d'État: A Practical Handbook'' by Edward N. Luttwak. A group of military officers angry at the corruption and repression of an unnamed European government plan to take over the country and restore civilian government, but one of the plotters assumes power instead.

* After losing his bid for reelection after being president of Cuba in 1940 and spending some time in the US, UsefulNotes/FulgencioBatista seized power this way in 1952, taking over the Cuban government with military backing and becoming a quite brutal dictator. He would later be overthrown himself in 1959 during the Cuban Revolution led by UsefulNotes/FidelCastro.

* And in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', we have Starfleet Admiral Leyton convincing the government to enact martial law on Earth, secretly in preparation for him to launch a coup and put in a government that will be able to protect Earth from the [[BigBad Dominion]]. Amusingly enough, both Admiral Leyton and [[Series/BabylonFive General Hague]] were played by the same actor. The reason General Hague [[spoiler:had a bridge dropped on him]] in B5 was because the actor was unavailable for a key episode... he was filming this episode of ''Deep Space Nine''.

* In ''FanFic/{{Fractured}}'', a ''Franchise/MassEffect''[=/=]''Franchise/StarWars''[[spoiler:[=/=]''[=Borderlands=]'']] [[MassiveMultiplayerCrossover crossover]], a small government department called [[spoiler:the United Defense Command]] grabs more and more power, eventually turning the Citadel Council into a government InNameOnly. Of course, the rationale is galactic security since the Reapers have arrived.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': With Penny loose with the Winter Maiden's powers, the Relic of Knowledge in Salem's hands, and his few loyal forces weakened, Ironwood declares martial law across Atlas. When the remaining councilmen come to him to protest, he shoots Sleet in cold blood to remove him as an obstacle.

* The Newburgh Conspiracy of 1783 was an attempted coup led by rogue officers in the Continental Army with the backing of members in the Continental Congress at the end of UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution. Disgruntled at not being paid for some time, the conspirators urged UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington to overthrow the Continental Congress and install himself as dictator. The coup fizzled out when Washington denounced the coup attempt and Congress offered a compromise on military pensions.

* ''WebOriginal/TheDeathOfRussia'':

* The Business Plot of 1933 was a coup attempt by wealthy bankers who wanted to overthrow UsefulNotes/FranklinDRoosevelt and [[OneNationUnderCopyright establish a fascist corporatocracy]], fearing that he would turn America into a socialist country. Under the ploy of Roosevelt being in ill health, they wanted 500,000 veterans to storm the Capitol[[note]]which would not be breached until 2021, when far-right supporters of then-president UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump tried to stop the Electoral College proceedings under the belief that the 2020 election was "stolen" from Trump. Before this, Trump unsuccessfully bullied election officials and filed {{Frivolous Lawsuit}}s right up to the Supreme Court in an attempt to flip the results. Trump's effort to remain in power even after losing to UsefulNotes/JoeBiden has been seen as an attempted self-coup[[/note]] with retired Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler at the helm to rally support. But being dead-set on the oath he swore to protect the country, Butler instead blew the whistle and secured enough evidence to bring it before Congress. Had the coup worked out, Butler was to assume emergency powers as the "Secretary of General Affairs" with FDR being reduced to a figurehead role. While it was initially dismissed as hearsay, many historians now agree some sort of scheme was contemplated and discussed.

Want to know how unpopular a leader of a country is? Usually, it goes no further than if even the leader's own military forces can't stand him and proceed to attempt to overthrow the ruler by [[RogueSoldier rogue soldiers]] going against tehir commanders-in-chief. At worst, expect the country to become a military junta (a state run by the military) afterwards, which is when the military plans to take over the existing government, ushering in a new [[TheEmpire empire]] under [[EmergencyAuthority martial law]].

Want to know how unpopular a leader of a country is? Usually, it goes no further than if even the leader's own military forces can't stand him and proceed to attempt to overthrow the ruler. At worst, expect the country to become a military junta (a state run by the military) afterwards, which is when the military plans to take over the existing government, ushering in a new [[TheEmpire empire]] under [[EmergencyAuthority martial law]].

* ''U.S.S.A.'' A military coup overthrows the U.S. government. The country's name is changed to the "United Secure States of America".

* It's implied that this trope occurred in the beginning of ''Film/SuperMarioBros.'', when Koopa, wearing what was evidently a top General's uniform, demands to know the meteorite shard's location from Daisy's (soon to be dead) mom when ambushing her in the tunnel leading to the dimensional portal. [[spoiler:Not to mention that his former boss and Daisy's father, King Bowser, was de-evolved into Fungus.]]

* It's implied that this trope occurred in the beginning of ''Film/SuperMarioBros.'', when Koopa, wearing what was evidently a top General's uniform, demands to know the meteorite shard's location from Daisy's (soon to be dead) mom when ambushing her in the tunnel leading to the dimensional portal. [[spoiler:Not to mention that his former boss and Daisy's father, [[NamesTheSame King Bowser]], was de-evolved into Fungus.]]

Want to know how unpopular a leader of a country is? Usually, it goes no further than if even the leader's own military forces can't stand him and proceed to attempt to overthrow the ruler. At worst, expect the country to become a military junta (a state run by the military) afterwards, which is when the military plans to take over the existing government, ushering in a new [[TheEmpire empire]] under martial law.

* The plotline of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' dealt with the GRU trying to dispose of Khrushchev, with Volgin masterminding the entire coup against Khrushchev. Sokolov also implies that the coup was occurring quite a while before, but Khrushchev managed to put down any resistance until Kennedy's assassination. Naked Snake (an American agent) was called in to stop Volgin and The Boss from continuing with the coup, as it would have otherwise led to WorldWarIII.

* In ''VideoGame/Hitman2016'', 47 is sent to Marrakesh to eliminate General Reza Zaydan, who intends on using his release of con-artist Claus Strandberg to perform one.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E2CapeFeare Cape Feare]], Lisa's penpal Anya writes that the president of her country has been overthrown and replaced by General Krull.

* The Business Plot of 1933 was a coup attempt by wealthy bankers who wanted to overthrow UsefulNotes/FranklinDRoosevelt and [[OneNationUnderCopyright establish a fascist corporatocracy]], fearing that he would turn America into a socialist country. Under the ploy of Roosevelt being in ill health, they wanted 500,000 veterans to storm the Capitol[[note]]which would not be breached until 2021, when far-right supporters of then-president UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump tried to stop the Electoral College proceedings under the belief that the 2020 election was "stolen" from Trump. Before this, Trump unsuccessfully bullied election officials and filed {{Frivolous Lawsuit}}s right up to the Supreme Court in an attempt to flip the results. Trump's effort to remain in power even after losing to UsefulNotes/JoeBiden has been seen as an attempted self-coup[[/note]] with retired Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler at the helm to rally support. But being dead-set on the oath he swore to protect the country, Butler instead blew the whistle and secured enough evidence to bring it before Cognress. Had the coup worked out, Butler was to assume emergency powers as the "Secretary of General Affairs" with FDR being reduced to a figurehead role. While it was initially dismissed as hearsay, many historians now agree some sort of scheme was contemplated and discussed.

** Two more coups were attempted during the Cold War. There was the "Sanmu Incident", where at least 13 suspects, some of them JSDF officers, were arrested for trying to stockpile weapons for a coup attempt on December 12, 1961. One of the suspects was Taku Mikami, who was detained for being involved in the May 15 incident back in 1932. The suspects justified their plan to save Japan from being dominated by Communists after they plan to assassinate the Prime Minister and the rest of the cabinet. The other was on November 25, 1970, known as the "Mishima Incident", after Creator/YukioMishima, at that time Japan's most famous author, who was also a right-wing extremist who led a small group of like-minded people that attempted to incite a military revolt among the JSDF. When this failed - Mishima was booed and jeered down by the soldiers summoned to hear his speech urging them to rise up - Mishima committed ''seppuku''. Both of these made some parts of Japanese society very nervous.

* A disturbingly recent and western example, UsefulNotes/{{France}} 1958. The French armed forces, dissatisfied with government policy in Algeria, occupied the island of Corsica and threatened to seize Paris and take power though force if UsefulNotes/CharlesDeGaulle, [=WW2=] President-in-Exile and war hero, wasn't brought back as prime minister. The parliament relented but fortunately De Gaulle had no plans to institute a military dictatorship. Further conflicts between the military and the civilian government continued through the following years, including attempted coups aimed at ''de Gaulle'' by far-right military elements, who were enraged by his recognition of Algeria's independence. (This would form the basis of the novel ''Literature/TheDayOfTheJackal'', in which one of these failed coups cause the leaders to try the subtler means of assassination.)

** Obote returned to power in the controversial 1980 elections, which were widely accused of having been rigged in favor of Obote and his political party. During the Ugandan Bush War that followed, [[HistoryRepeats Obote was deposed again]], this time in a plot led by Tito Okello. Okello's rule would only last a few months before the National Resistance Army took control of the country and he was replaced as president by Yoweri Museveni.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* ''WebComic/GrimTrigger'': Valamar overthrows the Grey Prince in book 4 using this method.
[[/folder]]

* ''Anime/{{Patlabor}}: The Movie 2''. A series of terrorist attacks give the appearance of a military coup.

* The plot of ''VideoGame/GhostRecon Advanced Warfighter'' has the player character assisting Mexican loyalists in fighting off a coup by a rogue general opposed to the signing of a security agreement between the US, Canada and Mexico.

* The Business Plot of 1933 was a coup attempt by wealthy bankers who wanted to overthrow UsefulNotes/FranklinDRoosevelt and [[OneNationUnderCopyright establish a fascist corporatocracy]], fearing that he would turn America into a socialist country. Under the ploy of Roosevelt being in ill health, they wanted 500,000 veterans to storm the Capitol[[note]]which would not be breached until 2021, when far-right supporters of then-president UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump tried to stop the Electoral College proceedings under the belief that the 2020 election was "stolen" from Trump. Before this, Trump unsuccessfully bullied election officials and filed {{Frivolous Lawsuit}}s right up to the Supreme Court in an attempt to flip the results. Trump's effort to remain in power even after losing to UsefulNotes/JoeBiden has been seen as an attempted self-coup[[/note]] with retired Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler at the helm to rally support. But being dead-set on the oath he swore to protect the country, Butler instead blew the whistle and secured enough evidence to bring it before Cognress. Had the coup worked out, Butler was to assume emergency powers as the "Secretary of General Affairs" with FDR being reduced to a figurehead role.

** In ''Film/ANewHope'' is implied, and confirmed in ''Literature/FromACertainPointOfView'', that Grand Moff Tarkin planned to use the Death Star to stage one against Palpatine. Differently from Grand Moff Trachta above he had properly planned to deal with the Sith, with Darth Vader implied to be part of the conspiracy and ''the supreme commander of the Navy being '''confirmed''' as a member''.

* The notorious ''[[Franchise/LyricalNanoha Nanoha]]'' doujinshi ''Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha [=BetrayerS=]'' is set in an AlternateTimeline wherein the eponymous "Betrayers" (led by Hayate and including Nanoha, Teana, and the Wolkenritter) staged a coup to take over the TSAB.
* In ''FanFic/{{Fractured}}'', a ''Franchise/MassEffect''[=/=]''Franchise/StarWars''[[spoiler:[=/=]''[=Borderlands=]'']] [[MassiveMultiplayerCrossover crossover]], a small government department called [[spoiler:the United Defense Command]] grabs more and more power, eventually turning the Citadel Council into a government InNameOnly. Of course, the rationale is galactic security since the Reapers have arrived.
* ''FanFic/ABriefHistoryOfEquestria'': At the height of the [[MeleeATrois Lake Trot Crisis]], General [[GeniusBruiser Wind Whistler]] stages one of these, leading roughly two-thirds of the Celestine Junta's military against [[TheCaligula Commander Sullamander]], aided by a simultaneous GladiatorRevolt by her lover, Hurricane. [[spoiler: Sullamander and Wind Whistler are both killed during the coup, leaving Hurricane to take over.]]

* The ''Frozen'' DarkFic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10309544/1/By-the-Hands-of-the-People By the Hands of the People]]'' revolves around this. In 1848 a revolution breaks out in Arendelle to dethrone the royal family. Elsa and Anna are imprisoned and then executed.

* In the first chapter of ''Film/ManOfSteel'' fanfiction ''Fanfic/DaughterOfFireAndSteel'', General Zod stages a military coup, dissolves the Kryptonian Science Council and assumes total authority.
* ''Fanfic/ThisBites'': While it hasn't happened yet, this is the end goal of the New World Masons, a BenevolentConspiracy of pirate crews and a [[DefectorFromDecadence splinter sect of Marines]] [[spoiler: led by Smoker, Tashigi and Hina]], which is aiming at allowing the latter group to overthrow the World Government in order to free the world from its corruption.

* During the times of the UsefulNotes/RomanEmpire, if their Emperor was showing signs of Caligula-like behaviour (like the man himself, or Domitian, or Commodus), the Praetorian Guard tended to orchestrate a MilitaryCoup against him and then kill him and his family off in order to prevent the chance of any of his descendants from potentially becoming another Caligula, and then installing someone into the position who is a bit more stable and controllable...or, as it turned out in practice, just bump off any guy they didn't like because he was harming their or the military's interest (e.g. Pertinax, Claudius Gothicus, Aurelian). Alternatively, popular generals could try and install themselves, sometimes staging a civil war depending on their ability to bribe the Praetorians.

* A DiscussedTrope in ''Series/TheCrown2016''. Lord Mountbatten is approached by a number of bankers and businessmen alarmed at Harold Wilson's socialist policies. Their plan is to overthrow the elected British government, take it over themselves, and install Mountbatten as a figurehead ruler. He points out that overthrowing an established First World democracy like Great Britain would require the unquestioning loyalty of tens of thousands of troops to arrest the Prime Minister and other politicians, secure the capital and establish martial law--which he didn't have even in his heyday.

* The Business Putsch of 1933 was a coup attempt by wealthy bankers who wanted to overthrow UsefulNotes/FranklinDRoosevelt and [[OneNationUnderCopyright establish a fascist corporatocracy]], fearing that he would turn America into a socialist country. Under the ploy of Roosevelt being in ill health, they wanted 500,000 veterans to storm the US Capitol[[note]]which would not be breached until 2021, when far-right supporters of then-president UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump tried to stop the Electoral College proceedings under the belief that the 2020 election was "stolen" from Trump. Before this, Trump unsuccessfully bullied election officials and filed {{Frivolous Lawsuit}}s right up to the Supreme Court in an attempt to flip the results. Trump's effort to remain in power even after losing to UsefulNotes/JoeBiden has been seen as an attempted self-coup[[/note]] with retired Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler at the helm to rally support. But being dead-set on the oath he swore to protect the country, Butler instead blew the whistle as soon as he felt he had enough evidence to take it before Congress. Had the coup worked out, Butler was to assume emergency powers as the "Secretary of General Affairs" with FDR being reduced to a figurehead role.