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clean up several examples and move one to proper alphabetical order
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* ''Literature/AMemoryCalledEmpire'' sets this up with the enormous Teixcalaanli empire. Emperor [[FantasticNamingConvention Six Direction]] is old and dying, and has no natural heir. His 90% clone Eight Antidote is only 10 years old, so Six Direction appointed his creche-sister Eight Loop and the merchant scion Thirty Larkspur to be co-regents. To make things worse, the general One Lightning is immensely popular and has the support of a vocal minority. [[spoiler:One Lightning eventually makes his move for a military coup, while Thirty Larkspur tries to exploit the chaos for an internal coup. Six Direction resolves the issue just as it's taking off by unexpectedly naming his advisor Nineteen Adze as empress, then [[HumanSacrifice sacrificing himself in the imperial temple]], thus giving her such good PR that no one would be able to drum up support against her]].
* In ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', the throne of Cthol Murgos goes to the eldest heir of the last king. Thing is, the others will be executed. So even before the king dies, his children are usually out to kill each other. When Taur Urgas died, the battle was on. Urgit, the weakest (but most clever) of his sons, took the throne through virtue of having stolen a key to the royal treasury and hiring assassins. [[spoiler:And then it turns out he's not even Taur Urgas's son in the first place, but nobody who knows this is willing to say anything, because nobody ''wanted'' a [[AxeCrazy legitimate]] [[ItRunsInTheFamily heir]] of Taur Urgas on the throne.]] Also, in the first series the great houses of Tolnedra were squaring off over which would produce the next Emperor since the current one was old and had no son. [[spoiler: The crisis ends up aborted when the Emperor adopts a talented General as his son and heir.]]
* In ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', the throne of Cthol Murgos goes to the eldest heir of the last king. Thing is, the others will be executed. So even before the king dies, his children are usually out to kill each other. When Taur Urgas died, the battle was on. Urgit, the weakest (but most clever) of his sons, took the throne through virtue of having stolen a key to the royal treasury and hiring assassins. [[spoiler:And then it turns out he's not even Taur Urgas's son in the first place, but nobody who knows this is willing to say anything, because nobody ''wanted'' a [[AxeCrazy legitimate]] [[ItRunsInTheFamily heir]] of Taur Urgas on the throne.]] Also, in the first series the great houses of Tolnedra were squaring off over which would produce the next Emperor since the current one was old and had no son. [[spoiler: The crisis ends up aborted when the Emperor adopts a talented General as his son and heir.]]
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* ''Literature/AMemoryCalledEmpire'' sets Several of the nations have this up with the enormous Teixcalaanli empire. Emperor [[FantasticNamingConvention Six Direction]] is old problem in ''Literature/TheBelgariad'' and dying, and has no natural heir. His 90% clone Eight Antidote is only 10 years old, so Six Direction appointed his creche-sister Eight Loop and the merchant scion Thirty Larkspur to be co-regents. To make things worse, the general One Lightning is immensely popular and has the support of a vocal minority. [[spoiler:One Lightning eventually makes his move for a military coup, while Thirty Larkspur tries to exploit the chaos for an internal coup. Six Direction resolves the issue just as it's taking off by unexpectedly naming his advisor Nineteen Adze as empress, then [[HumanSacrifice sacrificing himself in the imperial temple]], thus giving her such good PR that no one would be able to drum up support against her]].
* In ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', theits sequel ''The Malloreon''.
** The throne of Cthol Murgos goes to the eldest heir of the last king. Thing is, the others will be executed. So even before the king dies, his children are usually out to kill each other. When Taur Urgas died, the battle was on. Urgit, the weakest (but most clever) of his sons, took the throne through virtue of having stolen a key to the royal treasury and hiring assassins. [[spoiler:And then it turns out he's not even Taur Urgas's son in the first place, but nobody who knows this is willing to say anything, because nobody ''wanted'' a [[AxeCrazy legitimate]] [[ItRunsInTheFamily heir]] of Taur Urgas on the throne.]] Also, in the first series the great houses ]]
** The Empire of Tolnedrawere squaring off over which would produce the next Emperor since the current one was old and had no son. [[spoiler: The crisis ends up aborted when has strict primogeniture as its rule of succession. If the Emperor adopts leaves no sons, then the Royal Council chooses a new Emperor. Usually these fights involve more bribery and blackmail than violence, but occasionally they get bad enough to involve poisoning and assassination. In ''The Malloreon'', Emperor Ran Borune has no sons of his blood, but he avoids a ruinous succession fight by [[spoiler:adopting a talented General as his son and heir.]]]]
** When almost the entire royal family of Riva is slaughtered by assassins, [[spoiler:and the only survivor is taken and hidden by Belgarath and Polgara,]] the Rivans appoint the Royal Steward, Brand, as king-in-all-but-name. Brand then hands down his office (and his name, as a title) by strict inheritance.
* In ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', the
** The throne of Cthol Murgos goes to the eldest heir of the last king. Thing is, the others will be executed. So even before the king dies, his children are usually out to kill each other. When Taur Urgas died, the battle was on. Urgit, the weakest (but most clever) of his sons, took the throne through virtue of having stolen a key to the royal treasury and hiring assassins. [[spoiler:And then it turns out he's not even Taur Urgas's son in the first place, but nobody who knows this is willing to say anything, because nobody ''wanted'' a [[AxeCrazy legitimate]] [[ItRunsInTheFamily heir]] of Taur Urgas on the throne.
** The Empire of Tolnedra
** When almost the entire royal family of Riva is slaughtered by assassins, [[spoiler:and the only survivor is taken and hidden by Belgarath and Polgara,]] the Rivans appoint the Royal Steward, Brand, as king-in-all-but-name. Brand then hands down his office (and his name, as a title) by strict inheritance.
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* Creator/CSLewis' ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'': In ''Literature/PrinceCaspian'', when Caspian's [[EvilUncle uncle]] has a son, he intends to kill Caspian, whose throne he usurped, so that there will not be a successioncCrisis.
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* Creator/CSLewis' ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'': In ''Literature/PrinceCaspian'', when Caspian's [[EvilUncle uncle]] uncle Miraz]] has a son, he intends to kill Caspian, whose throne he usurped, so that there will not be a successioncCrisis.succession crisis.
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* ''Literature/TheDeedOfPaksenarrion'': The crisis involved with the heir of Lyonya being absent and unable to take the throne is a low-key source of concern throughout the series. It comes to a head in the last book.
** Subverted when [[spoiler: TheRightfulHeir, Duke Kieri Phelan returns and takes his throne]]. The heir, who is still mourning his previous wife, promises to bite the bullet and re-marry to produce a heir before he dies (he is in his mid-fifties). His courtiers FacePalm, laugh and gently remind him that his mother was an elf, that he can expect to remain alive and fertile (barring disease or accident) for at least another century and that while they would appreciate it if he would father a heir chop-chop so they don't have to go through this crap ''again'', there is no reason to rush things.
** Subverted when [[spoiler: TheRightfulHeir, Duke Kieri Phelan returns and takes his throne]]. The heir, who is still mourning his previous wife, promises to bite the bullet and re-marry to produce a heir before he dies (he is in his mid-fifties). His courtiers FacePalm, laugh and gently remind him that his mother was an elf, that he can expect to remain alive and fertile (barring disease or accident) for at least another century and that while they would appreciate it if he would father a heir chop-chop so they don't have to go through this crap ''again'', there is no reason to rush things.
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* ''Literature/TheDeedOfPaksenarrion'': The crisis involved with the heir of Lyonya being absent and unable to take the throne is a low-key source of concern throughout the series. It comes to a head in the last book.
** Subvertedbook. It's subverted when [[spoiler: TheRightfulHeir, [[spoiler:TheRightfulHeir, Duke Kieri Phelan returns and takes his throne]]. The heir, who is still mourning his previous wife, promises to bite the bullet and re-marry to produce a heir before he dies (he is in his mid-fifties). His courtiers FacePalm, laugh and gently remind him that his mother was an elf, that he can expect to remain alive and fertile (barring disease or accident) for at least another century and that while they would appreciate it if he would father a heir chop-chop so they don't have to go through this crap ''again'', there is no reason to rush things.
** Subverted
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* The ''Literature/{{Deryni}}'' series by Creator/KatherineKurtz starts with a contested succession, a barely of age King against the heiress of a long line of pretenders. This crisis in turn has its roots in an earlier crisis in which a Caligula-like monarch was replaced by the middle-aged and far from willing lost heir of the original royal line.
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* The ''Literature/{{Deryni}}'' series by Creator/KatherineKurtz starts with a contested succession, a boy King (he's barely of age King to rule in his own right) against the heiress of a long line of pretenders. This crisis in turn has its roots in an earlier crisis in which a Caligula-like monarch was replaced by the middle-aged and far from willing lost heir of the original royal line.
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* ''Literature/AMemoryCalledEmpire'' sets this up with the enormous Teixcalaanli empire. Emperor [[FantasticNamingConvention Six Direction]] is old and dying, and has no natural heir. His 90% clone Eight Antidote is only 10 years old, so Six Direction appointed his creche-sister Eight Loop and the merchant scion Thirty Larkspur to be co-regents. To make things worse, the general One Lightning is immensely popular and has the support of a vocal minority. [[spoiler:One Lightning eventually makes his move for a military coup, while Thirty Larkspur tries to exploit the chaos for an internal coup. Six Direction resolves the issue just as it's taking off by unexpectedly naming his advisor Nineteen Adze as empress, then [[HumanSacrifice sacrificing himself in the imperial temple]], thus giving her such good PR that no one would be able to drum up support against her]].
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** King Earnur made the fatal mistake of accepting a challenge by the Witch-king of Angmar, and rode to Minas Morgul with only a few men. All were captured and eventually killed. Earnur left no sons and no close kin, so rather than face another civil war, Gondor simply vested the King's power in a caretaker, the Ruling Steward. The Stewards ruled the realm as kings in all but name until a new and valid claimant to the throne arose during the War of the Ring: Aragorn son of Arathorn, Elendil's Heir and the last known male descendant of Elendil, the first King of Gondor.
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* ''Literature/HeirApparent'' by Vivian Vande Velde features a frame story with a virtual reality game, the player of which is the illegitimate child of a king. Said king has just died, and named the player his heir, passing over three legitimate sons. The protagonist of the book, Giannine Bellisario, must play the game until coronation--or she dies. In real life. (This is not normally the case, but the game's safety systems had been damaged by outsiders shortly after Giannine went into the game.)
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* ''Literature/HeirApparent'' by Vivian Vande Velde Creator/VivianVandeVelde features a frame story with a virtual reality game, the player of which is the illegitimate child of a king. Said king has just died, and named the player his heir, passing over three legitimate sons. The protagonist of the book, Giannine Bellisario, must play the game until coronation--or coronation -- or she dies. In real life. (This is not normally the case, but the game's safety systems had been damaged by outsiders shortly after Giannine went into the game.) )
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Removing redirects.
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* Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'':
** Barrayar has been teetering on the brink of a succession crisis throughout the majority of the series. If anything happens to Emperor Gregor, there is currently no clear line of succession, and according to genealogy, there are about six major potential claimants, with more certain to come out of the woodwork, meaning a civil war to settle who the Emperor is. Vidal Vordarian, subsequently known as "the Pretender," tried to trigger a succession crisis in ''Literature/{{Barrayar}}'', a sub-plot of ''Literature/TheWarriorsApprentice'' had another attempt to trigger the succession crisis/war, and Gregor's suicide attempt and subsequent disappearance (over just how RoyallyScrewedUp the Vorbarra dynasty is) nearly set off another one in ''Literature/TheVorGame''. Many of the main characters of the series are very high on the list of possible successors (and most of them are quite willing to push behind Ivan's claims to avoid it themselves), and wish that Gregor would hurry up and produce lots of kids, already, to get them off the hook. (In ''Literature/{{Cryoburn}}'', fortunately, he and his wife have produced several.)
** A non-royal example occurs in ''Literature/ACivilCampaign''. One of the Counts dies without children, and rather than let an incompetent (and sadistic) cousin inherit the title, the late Count's sister Donna undergoes [[GenderBender gender reassignment]] surgery so that, as Dono, he can inherit while avoiding the problem of being a woman in Barryar's male-only inheritance system. Given the fact that the Counts hold a large amount of political power, it still counts despite not being royalty, and the political wrangling over which potential heir to support is a major sub-plot of the novel.
** Barrayar has been teetering on the brink of a succession crisis throughout the majority of the series. If anything happens to Emperor Gregor, there is currently no clear line of succession, and according to genealogy, there are about six major potential claimants, with more certain to come out of the woodwork, meaning a civil war to settle who the Emperor is. Vidal Vordarian, subsequently known as "the Pretender," tried to trigger a succession crisis in ''Literature/{{Barrayar}}'', a sub-plot of ''Literature/TheWarriorsApprentice'' had another attempt to trigger the succession crisis/war, and Gregor's suicide attempt and subsequent disappearance (over just how RoyallyScrewedUp the Vorbarra dynasty is) nearly set off another one in ''Literature/TheVorGame''. Many of the main characters of the series are very high on the list of possible successors (and most of them are quite willing to push behind Ivan's claims to avoid it themselves), and wish that Gregor would hurry up and produce lots of kids, already, to get them off the hook. (In ''Literature/{{Cryoburn}}'', fortunately, he and his wife have produced several.)
** A non-royal example occurs in ''Literature/ACivilCampaign''. One of the Counts dies without children, and rather than let an incompetent (and sadistic) cousin inherit the title, the late Count's sister Donna undergoes [[GenderBender gender reassignment]] surgery so that, as Dono, he can inherit while avoiding the problem of being a woman in Barryar's male-only inheritance system. Given the fact that the Counts hold a large amount of political power, it still counts despite not being royalty, and the political wrangling over which potential heir to support is a major sub-plot of the novel.
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* Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'':
** Barrayar has been teetering on the brink of a succession crisis throughout the majority of the series. If anything happens to Emperor Gregor, there is currently no clear line of succession, and according to genealogy, there are about six major potential claimants, with more certain to come out of the woodwork, meaning a civil war to settle who the Emperor is. Vidal Vordarian, subsequently known as "the Pretender," tried to trigger a succession crisis in''Literature/{{Barrayar}}'', ''Barrayar'', a sub-plot of ''Literature/TheWarriorsApprentice'' ''The Warrior's Apprentice'' had another attempt to trigger the succession crisis/war, and Gregor's suicide attempt and subsequent disappearance (over just how RoyallyScrewedUp the Vorbarra dynasty is) nearly set off another one in ''Literature/TheVorGame''.''The Vor Game''. Many of the main characters of the series are very high on the list of possible successors (and most of them are quite willing to push behind Ivan's claims to avoid it themselves), and wish that Gregor would hurry up and produce lots of kids, already, to get them off the hook. (In ''Literature/{{Cryoburn}}'', ''Cryoburn'', fortunately, he and his wife have produced several.)
** A non-royal example occurs in''Literature/ACivilCampaign''.''A Civil Campaign''. One of the Counts dies without children, and rather than let an incompetent (and sadistic) cousin inherit the title, the late Count's sister Donna undergoes [[GenderBender gender reassignment]] surgery so that, as Dono, he can inherit while avoiding the problem of being a woman in Barryar's male-only inheritance system. Given the fact that the Counts hold a large amount of political power, it still counts despite not being royalty, and the political wrangling over which potential heir to support is a major sub-plot of the novel.
** Barrayar has been teetering on the brink of a succession crisis throughout the majority of the series. If anything happens to Emperor Gregor, there is currently no clear line of succession, and according to genealogy, there are about six major potential claimants, with more certain to come out of the woodwork, meaning a civil war to settle who the Emperor is. Vidal Vordarian, subsequently known as "the Pretender," tried to trigger a succession crisis in
** A non-royal example occurs in
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* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'':
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* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'':''Franchise/Warhammer40000ExpandedUniverse'':
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* ''Literature/TalesFromAlcatraz'': Rumors that Warden Williams may be fired for mishandling a strike in ''Al Capone Throws a Curve'' have various people (prisoners and staff members alike) scrambling to do things that will advance the prospects of his likely successors (including Mr. Flanagan and Darby Trixle) or curry their favor.
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* In ''Literature/MaidenCrown'', this forms the backstory. Knud and Svend Eriksen were rivals for the throne of Denmark, and appealed to the emperor of Germany to arbitrate. He decreed they rule different areas, but the crisis continued when Svend became tyrannical and his liegeman, Valdemar, fought with him and afterwards defected to Knud's side. Valdemar and Knud were then appointed to a joint kingship of Denmark, and to seal their alliance, Valdemar was betrothed to Knud's half-sister Sophie, which is what starts the plot. [[spoiler:After Knud's death, Valdemar becomes the only king.]]
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* Creator/CSLewis' ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'': In ''Literature/PrinceCaspian'', when Caspian's [[EvilUncle uncle]] has a son, he intends to kill Caspian, whose throne he usurped, so that there will not be a Succession Crisis.
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* Creator/CSLewis' ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'': In ''Literature/PrinceCaspian'', when Caspian's [[EvilUncle uncle]] has a son, he intends to kill Caspian, whose throne he usurped, so that there will not be a Succession Crisis.successioncCrisis.
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* ''LightNovel/GaaraHidenASandstormMirage'': The main drive of the novel is the fear that one of Temari's children will be the future Kazekage thanks to the Kazekage bloodline. The Suna elders cannot fathom a Konoha-born shinobi as Kazekage, so they demand Gaara marry and produce children.
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* ''LightNovel/GaaraHidenASandstormMirage'': ''Literature/GaaraHidenASandstormMirage'': The main drive of the novel is the fear that one of Temari's children will be the future Kazekage thanks to the Kazekage bloodline. The Suna elders cannot fathom a Konoha-born shinobi as Kazekage, so they demand Gaara marry and produce children.
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** The "Kin-Strife" was a bloody civil war in Gondor that lasted fifteen years, which had its origins in Crown Prince Valacar's diplomatic efforts toward the Northmen of Rhovanion. These efforts culminated in a strategic marriage to the Northern princess Vidumavi, after which some members of Gondorian nobility began grumbling about [[FantasticRacism their royal line mixing with lesser kinds of Men]]. Refusing to recognize the legitimacy of Valacar's son Eldacar, they threw their support behind Castamir, distant cousin of Eldacar and a more "pure-blooded" Númenorean, enabling him to usurp the throne. The Kin-Strife ended when, after ten years of Castamir's despotic rule, the people of Osgiliath revolted and deposed him, restoring Eldacar as King.
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** The "Kin-Strife" was a bloody civil war in Gondor that lasted fifteen years, which had its origins in Crown Prince Valacar's diplomatic efforts toward the Northmen of Rhovanion. These efforts culminated in a strategic marriage to the Northern princess Vidumavi, after which some members of Gondorian nobility nobles began grumbling about [[FantasticRacism their royal line mixing with lesser kinds of Men]]. Refusing to recognize the legitimacy of Valacar's son Eldacar, they threw their support behind Castamir, distant cousin of Eldacar and a more "pure-blooded" Númenorean, enabling him to usurp the throne. The Kin-Strife ended when, after ten years of Castamir's despotic rule, the people of Osgiliath revolted and deposed him, restoring Eldacar as King.
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** The first crisis came with the death of King Ëarendur of Arnor. His three sons could not come to an agreement over who should take the throne, so Arnor was subsequently split into the kingdoms of Arthedain, Rhudaur, and Cardolan, with each brother becoming king of his own realm. Ëarendur's eldest son Amlaith became King of Arthedain, and was considered to be the rightful heir to the throne of Arnor, though he never had the power to enforce it over his brother's realms. All three kingdoms eventually fell to Angmar, but the royal line of Arthedain persisted in the title of "Chieftain of the Dúnedain", of which Aragorn is the last.
** The second crisis triggered the "Kin-Strife," a bloody civil war in Gondor that lasted fifteen years. It had its origins in Crown Prince Valacar's diplomatic efforts toward the Northmen of Rhovanion, which culminated in a strategic marriage to the Northern princess Vidumavi. Some members of Gondorian nobility began grumbling about [[FantasticRacism their royal line mixing with lesser kinds of Men]], and they refused to recognize the legitimacy of Valacar's son Eldacar. Instead they threw their support behind Eldacar's distant cousin Castamir, a "pure-blooded" Númenorean, enabling him to usurp the throne. The Kin-Strife ended when, after ten years of Castamir's despotic rule, the people of Osgiliath revolted and deposed him, restoring Eldacar as King.
** The second crisis triggered the "Kin-Strife," a bloody civil war in Gondor that lasted fifteen years. It had its origins in Crown Prince Valacar's diplomatic efforts toward the Northmen of Rhovanion, which culminated in a strategic marriage to the Northern princess Vidumavi. Some members of Gondorian nobility began grumbling about [[FantasticRacism their royal line mixing with lesser kinds of Men]], and they refused to recognize the legitimacy of Valacar's son Eldacar. Instead they threw their support behind Eldacar's distant cousin Castamir, a "pure-blooded" Númenorean, enabling him to usurp the throne. The Kin-Strife ended when, after ten years of Castamir's despotic rule, the people of Osgiliath revolted and deposed him, restoring Eldacar as King.
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** The first crisis Dúnedain realm of Arnor came to an end with the death of King Ëarendur of Arnor.Ëarendur. His three sons could not come to an agreement over who should take the throne, so Arnor was subsequently split into the kingdoms of Arthedain, Rhudaur, and Cardolan, with each brother becoming king of his own realm. Ëarendur's eldest son Amlaith became King of Arthedain, and was considered to be the rightful heir to the throne of Arnor, though he never had the power to enforce it over his brother's brothers' realms. All three kingdoms eventually fell to Angmar, but the royal line of Arthedain persisted in the title of "Chieftain of the Dúnedain", of which Aragorn is the last.
** Thesecond crisis triggered the "Kin-Strife," "Kin-Strife" was a bloody civil war in Gondor that lasted fifteen years. It years, which had its origins in Crown Prince Valacar's diplomatic efforts toward the Northmen of Rhovanion, which Rhovanion. These efforts culminated in a strategic marriage to the Northern princess Vidumavi. Some Vidumavi, after which some members of Gondorian nobility began grumbling about [[FantasticRacism their royal line mixing with lesser kinds of Men]], and they refused Men]]. Refusing to recognize the legitimacy of Valacar's son Eldacar. Instead Eldacar, they threw their support behind Eldacar's Castamir, distant cousin Castamir, of Eldacar and a more "pure-blooded" Númenorean, enabling him to usurp the throne. The Kin-Strife ended when, after ten years of Castamir's despotic rule, the people of Osgiliath revolted and deposed him, restoring Eldacar as King.
** The
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* ''Literature/TheMermaidChronicles'': In ''Fight for Freedom'', [[spoiler:the entire Presidential line of succession is wiped out in a nuclear war. Because it's not clear who's in charge, a civil war breaks out between the survivors who want revenge and the ones who just want to rebuild]].
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Migrating two examples from Web Original
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* In the ''[[Literature/TheBelgariad Belgariad]]'', the throne of Cthol Murgos goes to the eldest heir of the last king. Thing is, the others will be executed. So even before the king dies, his children are usually out to kill each other. When Taur Urgas died, the battle was on. Urgit, the weakest (but most clever) of his sons, took the throne through virtue of having stolen a key to the royal treasury and hiring assassins. [[spoiler:And then it turns out he's not even Taur Urgas's son in the first place, but nobody who knows this is willing to say anything, because nobody ''wanted'' a [[AxeCrazy legitimate]] [[ItRunsInTheFamily heir]] of Taur Urgas on the throne.]] Also, in the first series the great houses of Tolnedra were squaring off over which would produce the next Emperor since the current one was old and had no son. [[spoiler: The crisis ends up aborted when the Emperor adopts a talented General as his son and heir.]]
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* In the ''[[Literature/TheBelgariad Belgariad]]'', ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', the throne of Cthol Murgos goes to the eldest heir of the last king. Thing is, the others will be executed. So even before the king dies, his children are usually out to kill each other. When Taur Urgas died, the battle was on. Urgit, the weakest (but most clever) of his sons, took the throne through virtue of having stolen a key to the royal treasury and hiring assassins. [[spoiler:And then it turns out he's not even Taur Urgas's son in the first place, but nobody who knows this is willing to say anything, because nobody ''wanted'' a [[AxeCrazy legitimate]] [[ItRunsInTheFamily heir]] of Taur Urgas on the throne.]] Also, in the first series the great houses of Tolnedra were squaring off over which would produce the next Emperor since the current one was old and had no son. [[spoiler: The crisis ends up aborted when the Emperor adopts a talented General as his son and heir.]]
* In ''Literature/DeepSecret'', the Koryfonic Emperor is so paranoid that his children will overthrow him that he has them [[HiddenBackupPrince all hidden away]] with adoptive families; at one point he even executes a son who accidentally found out the truth. Then a bomb goes off in his palace, killing him and most of his wives/consorts, and as the worlds-spanning empire descends into chaos the protagonist has to track down someone capable of taking the throne.
* ''Literature/LookToTheWest'', being set primarily in the 18th and early 19th centuries, naturally has a lot of them. It even references the Yongzheng Emperor's strategy mentioned in the introduction to this trope... [[spoiler:not that it works if the Emperor writing the note is quietly bonkers and chose a son who had died years before as heir]].
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* In ''Literature/DeepSecret'', the Koryfonic Emperor is so paranoid that his children will overthrow him that he has them [[HiddenBackupPrince all hidden away]] with adoptive families; at one point he even executes a son who accidentally found out the truth. Then a bomb goes off in his palace, killing him and most of his wives/consorts, and as the worlds-spanning empire descends into chaos the protagonist has to track down someone capable of taking the throne.
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* In ''Literature/DeepSecret'', ''Literature/AMorePersonalUnion'', the Koryfonic Emperor is so paranoid that his children will overthrow him that he has them [[HiddenBackupPrince death of [[spoiler:Queen Ursula of Spain]] prior to the birth of an heir causes a major one of these. Before long, her husband (whose only claim was through their marriage), her brother, and a couple of distant cousins are all hidden away]] with adoptive families; at one point he even executes a son who accidentally found out the truth. Then a bomb goes off in his palace, killing him and most of his wives/consorts, and as the worlds-spanning empire descends into chaos the protagonist has to track down someone capable of taking fighting for the throne.
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* In ''Literature/TheCurseOfChalion'' it steadily becomes clear that [[TheKingdom the Royacy of Chalion]] has been edging dangerously close to this for some time. Roya (King) Orico was in considerably worse health than he appeared (a low bar) and had spent over a decade trying to obtain something resembling an heir of his body without success when he had his two considerably younger half siblings, the only other remaining descendants of his grandfather Fonsa the Wise, relocate to the Royal Court. Then late the following winter Orico's health nose-dives and less than a week later fifteen year old Royse Tediz drops dead; leading to a scramble of political maneuvering, international diplomacy, daring nighttime escapes, assassination attempts, and the very real danger of the realm tearing itself apart in open civil war not over whether Royesse Iselle inherits the throne but whether Orico's [[EvilChancellor longtime chancellor]] Martou dy Jironal will [[RegentForLife take guardianship of an untried sixteen year old maiden with a family history of mental illness]].
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* ''Literature/TolkiensLegendarum'':
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* ''Literature/TolkiensLegendarum'':''Literature/TolkiensLegendarium'':
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* ''Literature/AccomplishmentsOfTheDukesDaughter'' has this as a background element in the first volume, which gradually grows in importance until it comes to a head in the climax of the fourth. The King of Tasmeria is ill and fading, leaving behind two sons by two different wives. By established law, the firstborn, Prince Alfred, is the rightful heir. But between the ambitious scheming of the second queen's family and the fact that he's a far more visible public figure (largely because Alfred is trying to avoid his stepmother's scheming while he builds his powerbase), the second prince, Prince Edward, has a large following that wants him to take the throne. [[spoiler:Alfred wins the throne by demonstrating his competence in dealing with a national crisis while Edward demonstrates his incompetence, causing Edward's faction to collapse. And then in the fifth book, the succession goes to a dark horse - after Alfred is erroneously declared dead in battle, he decides to not correct the record and leaves the throne to his sister Leticia while he lives the rest of his life under an assumed identity in which he becomes the consort of the heroine.]]
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
** In ''Literature/WyrdSisters'', Duke Felmet becomes the King of Lancre in questionable circumstances, but is haunted by -- amongst other things -- the knowledge that King Verence's son is still out there somewhere. Although it turns out to be a lot more complicated than that.
** The backstory to Ankh-Morpork is that, after several hundred years of low-grade civil war in which every dynasty with a claim to royalty kept trying to kill all the others, including one king who was killed ''during the coronation'', and another who claimed two bits of wood nailed together were the royal sword, the capital letters Civil War got rid of kings altogether, and after a brief experiment with democracy (the people voted against it) replaced them with an occasionally-benevolent despotism which wasn't hereditary, and whose candidates therefore at least only killed ''each other'' for power, rather than entire families.
** In ''Literature/WyrdSisters'', Duke Felmet becomes the King of Lancre in questionable circumstances, but is haunted by -- amongst other things -- the knowledge that King Verence's son is still out there somewhere. Although it turns out to be a lot more complicated than that.
** The backstory to Ankh-Morpork is that, after several hundred years of low-grade civil war in which every dynasty with a claim to royalty kept trying to kill all the others, including one king who was killed ''during the coronation'', and another who claimed two bits of wood nailed together were the royal sword, the capital letters Civil War got rid of kings altogether, and after a brief experiment with democracy (the people voted against it) replaced them with an occasionally-benevolent despotism which wasn't hereditary, and whose candidates therefore at least only killed ''each other'' for power, rather than entire families.
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* Happens twice in the history of Creator/JRRTolkien's ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'':
** The first crisis came with the death of King Ëarendur of Arnor. His three sons could not come to an agreement over who should take the throne, so Arnor was subsequently split into the kingdoms of Arthedain, Rhudaur, and Cardolan, with each brother becoming king of his own realm. Ëarendur's eldest son Amlaith became King of Arthedain, and was considered to be the rightful heir to the throne of Arnor, though he never had the power to enforce it over his brother's realms. All three kingdoms eventually fell to Angmar, but the royal line of Arthedain persisted in the title of "Chieftain of the Dúnedain", of which Aragorn is the last.
** The second crisis triggered the "Kin-Strife," a bloody civil war in Gondor that lasted fifteen years. It had its origins in Crown Prince Valacar's diplomatic efforts toward the Northmen of Rhovanion, which culminated in a strategic marriage to the Northern princess Vidumavi. Some members of Gondorian nobility began grumbling about [[FantasticRacism their royal line mixing with lesser kinds of Men]], and they refused to recognize the legitimacy of Valacar's son Eldacar. Instead they threw their support behind Eldacar's distant cousin Castamir, a "pure-blooded" Númenorean, enabling him to usurp the throne. The Kin-Strife ended when, after ten years of Castamir's despotic rule, the people of Osgiliath revolted and deposed him, restoring Eldacar as King.
* ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'': after the death of Finwë, the Noldor were split in three groups, each following one of Finwë's three sons. The followers of the youngest son, Finarfin, stayed in Valinor, where Finarfin became High-king. The followers of [[CainAndAbel Fëanor and Fingolfin]] went to Middle-earth, but Fëanor betrayed Fingolfin, burning the ships that took his people to Middle-earth and forcing Fingolfin to lead his people across the Grinding Ice, where many died. Fëanor died before Fingolfin got to Middle Earth, but the two groups would probably have slaughtered each other if Fëanor's eldest -- and wiser -- son, Maedhros, hadn't waived his claim to kingship and given the crown to his uncle.
** The first crisis came with the death of King Ëarendur of Arnor. His three sons could not come to an agreement over who should take the throne, so Arnor was subsequently split into the kingdoms of Arthedain, Rhudaur, and Cardolan, with each brother becoming king of his own realm. Ëarendur's eldest son Amlaith became King of Arthedain, and was considered to be the rightful heir to the throne of Arnor, though he never had the power to enforce it over his brother's realms. All three kingdoms eventually fell to Angmar, but the royal line of Arthedain persisted in the title of "Chieftain of the Dúnedain", of which Aragorn is the last.
** The second crisis triggered the "Kin-Strife," a bloody civil war in Gondor that lasted fifteen years. It had its origins in Crown Prince Valacar's diplomatic efforts toward the Northmen of Rhovanion, which culminated in a strategic marriage to the Northern princess Vidumavi. Some members of Gondorian nobility began grumbling about [[FantasticRacism their royal line mixing with lesser kinds of Men]], and they refused to recognize the legitimacy of Valacar's son Eldacar. Instead they threw their support behind Eldacar's distant cousin Castamir, a "pure-blooded" Númenorean, enabling him to usurp the throne. The Kin-Strife ended when, after ten years of Castamir's despotic rule, the people of Osgiliath revolted and deposed him, restoring Eldacar as King.
* ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'': after the death of Finwë, the Noldor were split in three groups, each following one of Finwë's three sons. The followers of the youngest son, Finarfin, stayed in Valinor, where Finarfin became High-king. The followers of [[CainAndAbel Fëanor and Fingolfin]] went to Middle-earth, but Fëanor betrayed Fingolfin, burning the ships that took his people to Middle-earth and forcing Fingolfin to lead his people across the Grinding Ice, where many died. Fëanor died before Fingolfin got to Middle Earth, but the two groups would probably have slaughtered each other if Fëanor's eldest -- and wiser -- son, Maedhros, hadn't waived his claim to kingship and given the crown to his uncle.
* ''Literature/ThePrincessDiaries'' revolve around a crisis that results when Prince Phillipe of Genovia becomes sterile following a bout with testicular cancer and the resulting treatment. He is thus forced to make his illegitimate daughter, Amelia "Mia" Thermopolis, [[ReallyRoyaltyReveal who was previously unaware of her royal status]], his heir. [[IJustWantToBeNormal She is ''not'' happy about the reveal or having to become a princess]].
* ''Literature/TolkiensLegendarum'':
** The first crisis came with the death of King Ëarendur of Arnor. His three sons could not come to an agreement over who should take the throne, so Arnor was subsequently split into the kingdoms of Arthedain, Rhudaur, and Cardolan, with each brother becoming king of his own realm. Ëarendur's eldest son Amlaith became King of Arthedain, and was considered to be the rightful heir to the throne of Arnor, though he never had the power to enforce it over his brother's realms. All three kingdoms eventually fell to Angmar, but the royal line of Arthedain persisted in the title of "Chieftain of the Dúnedain", of which Aragorn is the last.
** The second crisis triggered the "Kin-Strife," a bloody civil war in Gondor that lasted fifteen years. It had its origins in Crown Prince Valacar's diplomatic efforts toward the Northmen of Rhovanion, which culminated in a strategic marriage to the Northern princess Vidumavi. Some members of Gondorian nobility began grumbling about [[FantasticRacism their royal line mixing with lesser kinds of Men]], and they refused to recognize the legitimacy of Valacar's son Eldacar. Instead they threw their support behind Eldacar's distant cousin Castamir, a "pure-blooded" Númenorean, enabling him to usurp the throne. The Kin-Strife ended when, after ten years of Castamir's despotic rule, the people of Osgiliath revolted and deposed him, restoring Eldacar as King.
** ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'': after the death of Finwë, the Noldor were split in three groups, each following one of Finwë's three sons. The followers of the youngest son, Finarfin, stayed in Valinor, where Finarfin became High-king. The followers of [[CainAndAbel Fëanor and Fingolfin]] went to Middle-earth, but Fëanor betrayed Fingolfin, burning the ships that took his people to Middle-earth and forcing Fingolfin to lead his people across the Grinding Ice, where many died. Fëanor died before Fingolfin got to Middle Earth, but the two groups would probably have slaughtered each other if Fëanor's eldest -- and wiser -- son, Maedhros, hadn't waived his claim to kingship and given the crown to his uncle.
** The first crisis came with the death of King Ëarendur of Arnor. His three sons could not come to an agreement over who should take the throne, so Arnor was subsequently split into the kingdoms of Arthedain, Rhudaur, and Cardolan, with each brother becoming king of his own realm. Ëarendur's eldest son Amlaith became King of Arthedain, and was considered to be the rightful heir to the throne of Arnor, though he never had the power to enforce it over his brother's realms. All three kingdoms eventually fell to Angmar, but the royal line of Arthedain persisted in the title of "Chieftain of the Dúnedain", of which Aragorn is the last.
** The second crisis triggered the "Kin-Strife," a bloody civil war in Gondor that lasted fifteen years. It had its origins in Crown Prince Valacar's diplomatic efforts toward the Northmen of Rhovanion, which culminated in a strategic marriage to the Northern princess Vidumavi. Some members of Gondorian nobility began grumbling about [[FantasticRacism their royal line mixing with lesser kinds of Men]], and they refused to recognize the legitimacy of Valacar's son Eldacar. Instead they threw their support behind Eldacar's distant cousin Castamir, a "pure-blooded" Númenorean, enabling him to usurp the throne. The Kin-Strife ended when, after ten years of Castamir's despotic rule, the people of Osgiliath revolted and deposed him, restoring Eldacar as King.
** ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'': after the death of Finwë, the Noldor were split in three groups, each following one of Finwë's three sons. The followers of the youngest son, Finarfin, stayed in Valinor, where Finarfin became High-king. The followers of [[CainAndAbel Fëanor and Fingolfin]] went to Middle-earth, but Fëanor betrayed Fingolfin, burning the ships that took his people to Middle-earth and forcing Fingolfin to lead his people across the Grinding Ice, where many died. Fëanor died before Fingolfin got to Middle Earth, but the two groups would probably have slaughtered each other if Fëanor's eldest -- and wiser -- son, Maedhros, hadn't waived his claim to kingship and given the crown to his uncle.
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* ''Literature/ThePrincessDiaries'' revolve around a crisis that results when Prince Phillipe of Genovia becomes sterile following a bout with testicular cancer and the resulting treatment. He is thus forced to make his illegitimate daughter, Amelia "Mia" Thermopolis, [[ReallyRoyaltyReveal who was previously unaware of her royal status]], his heir. [[IJustWantToBeNormal She is ''not'' happy about the reveal or having to become a princess]].
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** An even earlier succession crisis between two Targaryen branches, "greens" and "blacks" is depicted in the novella "[[Literature/ArchmaesterGyldaynsHistories The Princess and the Queen]]" and called "the Dance of Dragons".
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** An even earlier succession crisis between two Targaryen branches, "greens" and "blacks" is depicted in the novella "[[Literature/ArchmaesterGyldaynsHistories The Princess and the Queen]]" and called "the Dance of Dragons". Both of the factions were {{Dragon Rider}}s, resulting in a particularly messy conflict that ended with the virtual extinction of the Targaryan dragons.
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** Later, another Great Council was called after the death of Maekar I. The claimants were Vaella, the daughter of his deceased eldest son Daeron, Maegor, the year-old son of his deceased second son Aerion, his third son Aemon who had taken Maesters' vows, and his fourth son Aegon who was distrusted by many of the nobles for spending a lot of time with the smallfolk. Vaella was passed over, she was young, simple-minded, and a woman, which the earlier GC said couldn't succeed. Maegor succeeding would mean a long regency, also his father Aerion was a psychotic monster and it was feared Maegor had inherited his father's madness. Maester Aemon was offered the crown but refused, saying it should go to his younger brother. So Aegon was elected Aegon V. Complicating matters was one of Daemon Blackfyre's sons turning up to put forward a claim, but he was executed by his half-uncle Brynden Rivers.
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** Later, another Great Council was called after the death of Maekar I. The claimants were Vaella, the daughter of his deceased eldest son Daeron, Maegor, the year-old son of his deceased second son Aerion, his third son Aemon who had taken Maesters' vows, and his fourth son Aegon who was distrusted by many of the nobles for spending a lot of time with the smallfolk. Vaella was passed over, she was young, simple-minded, and a woman, which the earlier GC said couldn't succeed. Maegor succeeding would mean a long regency, also his father Aerion was a psychotic monster and it was feared Maegor had inherited his father's madness. Maester Aemon was offered the crown OfferedTheCrown but refused, saying it should go to his younger brother. So Aegon was elected Aegon V. Complicating matters was one of Daemon Blackfyre's sons turning up to put forward a claim, but he was executed by his half-uncle Brynden Rivers.
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* ''Literature/HowARealistHeroRebuiltTheKingdom'':
** A CivilWar over the succession to the throne of Elfrieden occurred after the death of the king before last, which resulted in the royal family being driven to the brink of extinction. When the dust settled, [[SoleSurvivor the last one standing]] was Elisha Elfrieden, a minor princess who had married beneath herself to [[NiceGuy a kindly, inoffensive knight named Albert]], and was mostly overlooked by all the other contenders. [[spoiler:Also, she has magic allowing her to send memories of how she failed to her past self, allowing her to dodge death several times.]]
** The CivilWar that builds up in volumes 1 and 2 is sparked by a nonstandard version of this: Albert and Elisha [[HeirInLaw adopt Souma as their heir and betroth him to their daughter Liscia]], then AbdicateTheThrone to him. A significant chunk of the nobility, including initially Liscia herself, don't accept this, especially after Souma begins his reform program, and Dukes Carmine and Vargas ultimately rebel with the intent of restoring King Albert. [[spoiler:The whole thing was a ZeroApprovalGambit set up by Albert, Elisha, and Carmine themselves in order to give Souma an opportunity to purge the nobility of corruption and permanently secure his power in one fell swoop. Castor Vargas was just a SpannerInTheWorks who was too loyal to Georg Carmine for his own good.]]
** Julius Amidonia, the heir to the Principality of Amidonia, hopes to prevent one after [[spoiler:reclaiming Van. He fears his sister Princess Roroa could stir up trouble and fight his claim of legitimacy. She succeeds: a massive revolt forces Julius to flee the country, and Roroa seizes the throne and then [[AltarDiplomacy offers herself to Souma as a bride]], legitimizing his annexation of the entire country.]]
** After volume 3, Souma's advisers start pushing him to produce an heir with at least one of his fiancees to secure the succession and [[DefiedTrope prevent]] ''yet another'' succession crisis: his first year in the ConstructedWorld was consumed with restoring Elfrieden to prosperity so he plain didn't have time, but if he and Liscia should die prematurely at this point, Friedonia's royal family would be extinct altogether. [[spoiler:He and Liscia have TheirFirstTime in volume 5, and she becomes pregnant about a month later.]]
** A CivilWar over the succession to the throne of Elfrieden occurred after the death of the king before last, which resulted in the royal family being driven to the brink of extinction. When the dust settled, [[SoleSurvivor the last one standing]] was Elisha Elfrieden, a minor princess who had married beneath herself to [[NiceGuy a kindly, inoffensive knight named Albert]], and was mostly overlooked by all the other contenders. [[spoiler:Also, she has magic allowing her to send memories of how she failed to her past self, allowing her to dodge death several times.]]
** The CivilWar that builds up in volumes 1 and 2 is sparked by a nonstandard version of this: Albert and Elisha [[HeirInLaw adopt Souma as their heir and betroth him to their daughter Liscia]], then AbdicateTheThrone to him. A significant chunk of the nobility, including initially Liscia herself, don't accept this, especially after Souma begins his reform program, and Dukes Carmine and Vargas ultimately rebel with the intent of restoring King Albert. [[spoiler:The whole thing was a ZeroApprovalGambit set up by Albert, Elisha, and Carmine themselves in order to give Souma an opportunity to purge the nobility of corruption and permanently secure his power in one fell swoop. Castor Vargas was just a SpannerInTheWorks who was too loyal to Georg Carmine for his own good.]]
** Julius Amidonia, the heir to the Principality of Amidonia, hopes to prevent one after [[spoiler:reclaiming Van. He fears his sister Princess Roroa could stir up trouble and fight his claim of legitimacy. She succeeds: a massive revolt forces Julius to flee the country, and Roroa seizes the throne and then [[AltarDiplomacy offers herself to Souma as a bride]], legitimizing his annexation of the entire country.]]
** After volume 3, Souma's advisers start pushing him to produce an heir with at least one of his fiancees to secure the succession and [[DefiedTrope prevent]] ''yet another'' succession crisis: his first year in the ConstructedWorld was consumed with restoring Elfrieden to prosperity so he plain didn't have time, but if he and Liscia should die prematurely at this point, Friedonia's royal family would be extinct altogether. [[spoiler:He and Liscia have TheirFirstTime in volume 5, and she becomes pregnant about a month later.]]
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** A minor one in ''Dragonflight'', where Lessa, Fax and F'lar are all intriguing over who has the right to rule Ruatha Hold. Lessa is the (unknown) dispossessed rightful heir to Ruatha, Fax is the usurper, and F'lar unseats Fax, but in favor of Fax's son Jaxom rather than in Lessa's favor. In F'lar's defense, ''nobody'' but Lessa herself knew at the time that she was farther up the line of succession (and she'd kept it that way to keep herself safe).
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** A minor one in ''Dragonflight'', where Lessa, Fax Fax, and F'lar are all intriguing over who has is the right to rule legitimate ruler of Ruatha Hold. Lessa is the (unknown) dispossessed [[FakingTheDead allegedly dead]], dispossessed, [[RightfulKingReturns rightful heir heir]] to Ruatha, Fax is the usurper, [[RulingFamilyMassacre usurper]], and F'lar unseats Fax, but in favor of Fax's son Jaxom rather than in Lessa's favor. Lessa. In F'lar's defense, ''nobody'' but Lessa herself knew at the time that she was farther further up the line of succession (and she'd kept it that way to keep herself safe).
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* ''Literature/AMemoryCalledEmpire'' sets this up with the enormous Teixcalaanli empire. Emperor [[FantasticNamingConvention Six Direction]] is old and dying, and has no natural heir. His 90% clone Eight Antidote is only 10 years old, so Six Direction appointed his creche-sister Eight Loop and the merchant scion Thirty Larkspur to be co-regents. To make things worse, the general One Lightning is immensely popular and has the support of a vocal minority. [[spoiler:One Lightning eventually makes his move for a military coup, while Thirty Larkspur tries to exploit the chaos for an internal coup. Six Direction resolves the issue just as it's taking of by unexpectedly naming his advisor Nineteen Adze as empress, then [[HumanSacrifice sacrificing himself in the imperial temple]], thus giving her such good PR that no one would be able to drum up support against her]].
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* ''Literature/AMemoryCalledEmpire'' sets this up with the enormous Teixcalaanli empire. Emperor [[FantasticNamingConvention Six Direction]] is old and dying, and has no natural heir. His 90% clone Eight Antidote is only 10 years old, so Six Direction appointed his creche-sister Eight Loop and the merchant scion Thirty Larkspur to be co-regents. To make things worse, the general One Lightning is immensely popular and has the support of a vocal minority. [[spoiler:One Lightning eventually makes his move for a military coup, while Thirty Larkspur tries to exploit the chaos for an internal coup. Six Direction resolves the issue just as it's taking of off by unexpectedly naming his advisor Nineteen Adze as empress, then [[HumanSacrifice sacrificing himself in the imperial temple]], thus giving her such good PR that no one would be able to drum up support against her]].
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* This is one of the four thousand subplots of ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime''. After Queen Morgase of Andor dies [[spoiler:or is believed to have died]], her daughter Elayne comes to the capital to take her throne, only to find herself embroiled in a huge war of succession against about half the noble houses. Some of them oppose her because they believe she's a puppet of [[MessianicArchetype The Dragon Reborn]], some believe she's a puppet of the [[WitchSpecies Aes Sedai]], some because of offenses against them by Morgase [[spoiler:who was being [[MindControl mind-controlled]] by one of the [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Forsaken]],]] and some just because they saw it as their opportunity to grab power.
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* This is one of the four thousand subplots of ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime''. After Queen Morgase of Andor dies [[spoiler:or is believed to have died]], her daughter Elayne comes to the capital to take her throne, only to find herself embroiled in a huge war of succession against about half the noble houses. Some of them oppose her because they believe she's a puppet of [[MessianicArchetype The Dragon Reborn]], some believe she's a puppet of the [[WitchSpecies [[OurWithchsAreDifferent Aes Sedai]], some because of offenses against them by Morgase [[spoiler:who was being [[MindControl mind-controlled]] by one of the [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Forsaken]],]] and some just because they saw it as their opportunity to grab power.
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* The second book of the ''Literature/AWizardInRhyme'' series features this, with a younger son and an elder daughter both available for the throne. That said, it is revealed at pretty much the last second -- all the characters were mostly pre-occupied with getting rid of TheUsurper, not contemplating the actual line of succession -- and serves mostly as a reason for the elder daughter to [[PairTheSpares marry one of the main characters]], trading the throne for a recurring guest-star spot.
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** This is happening in the Vale in the series proper as well. Jon Arryn, the late Lord of the Vale, was married three times, and only managed to produce one living heir with his last wife, Lysa Tully. And [[spoiler: possibly due to damage done to Lysa's womb in a forced abortion in her youth]] the child, Robert Arryn, is sickly and weak, and not expected to live long. When Jon Arryn dies, leaving Robert as the Lord of the Vale [[spoiler: Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish]] takes advantage of the impending crisis by marrying the widowed Lysa, who always loved him, and [[spoiler: killing her in order to become Lord Protector of the Vale until Robert comes of age.]] This leads to many different parties vying to oust [[spoiler: Petyr]] and take the title of Lord Protector for theirselves. Currently, [[spoiler: Petyr]] is planning to wed [[spoiler: Sansa Stark]] to Robert's heir, a distant cousin named Harry Hardyng, in order to further cement his influence.
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** This is happening in the Vale in the series proper as well. Jon Arryn, the late Lord of the Vale, was married three times, and only managed to produce one living heir with his last wife, Lysa Tully. And [[spoiler: possibly due to damage done to Lysa's womb in a forced abortion in her youth]] the child, Robert Arryn, is sickly and weak, and not expected to live long. When Jon Arryn dies, leaving Robert as the Lord of the Vale [[spoiler: Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish]] takes advantage of the impending crisis by marrying the widowed Lysa, who always loved him, and [[spoiler: killing her in order to become Lord Protector of the Vale until Robert comes of age.]] This leads to many different parties vying to oust [[spoiler: Petyr]] and take the title of Lord Protector for theirselves.themselves. Currently, [[spoiler: Petyr]] is planning to wed [[spoiler: Sansa Stark]] to Robert's heir, a distant cousin named Harry Hardyng, in order to further cement his influence.
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** An even earlier succession crisis between two Targaryen branches, "greens" and "blacks" is depicted in the novella "The Princess and the Queen". Viserys I declares Rhaenyra, his daughter from his first marriage, as heir. However his children from his second marriage dispute this, and when he dies his eldest son Aegon II declares himself King. Aegon finally wins the war, feeding his half-sister to his dragon, but is poisoned the next year, meaning the throne passes to Rhaenyra's son Aegon III.
** This is further complicated by the fact a Great Council had made Viserys King by passing over the female line claimant, essentially being a way to avoid a succession crisis. Basically Jaehaerys I's eldest son Aemon died and he declared his second son Baelon heir over Aemon's daughter Rhaenys. When Baelon died the first Great Council was called to determine succession, and between Rhaenys' seven-year old son Laenor Velaryon (whose father Lord Corlys Velaryon was the richest man in the realm) and Baelon's eldest son Viserys, Viserys was decided, apparently showing the male line would always come first in succession.
** Later another Great Council was called after Maekar I's death. The claimants were Vaella, the daughter of his deceased eldest son Daeron, Maegor, the year-old son of his deceased second son Aerion, his third son Aemon who had taken Maesters' vows, and his fourth son Aegon who was distrusted by many of the nobles for spending a lot of time with the smallfolk. Vaella was passed over, she was young, simple-minded, and a woman, which the earlier GC said couldn't succeed. Maegor succeeding would mean a long regency, also his father Aerion was a psychotic monster and it was feared Maegor had inherited his father's madness. Maester Aemon was offered the crown but refused, saying it should go to his younger brother. So Aegon was elected Aegon V. Complicating matters was one of Daemon Blackfyre's sons turning up to put forward a claim, but he was executed by his half-uncle Brynden Rivers.
** This is further complicated by the fact a Great Council had made Viserys King by passing over the female line claimant, essentially being a way to avoid a succession crisis. Basically Jaehaerys I's eldest son Aemon died and he declared his second son Baelon heir over Aemon's daughter Rhaenys. When Baelon died the first Great Council was called to determine succession, and between Rhaenys' seven-year old son Laenor Velaryon (whose father Lord Corlys Velaryon was the richest man in the realm) and Baelon's eldest son Viserys, Viserys was decided, apparently showing the male line would always come first in succession.
** Later another Great Council was called after Maekar I's death. The claimants were Vaella, the daughter of his deceased eldest son Daeron, Maegor, the year-old son of his deceased second son Aerion, his third son Aemon who had taken Maesters' vows, and his fourth son Aegon who was distrusted by many of the nobles for spending a lot of time with the smallfolk. Vaella was passed over, she was young, simple-minded, and a woman, which the earlier GC said couldn't succeed. Maegor succeeding would mean a long regency, also his father Aerion was a psychotic monster and it was feared Maegor had inherited his father's madness. Maester Aemon was offered the crown but refused, saying it should go to his younger brother. So Aegon was elected Aegon V. Complicating matters was one of Daemon Blackfyre's sons turning up to put forward a claim, but he was executed by his half-uncle Brynden Rivers.
to:
** An even earlier succession crisis between two Targaryen branches, "greens" and "blacks" is depicted in the novella "The "[[Literature/ArchmaesterGyldaynsHistories The Princess and the Queen". Queen]]" and called "the Dance of Dragons".
*** Viserys I declares Rhaenyra, his daughter from his first marriage, as heir. However his children from his second marriage dispute this, and when he dies his eldest son Aegon II declares himself King. Aegon finally wins the war, feeding his half-sister to his dragon, but is poisoned the next year, meaning the throne passes to Rhaenyra's son AegonIII.
** ThisIII. He is betrothed to Aegon II's sole surviving child, Jaehaera, thus uniting the rival camps (though she dies young and he subsequently takes another wife).
*** The Dance is further complicated by the fact a Great Council had made Viserys King by passing over the female line claimant, essentially being a way to avoid a succession crisis.Basically After his firstborn son, Aemon, died, Jaehaerys I's eldest I, Viserys' grandfather and direct predecessor, decided to make Baelon, his younger son Aemon died and he declared his second son Baelon Viserys' father, heir over Rhaenys, Aemon's daughter Rhaenys. When daughter. Then Baelon died and the first Great Council was called to determine succession, and between Rhaenys' seven-year old son Laenor Velaryon (whose father Lord Corlys Velaryon was the richest man in the realm) and Baelon's eldest son Viserys, Viserys was decided, apparently showing setting a precedent that the male line would always come first in succession.
succession and greatly troubling Rhaenyra's claim during the Dance. In fact, it would [[HeirClubForMen trouble]] ''[[HeirClubForMen all]]'' [[HeirClubForMen future female claimants to the Iron Throne]]; Daenerys can contest her claim as queen because, after her brother's death, there is no other legitimate Targaryen that can displace her (sure enough, her claim is put to doubt when [[spoiler:Prince Aegon Targaryen, her older brother's son, is revealed to be alive in [[Literature/ADanceWithDragons the fifth book]]]]).
**Later Later, another Great Council was called after the death of Maekar I's death.I. The claimants were Vaella, the daughter of his deceased eldest son Daeron, Maegor, the year-old son of his deceased second son Aerion, his third son Aemon who had taken Maesters' vows, and his fourth son Aegon who was distrusted by many of the nobles for spending a lot of time with the smallfolk. Vaella was passed over, she was young, simple-minded, and a woman, which the earlier GC said couldn't succeed. Maegor succeeding would mean a long regency, also his father Aerion was a psychotic monster and it was feared Maegor had inherited his father's madness. Maester Aemon was offered the crown but refused, saying it should go to his younger brother. So Aegon was elected Aegon V. Complicating matters was one of Daemon Blackfyre's sons turning up to put forward a claim, but he was executed by his half-uncle Brynden Rivers.
*** Viserys I declares Rhaenyra, his daughter from his first marriage, as heir. However his children from his second marriage dispute this, and when he dies his eldest son Aegon II declares himself King. Aegon finally wins the war, feeding his half-sister to his dragon, but is poisoned the next year, meaning the throne passes to Rhaenyra's son Aegon
** This
*** The Dance is further complicated by the fact a Great Council had made Viserys King by passing over the female line claimant, essentially being a way to avoid a succession crisis.
**
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* ''Literature/ThePrincessDiaries'' revolves around a crisis that results when Prince Phillipe of Genovia becomes sterile following a bout with testicular cancer and the resulting treatment. He is thus forced to make his illegitimate daughter, Amelia "Mia" Thermopolis, [[ReallyRoyaltyReveal who was previously unaware of her royal status]], his heir. [[IJustWantToBeNormal She is ''not'' happy about the reveal or having to become a princess]].
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* ''Literature/ThePrincessDiaries'' revolves revolve around a crisis that results when Prince Phillipe of Genovia becomes sterile following a bout with testicular cancer and the resulting treatment. He is thus forced to make his illegitimate daughter, Amelia "Mia" Thermopolis, [[ReallyRoyaltyReveal who was previously unaware of her royal status]], his heir. [[IJustWantToBeNormal She is ''not'' happy about the reveal or having to become a princess]].
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* ''Literature/ThePrincessDiaries'' revolves around a crisis that results when Prince Phillipe of Genovia becomes sterile following a bout with testicular cancer and the resulting treatment. He is thus forced to make his illegitimate daughter, Amelia "Mia" Thermopolis, [[ReallyRoyaltyReveal who was previously unaware of her royal status]], his heir. [[IJustWantToBeNormal She is ''not'' happy about the reveal or having to become a princess]].
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* In the ''[[Literature/TheBelgariad Belgariad]]'', the throne of Cthol Murgos goes to the eldest heir of the last king. Thing is, the others will be executed. So even before the king dies, his children are usually out to kill each other. When Taur Urgas died, the battle was on. Urgit, the weakest (but most clever) of his sons, took the throne through virtue of having stolen a key to the royal treasury and hiring assassins. [[spoiler:And then it turns out he's not even Taur Urgas's son in the first place, but nobody who knows this is willing to say anything, because nobody ''wanted'' a [[AxeCrazy legitimate]] [[InTheBlood heir]] of Taur Urgas on the throne.]] Also, in the first series the great houses of Tolnedra were squaring off over which would produce the next Emperor since the current one was old and had no son. [[spoiler: The crisis ends up aborted when the Emperor adopts a talented General as his son and heir.]]
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* In the ''[[Literature/TheBelgariad Belgariad]]'', the throne of Cthol Murgos goes to the eldest heir of the last king. Thing is, the others will be executed. So even before the king dies, his children are usually out to kill each other. When Taur Urgas died, the battle was on. Urgit, the weakest (but most clever) of his sons, took the throne through virtue of having stolen a key to the royal treasury and hiring assassins. [[spoiler:And then it turns out he's not even Taur Urgas's son in the first place, but nobody who knows this is willing to say anything, because nobody ''wanted'' a [[AxeCrazy legitimate]] [[InTheBlood [[ItRunsInTheFamily heir]] of Taur Urgas on the throne.]] Also, in the first series the great houses of Tolnedra were squaring off over which would produce the next Emperor since the current one was old and had no son. [[spoiler: The crisis ends up aborted when the Emperor adopts a talented General as his son and heir.]]
