History TheEvilPrince / Literature

* Several Princes vying for Oberon's throne in ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfAmber'' by Creator/RogerZelazny. Describing the exact intentions of the Nine would spoil most of the intrigue, but be prepared that some "evil" guys will be redeemed and some "good" ones will reveal themselves evil to the core.
* Creator/CSLewis' ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'':

* Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'':

** In Creator/DanAbnett's Literature/GauntsGhosts novel ''Necropolis'', part of Salvandor Sondar's BackStory; he killed his uncle to gain his place and still resents how much his uncle was loved.
** In Creator/DanAbnett's novel ''Literature/BrothersOfTheSnake'', when the Space Marine Priad is told that a queen was murdered, his immediate suspect is the new king. The Inquisitor, who told him, tells him that he is no detective.
* Literature/TheWheelOfTime:

** In ''Literature/TheMalloreon'', it's revealed how the succession works in Ctholl Murgos: The eldest ''surviving'' prince is the heir, and his first royal act is to order the execution of all others. So, all princes are evil, and only the most clever one wins. For example, [[spoiler:The Drasnian bastard child]].

** When Prince Thanel of Rethwellan finds out that he can't be crowned king of Valdemar without first being Chosen to become a Herald (which requires being a [[NiceGuy genuinely nice person]]), he tries to murder his wife, Queen Selenay, so he can become Regent for their daughter Elspeth.

* The revisionist historical novel ''Literature/TheSunneInSplendour'' was written to rescue Richard III from his reputation as this. The trope is completely averted in the early part of the book, as he is loyal to Edward IV and doesn't want his older brother George executed. Subverted later, in that he deposes his nephews based on legitimate evidence and genuine concern for what the Woodville-controlled Edward V would mean for the country. He certainly has nothing to do with the death of his beloved wife, and he has absolutely no sexual interest in his niece, despite MaliciousSlander to the contrary.

** Prince Conall Blaine Cluim Uthyr Haldane is the eldest son of Prince Nigel Haldane and terminally jealous of his cousin King Kelson and Kelson's foster brother Dhugal, Earl of Transha. He takes secret instruction in using the Haldane powers, which are only supposed to be wielded by the reigning monarch. He puts ''[[FantasticDrug merasha]]'' in Dhugal's flask while traveling on a quest for Camber's relics. He seduces the woman Kelson wants to marry. He [[spoiler: attacks his father and leaves him in an arcane coma]]. He ultimately [[spoiler: challenges his cousin to a duel arcane at his treason trial]]. By the way, his second name was also that of a Festillic king; [[WhatDidYouExpectWhenYouNamedIt coincidence? Maybe not]].

* ''Literature/ForgottenRealms'': A Red Wizardess of Thay once magically disguised herself as the queen and seduced Azoun IV, evidently intending to give birth to this trope and seize the throne of Cormyr in a SuccessionCrisis. [[spoiler: Subverted when her agents found out that Azoun had sown so many wild oats as a young man, their Evil Prince would have to get in line behind hundreds of older byblows.]]

* Robin Hobb's ''Literature/RealmOfTheElderlings'': Prince Regal from the ''Farseer'' trilogy fits this quite well. He's born the third son of the king. After Fitz appears and Prince Chivalry (the eldest) steps down, he bides his time for a while before sending Verity (the middle Prince) off on a suicidal mission (and sends some {{Mooks}} to make sure he doesn't return), and finally [[spoiler: offs the king right after being confirmed as the King-in-Waiting]].

** [[BastardBastard Ramsay Snow]] plays aspects of this straight, though his father is a Lord, not a King. He poisoned his kind-hearted half-brother Domeric Bolton, [[spoiler:betrays the Northern forces, then betrays the Ironmen and sacks Winterfell]]. He's also a {{Sadist}} who delights in practicing the old Bolton custom of [[FlayingAlive flaying]]. His father Lord Roose Bolton, is quite evil himself, being a [[TheSociopath sociopath]] who sired Ramsay [[ChildByRape through rape]], [[spoiler: and [[TheStarscream murdered his King Robb Stark]] at [[NastyParty The Red Wedding]],]] but Ramsay is much worse and less subtle about his evil, and is believed by many to be the evilest character in the series. When Roose thinks Ramsay has died he says his trueborn children would never have been safe with Ramsay. He ends up legitimizing him to Ramsay Bolton but mentions that Ramsay will probably kill any future children that could threaten his claim.
** Renly Baratheon, the youngest of the Baratheon brothers. On Robert's death, he forms the largest army of the various Kings, partially as he is Lord Paramount of the Stormlands and has married the daughter of Mace Tyrell, who rules the Reach and wants his daughter as Queen, then tries to usurp the Iron Throne from Joffrey, who is believed [[EvilUncle to be his nephew]]. Renly serves as a deconstruction of TheGoodKing and TheCharmer, claiming he would be better at ruling than those ahead of him and giving an image of being TheAce. However he shows himself to be [[BitchInSheepsClothing vain]] and unpleasant, showing basically no actual skills in knowing how to run a realm, with his claim basically just being he is going to [[TheUsurper take the IT]] by force. When his older brother Stannis claims he is the rightful King Renly claims "You may well have the better claim, but I have the [[MightMakesRight larger army]]", even turning down an offer from Stannis to join him and become their heir. [[spoiler:He ends up being killed before the battle by a shadow assassin conjured by [[CainAndAbel Stannis' sorceress Melisandre, though it is debatable if Stannis is aware of this and Renly clearly intended to kill Stannis, even making mocking comments about it to his lover.]] Ironically, due to the Tyrells joining the Lannisters and helping to defeat Stannis, with one of them disguising themselves as Renly's ghost, Renly undergoes a HistoricalHeroUpgrade and is remembered as a [[VillainWithGoodPublicity heroic Lord]] who came BackFromTheDead to defeat Stannis despite the fact he was trying to overthrow Joffrey.]]

** Joffrey Baratheon... ''isn't'' this. Yes, he's [[TheCaligula evil]], and yes, he's a prince, but he [[WellDoneSonGuy wants Robert's approval]]. Though he's fairly dismissive of Robert after his death. By that point though, Joffrey's an [[RoyalBrat evil ''king'']].

** This also seems to be played with in the novel ''Literature/MenAtArms'' where the evil aristocrats try to place Captain Carrot (the legitimate heir) on the throne with Edward d'Eath and other members of the Assassins' Guild as {{Poisonous Friend}}s.

** There's also the example of Maeglin, the nephew of King Turgon of Gondolin, who betrays the city to Morgoth partially to gain rulership over it, but mostly because he [[IncestIsRelative wants to marry his cousin]]. That she already has a husband and son doesn't stop him -- he just plans to off them first.

** Prince Conall Blaine Cluim Uthyr Haldane is the eldest son of Prince Nigel Haldane and terminally jealous of his cousin King Kelson and Kelson's foster brother Dhugal, Earl of Transha. He takes secret instruction in using the Haldane powers, which are only supposed to wielded by the reigning monarch. He puts ''[[FantasticDrug merasha]]'' in Dhugal's flask while traveling on a quest for Camber's relics. He seduces the woman Kelson wants to marry. He [[spoiler: attacks his father and leaves him in an arcane coma]]. He ultimately [[spoiler: challenges his cousin to a duel arcane at his treason trial]]. By the way, his second name was also that of a Festillic king; [[WhatDidYouExpectWhenYouNamedIt coincidence? Maybe not]].

* The novel ''Literature/ThePrisonerOfZenda'' has an interesting example in the character of Black Michael, who plots to capture and kill his half-brother, the legitimate heir and take the throne for himself. Uniquely, he is [[VillainWithGoodPublicity much more popular than their true heir]], suggested to be their father's favorite and doesn't come across as that evil outside of this plan.

* ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' has both Evil Princes and Evil Princesses. In ''Mossflower'' Tsarmina Greeneyes usurps the throne from her brother (displaying ultimate ignorance of point #3 in the EvilOverlordList), and in ''Marlfox'' various members of the seven offspring of the titular villainous royal family are constantly attempting to backstab their siblings and mother. Then there's Kurda, another female example, and her brother Bladd in ''Triss'', Pitru in ''High Rhulain'', Klitch in ''Salamandastron'' and possibly Veil in ''The Outcast Of Redwall''... though his father Swartt is a lord, not a king.

** Prince Daemon, from over a century before the books, brother of Viserys I, known as "the Rogue Prince". He was a pirate and had an affair with his niece Rhaenyra, for which his brother exiled him. He finally married Rhaenyra, taking her side when she tried to take the throne from her half-brother Aegon II after her father's death and is thought of as TheCorrupter to her. When one of his stepsons was killed [[spoiler:he had one of Aegon's infant sons murdered.]] However, he never tried to usurp the Iron Throne and Rhaenyra had been named by Viserys as his heir, but Daemon still comes across as a complete jerk as he was basically trying to gain power any way he could, even if never in a pure "usurpation" sense. Aegon II could be considered this trope, depending on who's telling the story, as he went against his father's wishes in taking the Iron Throne himself, even though the laws of succession favored him. He did feed Rhaenyra to his dragon when he captured her and when the war turned against him tried to have her son Aegon killed out of spite, [[spoiler:but was poisoned before he could do so.]] Rhaenyra can be considered the rightful heir but proved to be quite a tyrannical ruler herself, such as in her treatment of the dragonseed and imprisonment of her father-in-law Corlys Velaryon. As a result, she is largely responsible for ruining the chances of any woman sitting the Iron Throne.

** The [[BigScrewedUpFamily Freys]], one of the most despised Houses in the series, possibly have a few. [[EvilOldFolks Lord Walder Frey]] has over a hundred descendants, and some of them are plotting to move their way up in the line of succession, meaning by the time the 91-year-old Lord dies his House will collapse into war. One of Walder Frey's great-grandsons, "Black" Walder Frey, is suspected by his elder brother Edwyn Frey to be behind the death of [[spoiler:their father Ryman Frey, though in reality Ryman was hanged by outlaws]], moving Black Walder a step closer to inheriting the Twins. There's even a fan theory Black Walder was behind the death of his grandfather, Walder Frey's oldest son and heir Ser Stevron Frey. Walder Frey's ninth son, Merrett Frey, even thinks that the 12th son, his half-brother [[EvilCripple "Lame" Lothar Frey]], may be more dangerous then Edwyn and Black Walder.

%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order.

* Creator/DavidEddings:
** In ''Literature/TheElenium'' trilogy, Prince Lycheas, BastardBastard cousin of Queen Ehlana, assumes the throne as Prince Regent while Ehlana is magically incapacitated. He's little more than a puppet of SinisterMinister [[SmugSnake Annias]] though, who is himself being jerked around by [[ManipulativeBastard Martel]] and [[GodOfEvil Azash]].
** In ''Literature/TheMalloreon'', it's revealed how the succession works in Ctholl Murgos: The eldest ''surviving'' prince is the heir, and his first royal act is to order the execution of all others. So, all princes are evil, and only the most clever one wins. For example, [[spoiler:The Drasnian bastard child]].

----

** Arnolf Karstark, Lord Rickard Karstark's uncle and Castellan of Karhold, declares for Stannis hoping Rickard's last son Harrion, a captive of the Iron Throne and [[spoiler:Lord of Karhold after his father's execution]], will be [[EvilUncle executed for this]], after which he intends to force Harrion's sister Alys to marry [[KissingCousins his son Cregan]], enabling his branch of the family to take control of Karhold. [[spoiler:Arnolf is also working with Lord Bolton to betray Stannis.]] His hunchback, plan to have his (great-)niece marry her "uncle", and the Karstark sigil and words "The Sun in Winter" meant he is likely based on the theatrical Richard III (ironic considering that some of the most popular and more heroic characters in ASOIAF are also based on Richard III).
** The [[BigScrewedUpFamily Freys]], one of the most despised Houses in the series, possibly have a few. [[EvilOldFolks Lord Walder Frey]] has over a hundred descendants, and some of them are plotting to move their way up in the line of succession, meaning by the time the 91-year old Lord dies his House will collapse into war. One of Walder Frey's great-grandsons, "Black" Walder Frey, is suspected by his elder brother Edwyn Frey to be behind the death of [[spoiler:their father Ryman Frey, though in reality Ryman was hanged by outlaws]], moving Black Walder a step closer to inheriting the Twins. There's even a fan theory Black Walder was behind the death of his grandfather, Walder Frey's oldest son and heir Ser Stevron Frey. Walder Frey's ninth son, Merrett Frey, even thinks that the 12th son, his half-brother [[EvilCripple "Lame" Lothar Frey]], may be more dangerous then Edwyn and Black Walder.

* In ''Literature/VampireAcademy'', [[spoiler:Victor Dashkov is a prince, the head of the royal Dashkov family. Formerly, heir to the throne - if it weren't for his health. He schemes to get the throne and does not care who gets hurt in the process]].

* ''Literature/TheArtsOfDarkAndLight'': Duke Etienne Henri in [[TheEmpire Savondir]], the jealous younger brother to the [[TheDragon Red Prince]] and second in the line of succession to [[TheEmperor their father's]] throne. When he receives the news that his brother has been assassinated, he is openly gleeful about it. He also wants to [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe marry]] the secondary protagonist Fjotra (of whom he is otherwise [[FantasticRacism disdainful]]) to usurp her family's kingdom as well, and is strongly implied to be a rapist.

* In Tolkien's ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'' we have Ar-Pharazôn, last King of Númenor, who usurped the throne by the less usual method of marrying the rightful heiress (who was also [[KissingCousins his cousin]], despite it being illegal under Numenorean law) and then forcibly reducing her role to that of his consort. There's also the example of Maeglin, the nephew of King Turgon of Gondolin, who betrays the city to Morgoth partially to gain rulership over it, but mostly because he [[IncestIsRelative wants to marry his cousin]]. That she already has a husband and son doesn't stop him -- he just plans to off them first.

** Prince Rabadash in ''Literature/TheHorseAndHisBoy''. It's mentioned that like other eldest sons of the [[TheEmperor [Tisrocs]], he is beginning to grow dangerous.

*** This was actually the rule in the Real Life Ottoman Empire and was fine with the populace for several generations until the early death of a sultan resulted in the execution of several child princes. This was a bit much for Turkish sensibilities and after that reign sultans locked their brothers up instead. This proved convenient when the current ruler succumbed without providing an heir.

*** This was actually the rule in the Real Life Ottoman Empire, and was fine with the populace for several generations until the early death of a sultan resulted in the execution of several child princes. This was a bit much for Turkish sensibilities and after that reign sultans locked their brothers up instead. This proved convenient when the current ruler succumbed without providing an heir.

* Toyed with in Bujold's ''Literature/TheCurseOfChalion''. A bare bones description of Royse Teidez [[spoiler:slaughtering the sacred menagerie that was keeping the worst effects of the titular curse on Roya Orico's health at bay]] would seem to fit this trope perfectly, but the boy honestly thought he was eliminating the uncanny source of his older half-brother's illness. The EvilChancellor's Even More Evil brother, who put Teidez up to it, apparently knew better and was probably trying to supplant his elder brother by replacing the chancellor's puppet monarch with his own. [[spoiler:But he dies before his plan can come to fruition.]]

** Prince Festil Furstán of Torenth was a younger son who didn't like being landless, so he gathered other landless younger sons, borrowed some troops from his father and conquered neighbouring Gwynedd in 822.

** Mahael and Teymuraz Furstán are this (as well as being [[EvilUncle evil uncles]]) to Liam-Lajos in ''King Kelson's Bride''. One or both of them are widely suspected of suspected of disposing of Liam's elder brother Alroy previously.

** The Duke of Sto Helit in ''Literature/{{Mort}}''. Cousin to King Olerve of Sto Lat, he's gone from fifth to second in line before he appears, and becomes next in line shortly afterwards. Described in the ''Discworld Companion'' as "quite capable of killing all who stood between himself and the throne, or even between himself and the drinks cabinet."

** In the first trilogy, [[spoiler:Prince Ancar of Hardorn arranged for his father's murder]] so that he could become king sooner. He went on to be a sadistic bastard, who tortured people for fun, drove his own country into ruin and then invaded his neighbors.

* ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' has both Evil Princes and Evil Princesses. In ''Mossflower'' Tsarmina Greeneyes usurps the throne from her brother (displaying ultimate ignorance of point #3 in the EvilOverlordList), and in ''Marlfox'' various members of the seven offspring of the titular villainous royal family are constantly attempting to backstab their siblings and mother. Then there's Kurda, another female example, and her brother Bladd in ''Triss'', Pitru in ''High Rhulain'', Klitch in ''Salamandastron'' and possibly Veil in ''The Outcast Of Redwall''... though his father, Swartt, is a lord not a king.

** [[BastardBastard Ramsay Snow]] plays aspects of this straight, though his father is a Lord, not a King. He poisoned his kind-hearted half-brother Domeric Bolton, [[spoiler:betrays the Northern forces, then betrays the Ironmen and sacks Winterfell]]. He's also a {{Sadist}} who delights in practicing the old Bolton custom of [[FlayingAlive flaying]]. His father Lord Roose Bolton, is quite evil himself, being a [[TheSociopath sociopath]] who sired Ramsay [[ChildByRape through rape]], [[spoiler: and [[TheStarscream murdered his King Robb Stark]] at [[NastyParty The Red Wedding]],]] but Ramsay is much worse and less subtle about his evil, and is believed by many to be the most evil character in the series. When Roose thinks Ramsay has died he says his trueborn children would never have been safe with Ramsay. He ends up legitimizing him to Ramsay Bolton but mentions that Ramsay will probably kill any future children that could threaten his claim.
** Renly Baratheon, the youngest of the Baratheon brothers. On Robert's death he forms the largest army of the various Kings, partially as he is Lord Paramount of the Stormlands and has married the daughter of Mace Tyrell, who rules the Reach and wants his daughter as Queen, then tries to usurp the Iron Throne from Joffrey, who is believed [[EvilUncle to be his nephew]]. Renly serves as a deconstruction of TheGoodKing and TheCharmer, claiming he would be better at ruling then those ahead of him and giving an image of being TheAce. However he shows himself to be [[BitchInSheepsClothing vain]] and unpleasant, showing basically no actual skills in knowing how to run a realm, with his claim basically just being he is going to [[TheUsurper take the IT]] by force. When his older brother Stannis claims he is the rightful King Renly claims "You may well have the better claim, but I have the [[MightMakesRight larger army]]", even turning down an offer from Stannis to join him and become their heir. [[spoiler:He ends up being killed before the battle by a shadow assassin conjured by [[CainAndAbel Stannis' sorceress Melisandre, though it is debatable if Stannis is aware of this and Renly clearly intended to kill Stannis, even making mocking comments about it to his lover.]] Ironically, due to the Tyrells joining the Lannisters and helping to defeat Stannis, with one of them disguising themselves as Renly's ghost, Renly undergoes a HistoricalHeroUpgrade and is remembered as a [[VillainWithGoodPublicity heroic Lord]] who came BackFromTheDead to defeat Stannis despite the fact he was trying to overthrow Joffrey.]]
** Stannis is seen as this by much of the Seven Kingdoms, who believe he is trying to usurp the IT from his brother's children and concocted the rumors [[spoiler:of their illegitimacy to justify this]]. In reality the rumors are true and Stannis doesn't want to [[ReluctantRuler be King]], but believes [[ResignedToTheCall it's his duty]] to become King as by the succession laws of the Seven Kingdoms he is Robert's heir. While still a bit of a jerk he does go through CharacterDevelopment after [[spoiler:he is defeated at the Blackwater]] and starts becoming a more likable figure.
** Euron "Crow's Eye" Greyjoy, who is suspected of [[spoiler:having his brother Balon Greyjoy assassinated so he could become ruler of the Iron Islands]] and is implied to have molested his youngest brother Aeron "Damphair", along with raping or seducing another brother Victarian's wife, meaning Balon exiled him from the Isles. [[spoiler:Aeron, a Priest of the Drowned God, calls a [[ElectiveMonarchy kingsmoot]] to try making sure Victarian becomes King, as Balon's sons are believed all dead and though Balon wanted Asha to succeed him Aeron doesn't think a woman can rule. Unfortunately Euron gets the support from the Kingsmoot to become King by revealing his plans to conquer the Seven Kingdoms. Asha's maternal uncle Rodrik Harlaw immediately tells her to flee the Iron Islands, fearing Euron will have her killed.]]
** Aerion "Brightflame" Targaryen, who Viserys takes after. He is cruel and pyschotic, and a BigBrotherBully to Aegon, threatening to castrate him. Aerion is cruel to animals, throwing Aegon's cat down a well and killing a horse during a joust, for which his uncle Baelor disqualifies him. In anger, Aerion attacks a Puppeteer just because their show has a dragon (the Targaryen sigil is a dragon) getting killed. Thankfully he predeceases his father Maekar by a year, meaning Aegon becomes King.

** Prince Daemon, from over a century before the books, brother of Viserys I, known as "the Rogue Prince". He was a pirate and had an affair with his niece Rhaenyra, for which his brother exiled him. He finally married Rhaenyra, taking her side when she tried to take the throne from her half-brother Aegon II after her father's death and is thought of as TheCorrupter to her. When one of his stepsons was killed [[spoiler:he had one of Aegon's infant sons murdered.]] However, he never tried to usurp the Iron Throne and Rhaenyra had been named by Viserys as his heir, but Daemon still comes across as a complete jerk as he was basically trying to gain power any way he could, even if never in a pure "usurpation" sense. Aegon II could be considered this trope, depending on who's telling the story, as he went against his fathers wishes in taking the Iron Throne himself, even though the laws of succession favored him. He did feed Rhaenyra to his dragon when he captured her and when the war turned against him tried to have her son Aegon killed out of spite, [[spoiler:but was poisoned before he could do so.]] Rhaenyra can be considered the rightful heir, but proved to be quite a tyrannical ruler herself, such as in her treatment of the dragonseed and imprisonment of her father-in-law Corlys Velaryon. As a result she is largely responsible for ruining the chances of any woman sitting the Iron Throne.

** Daemon Blackfyre, a legitimized [[BastardBastard bastard]] of Aegon IV and [[KissingCousins his cousin]] Daena Targaryen, who tried to usurp his half-brother Daeron II. He may have been acting in accord with his father's wishes, though, as Aegon didn't get on with his only legitimate son, and may have begun the rumors Daeron was really the son of Aegon's brother Aemon so he could name one of his bastards as heir. Daemon's descendants continued during to usurp the Targaryen Kings for generations afterwards before their extinction (at least in the male line).

** Another of Aegon's bastards Brynden Rivers "Bloodraven" plays with this. He's a rather morally ambiguous character and kinslayer who is thought of as a sorcerer and EvilChancellor who turned the Seven Kingdoms into a Police State with his network of spies. Eventually he was even [[ReassignedToAntarctica sent to the Wall]] for killing a Blackfyre after offering them safe conduct, showing even the Targaryens found his methods too extreme. However his killing of [[CainAndAbel Daemon Blackfyre]] and [[EvilUncle two of their sons]] helped win the battle of Redgrass Field and defeated the first Blackfyre rebellion. And though he certainly seems to have been a skinchanger many of his ruthless methods seem to have been necessary in preventing the very real threat of the Blackfyres.

** Arnolf Karstark, Lord Rickard Karstark's uncle and Castellan of Karhold, declares for Stannis hoping Rickard's last son Harrion, a captive of the Iron Throne and [[spoiler:Lord of Karhold after his father's execution]], will be [[EvilUncle executed for this]], after which he intends to force Harrion's sister Alys to marry [[KissingCousins his son Cregan]], enabling his branch of the family to take control of Karhold. [[spoiler:Arnolf is also working with Lord Bolton to betray Stannis.]] His hunchback, plan to have his (great-)niece marry her "uncle", and the Karstark sigil and words "The Sun in Winter" mean he is likely based on the theatrical Richard III (ironic considering that some of the most popular and more heroic characters in ASOIAF are also based on Richard III).

** A grandson of Walder Frey and full nephew of Lothar, "Big" Walder Frey, is only nine years old but already seems to be becoming this, claiming he'll be Lord of the Crossing despite being low in the line of succession (his father Jammos is the 13th son). [[spoiler:He is probably behind the murder of another of Walder Frey's grandsons, "Little" Walder Frey, who was 52 days younger then him. Big Walder still comes across as quite sympathetic, as his cousin was a bully who was becoming more sadistic while squiring for Ramsay, and shows a nicer side in regards to Theon. Says a lot about the Freys that a TokenGoodTeammate of theirs is a kinslayer.]]

** In the book, each of the three princes that survive their father (including Primus) had killed one of their brothers; Septimus had killed two. Before the book ends, Septimus had killed a third and was quite peeved that someone had Primus killed first as he now had to avenge his dead brother instead of kill him.

** A subplot in ''Literature/ACivilCampaign'' deals with this on a lesser scale. Richars Vorrutyer had done everything up to and including possible murder to ensure his cousin Count Pierre died without issue and left him the heir apparent. He thought Pierre's younger sister Donna using an old rule to secure a three month stay on his confirmation and heading offplanet before the late Count was in the ground was of no consequence... and was rather put out when Pierre's [[GenderBender younger brother Dono]] returned to Barrayar to claim said seat by right of blood.

** In Creator/DanAbnett's novel''Literature/BrothersOfTheSnake'', when the Space Marine Priad is told that a queen was murdered, his immediate suspect is the new king. The Inquisitor, who told him, tells him that he is no detective.

* In ''Literature/TheWitchlands'', Merik is convinced his sister is one, as he believes [[spoiler:she tried to have him killed to make sure she can get to the throne, and cares for nothing but her ambition. Eventually, it turns out she's just as devoted to Nubrevna as he is and has nothing to do with the assassination.]]

** Although based on ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'', given that he's the cousin of the king he murders, Duke Felmet of novel ''Discworld/WyrdSisters'' likely counts.
** This also seems to be played with in the novel ''Discworld/MenAtArms'' where the evil aristocrats try to place Captain Carrot (the legitimate heir) on the throne with Edward d'Eath and other members of the Assassins' Guild as {{Poisonous Friend}}s.
** The Duke of Sto Helit in ''Discworld/{{Mort}}''. Cousin to King Olerve of Sto Lat, he's gone from fifth to second in line before he appears, and becomes next in line shortly afterwards. Described in the ''Discworld Companion'' as "quite capable of killing all who stood between himself and the throne, or even between himself and the drinks cabinet."