History Main / ForeignRulingClass

* UsefulNotes/TheBorgias originated in Spain and were heavily involved in Italian politics of UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance[=/=]UsefulNotes/[[TheCityStateEra City State Era]] and during the UsefulNotes/ItalianWars, especially after Rodrigo became UsefulNotes/PopeAlexanderVI.

* European colonies in Asia, Africa, and the Americas were ruled by an overclass of European administrators, businessmen and planters. Sometimes, local leaders were allowed to join this class as LesCollaborateurs.

* The most powerful man in France between 1643 and 1661? The [[UsefulNotes/CardinalMazarin Cardinal Jules Mazarin]], born Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino in Italy. Nobles who were parts of the Fronde CivilWar factions against the Regency that followed the death of King UsefulNotes/LouisXIII depised him and played up his non-French origins in their propaganda. Nonetheless, he was pretty much as cunning and brilliant at his chief minister job as his predecessor and mentor, UsefulNotes/CardinalRichelieu, and ended the Fronde. When UsefulNotes/LouisXIV eventually assumed power upon Mazarin's death in 1661, he inherited a pacified kingdom and solidified royal authority, allowing him to consolidate his absolute monarchical powers.

** According to the ''Russian Primary Chronicle'' (also known as the ''Chronicle of Nestor'' or ''The Tale of Bygone Years''), a medieval Russian chronicle from the 1110s, the Slavic tribes of what is now northwestern Russia were dissatisfied with the constant warfare among them, and therefore invite three princes of a "Varangian" (i.e. Scandinavian) tribe called the Rus' to rule over them. The princes, three brothers named Rurik, Sineus, and Truvor, cross the Baltic with "all the Rus'" and set themselves up as rulers of the Slavic cities, with Rurik residing in Ladoga, and later Novgorod, as supreme ruler. Until the Mongol Conquest, the [[UsefulNotes/KievanRus princes of Kiev]] (the then-recently conquered Kiev being where Rurik's successor Oleg moved the Slavo-Rus' capital to from Novgorod) traced their descent to Rurik; after feudal fragmentation resulted in the decline of Kiev's influence over the Russian lands in the latter half of the 1000s, over the 1100s the Russian center of gravity shifted to Vladimir-Suzdal, which also had a ruling dynasty of Rurikid descent. Male line Rurikid rule of Russia ultimately only ended after Feodor I, last living son of UsefulNotes/IvanTheTerrible, died without issue.

** According to the ''Russian Primary Chronicle'' (also known as the ''Chronicle of Nestor'' or ''The Tale of Bygone Years''), a medieval Russian chronicle from the 1110s, the Slavic tribes of what is now northwestern Russia were dissatisfied with the constant warfare among them, and therefore invite three princes of a "Varangian" (i.e. Scandinavian) tribe called the Rus' to rule over them. The princes, three brothers named Rurik, Sineus, and Truvor, cross the Baltic with "all the Rus'" and set themselves up as rulers of the Slavic cities, with Rurik residing in Ladoga, and later Novgorod, as supreme ruler. Until the Mongol Conquest, the [[UsefulNotes/KievanRus princes of Kiev]] (the then-recently conquered Kiev being where Rurik's successor Oleg moved the Slavo-Rus' capital to from Novgorod) traced their descent to Rurik; after feudal fragmentation resulted in the decline of Kiev's influence over the Russian lands in the latter half of the 1000s, in the 1100s the Russian center of gravity shifted to Vladimir-Suzdal, which also had a ruling dynasty of Rurikid descent. Male line Rurikid rule of Russia ultimately only ended after Feodor I, last living son of UsefulNotes/IvanTheTerrible, died without issue.

** According to the ''Russian Primary Chronicle'' (also known as the ''Chronicle of Nestor'' or ''The Tale of Bygone Years''), a medieval Russian chronicle from the 1110s, the Slavic tribes of what is now northwestern Russia were dissatisfied with the constant warfare among them, and therefore invite three princes of a "Varangian" (i.e. Scandinavian) tribe called the Rus' to rule over them. The princes, three brothers named Rurik, Sineus, and Truvor, cross the Baltic with "all the Rus'" and set themselves up as rulers of the Slavic cities, with Rurik residing in Ladoga, and later Novgorod, as supreme ruler. Until the Mongol Conquest, the [[UsefulNotes/KievanRus princes of Kiev]] (the then-recently conquered Kiev being where Rurik's successor Oleg moved the Slavo-Rus' capital to from Novgorod) traced their descent to Rurik; after feudal fragmentation resulted in the decline of Kiev's influence over the Russian lands, in the 1100s the Russian center of gravity shifted to Vladimir-Suzdal, which also had a ruling dynasty of Rurikid descent. Male line Rurikid rule of Russia ultimately only ended after Feodor I, last living son of UsefulNotes/IvanTheTerrible, died without issue.

* In the ''Russian Primary Chronicle'' (also known as the ''Chronicle of Nestor'' or ''The Tale of Bygone Years''), a medieval Rusan chronicle from the 1110s, the Slavic tribes of what is now northwestern Russia are dissatisfied with the fact that there is constant warfare among them, and therefore invite three princes of a "Varangian" (i.e. Scandinavian) tribe called the Rus to rule over them. The princes, who are three brothers called Rurik, Sineus, and Truvor, cross the Baltic with "all the Rus" and set themselves up as rulers of the Slavic cities, with Rurik residing in Novgorod as supreme ruler.

* Russia is no stranger to this either, beyond the centuries of paying tribute to the Mongol hordes:

** Centuries later, Elizabeth, daughter of UsefulNotes/PeterTheGreat, also died without issue. The Russian throne therefore went to her nephew Peter of Holstein-Gottorp. Unfortunately for Russia, and ''very'' fortunately for Prussia, Peter immediately forefeited any Russian gains at the expense of his idol UsefulNotes/FrederickTheGreat after years of bitter war between the two realms. For this and many other reasons, he was overthrown by his wife UsefulNotes/CatherineTheGreat, who was a native German -- though unlike her husband, the former Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst was much more inclined to [[GoingNative Russify]].

** Centuries later, Elizabeth, daughter of UsefulNotes/PeterTheGreat, also died without issue. The Russian throne therefore went to her nephew Peter of Holstein-Gottorp. Unfortunately for Russia, and ''very'' fortunately for Prussia, Peter immediately forefeited any Russian gains at the expense of his idol UsefulNotes/FrederickTheGreat after years of bitter war between the two realms. For this and many other reasons, he was overthrown by his wife UsefulNotes/CatherineTheGreat, who like him was a native German -- though unlike her husband, the former Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst was much more inclined to [[GoingNative Russify]].

** Centuries later, Elizabeth, daughter of UsefulNotes/PeterTheGreat, also died without issue. The Russian throne therefore went to her nephew Peter of Holstein-Gottorp. Unfortunately for Russia, and ''very'' fortunately for Prussia, Peter immediately forefeited any Russian gains at the expense of his idol UsefulNotes/FrederickTheGreat after years of bitter war between the two realms. For this and many other reasons, he was overthrown by his wife UsefulNotes/CatherineTheGreat, who was also a native German -- though unlike her husband, the former Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst was much more inclined to [[GoingNative Russify]].

* According to the ''Russian Primary Chronicle'' (also known as the ''Chronicle of Nestor'' or ''The Tale of Bygone Years''), a medieval Russian chronicle from the 1110s, the Slavic tribes of what is now northwestern Russia were dissatisfied with the constant warfare among them, and therefore invite three princes of a "Varangian" (i.e. Scandinavian) tribe called the Rus' to rule over them. The princes, three brothers named Rurik, Sineus, and Truvor, cross the Baltic with "all the Rus'" and set themselves up as rulers of the Slavic cities, with Rurik residing in Ladoga, and later Novgorod, as supreme ruler. Until the Mongol Conquest, the [[UsefulNotes/KievanRus princes of Kiev]] (the then-recently conquered Kiev being where Rurik's successor Oleg moved the Slavo-Rus' capital to from Novgorod) traced their descent to Rurik; after feudal fragmentation resulted in the decline of Kiev's influence over the Russian lands, in the 1100s the Russian center of gravity shifted to Vladimir-Suzdal, which also had a ruling dynasty of Rurikid descent. Rurikid rule of Russia ultimately only ended after Feodor I, last living son of UsefulNotes/IvanTheTerrible, died without issue.

* In the ''Russian Primary Chronicle'' (also known as the ''Chronicle of Nestor'' or ''The Tale of Bygone Years''), a medieval Rusan chronicle from the 1110s, the Slavic tribes of what is now northwestern Russia are dissatisfied with the fact that there is constant warfare among them, and therefore invite three princes of a "Varangian" (i.e. Scandinavian) tribe called the Rus to rule over them. The princes, who are three brothers called Rurik, Sineus, and Truvor, cross the Baltic with "all the Rus" and set themselves up as rulers of the Slavic cities, with Rurik residing in Ladoga, and later Novgorod, as supreme ruler. Until the Mongol Conquest, the royalty of the UsefulNotes/KievanRus traced their descent to Rurik.

* In the ''Russian Primary Chronicle'' (also known as the ''Chronicle of Nestor'' or ''The Tale of Bygone Years''), a medieval Rusan chronicle from the 1110s, the Slavic tribes of what is now northwestern Russia are dissatisfied with the fact that there is constant warfare among them, and therefore invite three princes of a "Varangian" (i.e. Scandinavian) tribe called the Rus to rule over them. The princes, who are three brothers called Rurik, Sineus, and Truvor, cross the Baltic with "all the Rus" and set themselves up as rulers of the Slavic cities, with Rurik residing in Novgorod as supreme ruler. Until the Mongol Conquest, the royalty of the UsefulNotes/KievanRus traced their descent to Rurik.

** ''Film/RobinHood1991'' continues this, with Robin as one of the last Saxon earls amid a Norman aristocracy, who all speak in French accents of varying degrees of intensity. At one point, Robin meets a Welsh bowyer who points out that, from his perspective, the Saxons are ''also'' foreign invaders - just ones who have been in Britain a bit longer.

** ''Film/MasterOfTheFlyingGuillotine'' - The title character is a servant of the Qings, hunting for rebels in service of the now-defunct Ming Dynasty (who ''were'' ethnically Chinese)

* ''Film/LeCapitan'': As in RealLife, Concino Concini and Leonora Galigai are Italian nobles who ingratiated themselves with Queen Regent Marie de' Medici (the Italian consort of the late [[UsefulNotes/LEtatCestMoi King of France Henry IV]]) and gained much power at the French royal court.

** After the Plantagenets, the succeeding royal houses who would rule England, and eventually Britain, are of Welsh, Scottish, and German stock.

* The premise behind ''Anime/CodeGeass'' is an AlternateHistory where the British empire abandoned England in order to reestablish itself in North America after quelling the American uprising. They went on to take over most of the world, including Japan. The main story takes place in Japan, while the native citizens are still ruled over the Britannian Empire, with the local culture ([[WeAllLiveInAmerica allegedly]]) surpressed. Most members of the Royal Britannian Family appropriately look and act the part, though -- fancy European inspired outfits, powdered wigs, etc.

* A common trope in UsefulNotes/{{conspiracy theor|ies}}y literature, directed against ethnic and religious minorities with any level of economic status (especially those that have wound up filling a merchant niche in society), is that they are secretly this, functioning as a clique that's out to bleed the majority group dry. The classic example, of course, is the varieties of antisemitism that see the Jewish people as this, which have led to pogroms, expulsions, and [[UsefulNotes/TheHolocaust genocides]] throughout history. Similar accusations are thrown at the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia, which led to race riots in [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13_May_incident Malaysia in 1969]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakarta_riots_of_May_1998 Indonesia in 1998]] as well as genocide in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge period; a big reason why UsefulNotes/{{Singapore}} is independent is because Malaysia effectively expelled the multicultural, heavily Chinese city from their nation. In Rwanda, accusations that the Tutsi tribe were this also led to that country's 1994 genocide.

** The UsefulNotes/{{Yuan dynasty}} was of Mongol origin, founded by the grandson of Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan, and set up Mongol nobles to rule over China. [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuan_dynasty#Social_classes More specifically]], the people of the Yuan dynasty were divided into the four classes--the Mongols at the top, the "Semu"[[labelnote:*]]non-Mongol foreigners[[/labelnote]] after them, the "Han"[[labelnote:*]]northern Han Chinese, Jurchens, Khitans, Koreans, etc. who were conquered as part of the Jin dynasty (金朝)[[/labelnote]] in third-class, and finally the "Southerners"[[labelnote:*]]southern Han Chinese and indigenous peoples who were conquered as part of the southern Song dynasty, sometimes called "Barbarians" by the Mongol ruling class and nobility[[/labelnote]] at the bottom. The lowest two classes of "Han" and "Southerner" were oppressed greatly by the ruling class, and by the time they revolted to form the succeeding Ming dynasty, one of their mottos was to rid China of the "Barbarian"[[labelnote:*]]The imperial-era Han Chinese were rather arrogant (one might even call them Han Chinese-supremacists at worst) and called pretty much anyone that ''wasn't'' Han Chinese in the area a "barbarian" or more specific race/ethnicity-related pejorative terms, a little like in Ancient Rome[[/labelnote]] ruling class and to restore the country to be ruled by Han Chinese, i.e. non-foreigners. (For the record, many revolutionaries said the same when overthrowing the Manchu-ruled Qing dynasty as mentioned above, though many other factors were also involved for [[UsefulNotes/NoMoreEmperors that]].)

** House Targaryen. They were originally a noble family of Valyria in Essos, who fled to Dragonstone four centuries ago, before the [[ApocalypseHow Doom of Valyria]], and went on to conquer most of Westeros using [[DragonRider three dragons]], unifying six of the Seven Kingdoms under their rule (the last holdout, Dorne, joined through AltarDiplomacy decades later). They ruled for around three centuries and brought with them some Valyrian customs, such as the Valyrian language, dragons, [[AbsurdlySharpBlade Valyrian steel]] and a habit of [[RoyalInbreeding marrying brother to sister to keep their bloodlines pure]]. Incest is outlawed throughout Westeros and generally considered a huge taboo, but the Targaryens were the exception. They were eventually ousted around thirteen years before the start of the series during Robert's Rebellion and the few survivors fled [[TheExile in exile]] to Essos, vowing to one day reclaim the throne. Notably, the Targaryens' closest supporters, who often intermarried with them, where House Velaryon, who also descends from Valyrian exiles.

** House Targaryen. They were originally a noble family of Valyria in Essos, who fled to Dragonstone four centuries ago, before the [[ApocalypseHow Doom of Valyria]], and went on to conquer most of Westeros using [[DragonRider three dragons]], unifying six of the Seven Kingdoms under their rule (the last holdout, Dorne, joined through AltarDiplomacy decades later). They ruled for around three centuries and brought with them some Valyrian customs, such as the Valyrian language, dragons, [[AbsurdlySharpBlade Valyrian steel]] and a habit of [[RoyalInbreeding marrying brother to sister to keep their bloodlines pure]]. Incest is outlawed throughout Westeros and generally considered a huge taboo, but the Targaryens were the exception. They were eventually ousted around thirteen years before the start of the series during Robert's Rebellion and the few survivors fled [[TheExile in exile]] to Essos, vowing to one day reclaim the throne.

** Roughly contemporaneously with the Egyptian Second Intermediate Period, a group of tribal charioteers from the east established themselves as overlords of the Hurrian civilization in the upper reaches of the valley of the Euphrates (an area roughly corresponding to the region inhabited today by the Kurds), establishing the kingdom of Mitanni. What's particularly interesting about Mitanni is that what few traces of their language survive show that it was Indo-Aryan--no, not Indo-European or Indo-Iranian, but specifically Indo-Aryan--3,000 kilometers from India.

Over time, this class can [[GoingNative go native]], or [[TheAssimilator their local subjects can assimilate into their masters' culture]]. It is very similar to, and can be considered a subtrope of LedByTheOutsider, but shares some differences in how the leader behaves.

* Several of the ancient Egyptian dynasties were ruled by foreigners, including the 15th Dynasty (Hyksos), the 22nd and 23rd dynasties (Libyan), the 25th dynasty (Nubian), and the 27th and 31st dynasties (Persian). In fact, since Egypt was conquered by the Greeks afterwards (followed by the Romans, Arabs, Turks, Tunisians, Circassians, Albanians, etc.), the 30th dynasty, which ended in 343 BC, would mark the last time Egypt was ruled by an Egyptian until Mohamed Naguib became President in 1953.

* Also applies to the TV adaptation ''Series/GameOfThrones''. In fact, in Season 7, Randyll Tarly says he'd rather be ruled by [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Cersei Lannister]] than Daenerys Targaryen, because at least Cersei was born and raised in Westeros, rather than a "foreign invader; one with no ties to this land" (although Daenerys was technically born on Dragonstone and forced to flee as an infant). Also in the series, Daenerys ends up becoming ruler of all [[spoiler: the Dothraki]], which they accept pretty readily because they believe in AsskickingEqualsAuthority; Daenerys [[spoiler: [[KlingonPromotion killed all the other khals]] (Dothraki lords), leaving her few rivals]] and has a sizable army and three dragons at her back, so she is quite easily the strongest among them. She incorporates their warriors in her conquest of Westeros, which in Randyll's opinion is just another point against her.

* The most powerful man in France between 1643 and 1661? The [[UsefulNotes/CardinalMazarin Cardinal Jules Mazarin]], born Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino in Italy. Nobles who were parts of the Fronde CivilWar factions against the Regency that followed the death of King UsefulNotes/LouisXIII depised him and played up his non-French origins in their propaganda. Nonetheless, he was pretty much as cunning and brilliant at his chief minister job as his predecessor and mentor, UsefulNotes/CardinalRichelieu, and crushed the Fronde. When UsefulNotes/LouisXIV eventually assumed power upon Mazarin's death in 1661, he inherited a pacified kingdom and solidified royal authority, allowing him to consolidate his absolute monarchical powers.