History Main / MyCountryRightOrWrong

** In addition, the 9th game actually [[LampshadeHanging hangs a lampshade on it]] when Ashnard tells Bryce, his last Supreme Commander left that, yes, he *is* a complete bastard (the specifics are technically spoilers, but everyone who played at least halfway through can probably figure them out), Bryce is appalled at what Ashnard says but is still loyal enough to go out to die, and Ashnard breaks out into a fit of laughing and chivalry-mocking. Comes closer to a MagnificentBastard than almost any villain ''FireEmblem'' ever had.

** This Troper is unsure if Zelgius in ''FireEmblem 10'' counts. [[spoiler: Zelgius is loyal to the Begnion Senate only because he's loyal to [[MagnificentBastard Sephiran]], who wants him to help excite a war swallowing the world. Which is the same reason the Black Knight served Daein]]. However, 10 does have Micaiah (yes, the main freakin' character), who fulfills this trope.

** Oh, and General Eagler from FE 7's Lyn's Tale. Specially tragic case because, if Sain and Kent are to be believed, he might have been forced to fight by having his family taken into custody by Lundgren.
** In FE 6, is Miledy's lover Gale, a Wyvern Lord whose allegiance belongs to King Zephiel, while Miledy fights for Zephiel's half-sister [[MagnifientBastard Guinevere]], who are on two different sides of the conflict. Gale tells her that he cannot be with her, despite spending so much time together. He also tells Miledy's brother Zeiss that no matter what, they must fight. What makes it worse is that [[spoiler:Gale is considered dead even if you don't kill him.]]

** Of course, in [=FE6=] there's still the Etrurian Generals, especially Douglas since he downright refuses to join you even if you talk to him with Cecilia, Percival, Klein AND Lalum. He only joins you later when Etruria officially accepts your army

YourMileageMayVary on how noble or decent someone can be who is helping their nation do something wrong because it is "their duty". MoralDissonance is something anyone can have and evil leaders are very good at exploiting patriotism. One does often wonder why someone so honorable fights for the evil side rather than deserting. [[spoiler: It might have something to with loyalty. Or the belief that their duty is to protect their country and its people, not uphold and abide by abstract notions o "justice".]]

YourMileageMayVary on how noble or decent someone can be who is helping their nation do something wrong because it is "their duty". MoralDissonance is something anyone can have and evil leaders are very good at exploiting patriotism. One does often wonder why someone so honorable fights for the evil side rather than deserting.

* ''EnemyAce'' ([=WW1=] pilot for Germany), especially in Garth Ennis' ''{{War In Heaven}}'' ([=WW2=]) version. However, when he discovered the Nazi death camps of the Final Solution in the final days of the war, that was the last straw for him and he led a mutiny with his unit.

* Brutus from ''JuliusCaesar'' is the very epitome of this trope, putting what he believes to be the needs of his countrymen over his friendship with Caesar? Thus this trope is OlderThanPrint.
** OlderThanSteam, perhaps: printing existed in Shakespeare's day, and it's debatable whether the real Brutus felt this way or whether he was just itching to be a hero.
*** Given how an ancestor of his was a major figure in overthrowing the monarchy and forming the Republic, it isn't too hard to imagine.
*** Also, {{Shakespeare}} based his interpretation on Plutarch, who called Brutus the last great republican.
** Except Brutus thought his country was wrong to make Caesar dictator- that's why he killed him. Seems like the opposite of this trope really.
*** Brutus was putting the ''Republic'' over his friendship with Caesar. Not his countrymen.

* Many if not most of the NazisWithGnarlyWeapons--particularly in the [[BlueBlood Junker]]-led Army and [[DirtyCommunist vaguely lefty]] Navy--were actually just Germans ([[AllGermansAreNazis not Nazis]]) who believed in MyCountryRightOrWrong. [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment Let's just leave it at that, shall we]]?

* Robert E. Lee - Confederate General and possibly one of the greatest generals in American history (just look at his record) acutally disagreed with secession but fought for the south anyway because he couldn't bear to take up arms against his native Virginia.

* A common depiction of the Imperial Guard in ''{{Warhammer 40000}}'' has very strong tones of this, especially when they're the antagonists.
** And I'm sure that the Commissars have ''nothing'' to do with that.
** The entire Imperial civilization is built on making people think like this. It's the state religion even.

* [[AvatarTheLastAirbender The Fire Nation]].

** Of course, in FE6 there's still the Etrurian Generals, especially Douglas since he downright refuses to join you even if you talk to him with Cecilia, Percival, Klein AND Lalum. He only joins you later when Etruria officially accepts your army

* [[spoiler: Teo McDohl]] from the first ''{{Suikoden}}''. However, [[spoiler: He sends his two right hand men to fight for his son against his emperor.]]
** The Suikoden series does this a lot, fitting in with its shades of grey. In II, Kiba Windamier fits under this, ignoring Luca's numerous crimes, until [[spoiler:he joins your side when Luca reveals he has every intention of letting the heroes keep him]]. The Zexen Knights in III can be read this way in general, though Chris and her group do atone ([[spoiler:and Salome removes the corrupt councilmen]]). IV has Troy.

** Well, an honest example is Erwin Rommel. He was a genuinely good man: His prisoners were reportedly treated humanely, and he outright ignored orders to kill captives -- including Jewish soldiers. Yet he still fought for Germany [[JustFollowingOrders as one of Hitler's top generals]].

* [[PatrioticFervor Patriotism]]. defining feature.

* Most of the NazisWithGnarlyWeapons--particularly in the [[BlueBlood Junker]]-led Army and [[DirtyCommunist vaguely lefty]] Navy--were actually just Germans ([[AllGermansAreNazis not Nazis]]) who believed in MyCountryRightOrWrong.

* Robert E. Lee, the most famous Confederate general of TheAmericanCivilWar, was actually opposed to slavery.

** He really is loyal to the throne going as far as serving Vulcan while showing distaste for haveing to fight Lilandra.

* Oberst Kurt Steiner from ''The Eagle Has Landed''. He actually risked his life trying to save a Jewish girl from death. He is then court-martialled, along with a platoon of his men. They are then given the job to kidnap Churchill. One of them rescues a local girl from a water wheel and is killed in the process. So it is obvious they are good guys, yet they still fight for Nazi Germany. In an aversion, it is hinted that [[spoiler:Steiner hesitates when he has a chance to shoot Churchill because he knows it is wrong, and is himself then shot and apparently killed]].

* Camus the Sable from ''FireEmblem: Shadow Dragon'' is somewhat tragic as he was a kind-hearted and brilliant man but valued his country above all else. Technically it is possible not to kill him in [[FireEmblem FE11]] but it is very hard and you miss out on a powerful weapon. Luckly [[spoiler:he is back and recruitable in the 3rd game.]]

** In addition, the 9th game actually [[LampshadeHanging hangs a lampshade on it]] when Ashnard tells Bryce, his last Supreme Commander left that, yes, he * is* a complete bastard (the specifics are technically spoilers, but everyone who played at least halfway through can probably figure them out), Bryce is appalled at what Ashnard says but is still loyal enough to go out to die, and Ashnard breaks out into a fit of laughing and chivalry-mocking. Comes closer to a MagnificentBastard than almost any villain ''FireEmblem'' ever had.

See also: MyMasterRightOrWrong, but ''[[NoJustNo please]]'' do not confuse with CountryMatters, which is about [IfYouKnowWhatIMean something else entirely]. Compare LawfulStupid, JustFollowingOrders.

See also: MyMasterRightOrWrong, but ''[[NoJustNo please]]'' do not confuse with CountryMatters, which is about [Expletive censored]. Compare LawfulStupid, JustFollowingOrders.