History Main / NobleFugitive

* Prince Lelouch and Princess Nunnally from ''Franchise/CodeGeass'', after they [[FakingTheDead falsify their deaths]] -- not difficult, as a 10-year-old and handicapped 7-year-old abandoned in a war zone -- and seek refuge with their mother's supporters, the Ashford family, to avoid being used as pawns again by their father. In R2, [[spoiler: Nunnally is restored to her rank and becomes Viceroy of Area 11, to be used as a pawn against Lelouch, just as he had feared.]] The trope holds doubly true for Lelouch after he becomes the RebelLeader [[MyHeroZero Zero]].

* ''Literature/PrinceCaspian'': The titular prince of Narnia is forced to run from his home when his usurper uncle decides to assassinate it.

* In the Hindu epic ''Literature/{{Mahabharata}}'' the Pandava brothers spend a short time on the run after escaping the wax house plot perpetrated by Duryodhan their evil cousin. They pretend to be wandering ascetics having to beg for alms in villages. They stop running after Draupadi marries Arjun and a compromise is reached to grant them the kingdom of Indraprasth. But then, Duryodhan [[LostHimInACardGame claims their kingdom and their personhood in a dice game]] and orders them to spend thirteen years in exile and a year incognito. With the stipulation that if they are found out during their year incognito, they have to repeat the ordeal again. The Pandavas live in the forests for thirteen years, then take jobs as a courtier, cook, dance instructor, horse and cow herds.

%%* ''Literature/PrinceCaspian''.

** ''Literature/BerenAndLuthien'': The family of Beren were the lords of Dorthonion. When his father's lands get overrun by Morgoth's army, Berens live off the land rather than leave it, first as part of a group of twelve warriors, then alone after the group gets betrayed.

* Sort of happens to David in ''Literature/TheBible''. He was just a shepherd boy, but was anointed as the king of Israel by the prophet Samuel. Unfortunately, Saul was still the king, and was not very excited about this. David eventually ends up on the run from Saul.

* Similarly, Medea after the events of ''Theatre/{{Medea}}''.

* ''Literature/TheHobbit'' features both Thorin and Bard, whose ancestral kingdoms were laid waste by Smaug.

* Aragorn in Creator/JRRTolkien's ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''. He's descendent of royalty, but spent most of his formative years as a Ranger(/border guard), before reclaiming the throne after the war of the Ring is over.

* ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'' is full of these. Beren is probably the cleanest-cut example; his father's kingdom gets overrun by Morgoth's army, and he lives off the land rather than leave it, first as part of a group of twelve warriors, then alone after the group gets betrayed. There's also Túrin, Elwing, Eärendil, and practically any living Elvish royal come the end of the First age due to their kingdoms being sacked.

* River and Simon Tam in ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' are a classic example of "seeking shelter among the barbarians and going native."

* Princess Zelda in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' is forced to go into hiding as a ninja for seven years after [[BigBad Ganondorf]] takes over her kingdom.
* Many nobles in the Franchise/FireEmblem series become disenfranchised and hunted before either joining or forming a massive army to reclaim their kingdoms, starting from the original [[TheHero Marth]], and later reflected by supporting Characters in the [[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Tellius]] universe in Elincia of Crimea and later Sanaki of Begnion. Other examples are Virion and Say'ri in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]'' (both run out by Walhart's forces) and the [[PlayerCharacter Avatar]] in the ''Revelation'' path of ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'' [[spoiler:after being unable to choose a side to fight on.]]
** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'', Sigurd's army is forced to seek refuge in Silesse after [[spoiler:he is framed as a traitor]]. Meanwhile, Sigurd's father is also forced to go on the run [[spoiler:after being framed for the murder of Prince Kurth]]. Later on, Sigurd is forced to send his own son, Seliph, to Isaach to keep him safe while he tries to clear up the mess. [[spoiler:It turns out to be a smart move, since Sigurd ends up being killed after being tricked into thinking his name had been cleared.]]
** Sigurd's nephew Prince Leif, and his friend's sister's daughter Princess Nanna lived almost their entire lives in exile.
** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'', if Ferdinand is recruited out of the Black Eagles [[spoiler: or the player chooses the Black Eagles but sides with the church after the Holy Tomb incident, he goes on the run for five years until reuniting with Byleth at Garreg Mach. In his B support with Byleth on any route besides Crimson Flower, he specifically states that he fled the Empire because he refused to be Edelgard's puppet.]]

* Raphael Sorel of the ''VideoGame/SoulSeries''. He first met the little orphan girl Amy when he was on the run and hiding from the authorities. Amy pointed them in the wrong direction since she disliked them. Raphael was so grateful to her that he took her in as a ward and devoted himself to creating a perfect world for her. Then he learned about Soul Edge, believed like every other idiot who ever sought it that it was the answer to his prayers, and things went downhill from there.
* [[PlayerCharacter The Princess]] from ''VideoGame/ADanceWithRogues'' is this for the entire game, since she is the last survivor of Betancuria's royal family and thus hunted by the Dhorn Empire's occupying forces.
* A DLC quest in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedOdyssey'' deals with an blind old beggar who asks for stories about the various sights of Ancient Greece in exchange for his backstory. As it turns out, he's actually Artaxerxes I, the son of Xerxes and former ruler of Persia who was blinded and forced to go into hiding after surviving an assassination attempt. Eventually soldiers from Persia catch up to him and you're given the option of saving him or letting him die.
* ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'': Kazuha hails from the Kaedehara clan, a noble samurai clan that recently fell into hard times due to losing their fortune, and he was forced to flee from Inazuma due to possessing a Vision [[spoiler:as well as stealing his friend's own deactivated Vision, as an act of defiance and for safekeeping, after he died fighting Baal]].

[[folder:Web Originals]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample * ''Anime/{{Monster}}'': Kenzo Tenma, brain surgeon supreme, is one of these.

* The titular ''Literature/ScrappedPrincess'', Pacifica, who prophecy says will bring about the destruction of the world. When it is revealed that she was not killed as a baby, she travels with her [[HappilyAdopted adoptive siblings]], fleeing soldiers of her own kingdom.
* Anaak Jahad's mother in ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'', a former Princess of Jahad who broke the law by getting pregnant and "uncontrolledly spread the power of Jahad" that way.

* King Van of Fanelia from ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'' spends most of the series on the run from the Zaibach empire, who need him so they take control of the Escaflowne themselves. While the royalty of countries like Austuria are at least somewhat sympathetic to his plight, they're not entirely willing to risk their asses by truly granting him refuge.

* ''Literature/TheHeroicLegendOfArslan'': Prince Arslan and his loyal general Daryun are forced to go on the run after a disastrous battle where the Lusitanian army achieved victory. A good portion of their journey is them trying to find supporters and allies to save Pars while trying to fight off Lusitanian soldiers.
* ''Manga/MobileSuitGundamTheOrigin'' has Casval and Artesia, the children of Zeon Zum Deikun. After their father died, they were forced to go into hiding on Earth with their family friend, Jimba Ral, when the Zabis tried to take control of them. They were taken in by Don Mass who gave them the names Edward and Sayla. But Edward left Sayla, took the name Char Aznable from the original that he switched identities with when Kycilia Zabi tried to kill him, got enlisted in Zeon's military and later donned the legendary mask which made him recognized as the infamous "Red Comet".
* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
** Cavendish, banished because he was so beautiful that he wrecked the local dating scene for everyone else.
** Riku Dold and family, framed for raids on local villages.
** Wapol up and left when his kingdom was besieged by pirates.

* Takechiyo of ''Anime/YashahimePrincessHalfDemon'' was once the lord of Mamideira Island until the clan's head elder, Shogen Mamiana, seized power and attempted to kill him with a curse, forcing him to flee and take refuge, working for the corpse dealer Jyubei. [[spoiler: though he, Moroha and Hachiemon eventually defeat Shogen, Takechiyo chooses to abdicate his position to his younger brother as he finds the life of a bounty hunter more exciting.]]

* In ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' story ''ComicBook/TheKryptonChronicles'', the ancestors of Kal-El and [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Kara Zor-El]] had ruled over the continent of Urrika until Hyr-El was chased out of the city of Erkol by his tyrannical brother Vad-El.

* In Creator/FranzXaverVonSchonwerth's "Literature/KingGoldenlocks", the prince flees his kingdom when he is unjustly sentenced to death, and he finds works as a gardener.

* ''Franchise/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'' is a franchise about a Noble Fugitive... [[JustForFun/RecycledInSpace in SPACE!]]
%%* ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'': Steve Rogers[=/=]ComicBook/CaptainAmerica embodies this trope as the leader of rogue Avengers. His most defining moment has him valiantly opposing General Thunderbolt Ross in the Avengers Facility.%%ZCE. How exactly does he "embody" this trope?
%%-->'''Steve:''' I'm not looking for forgiveness. And I'm way past asking permission. The Earth just lost [[ComicBook/IronMan its best defender.]] So we're here to fight. And if you stand in our way, [[ShutUpHannibal we'll fight you too.]]

* [[Literature/HarryPotter Harry, Ron and Hermione]] become these in [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows the Deathly Hallows.]] Initially, Harry is the only one of high status, but the longer they are on the run [[spoiler: from Voldemort]], the more famous all three of them become.
%%* The [[NobleSavage Zulu warrior]] Umslopogaas in ''[[Literature/KingSolomonsMines Allan Quartermain]]''
* Subverted with Maladict in the Creator/TerryPratchett novel ''Literature/MonstrousRegiment''. When Maladict joins the army, the recruiting officers are wary of what would make a gentleman sign up, and Maladict immediately assures them there isn't a price on his head (before they get round to asking).

* ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'' is full of these. Beren is probably the cleanest-cut example; his father's kingdom gets overrun by Morgoth's army, and he lives off the land rather than leave it, first as part of a group of twelve warriors, then alone after the group gets betrayed. There's also Túrin, Elwing, Eärendil, and practically any living Elvish royal come the end of the First age due to their kingdoms being sacked.
* Still on Tolkien, ''Literature/TheHobbit'' features both Thorin and Bard, whose ancestral kingdoms were laid waste by Smaug.
* The princess in Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs's ''[[Literature/JohnCarterOfMars The Master Mind of Mars]]''. [[spoiler:Who is also the heroine, Valla Dia, though she tells her story in the third person.]]
** In ''The Chessman of Mars'', U-Thor, after he questioned his jeddak's injusitce, had to fight his way to freedom and then escape.

* ''Literature/TheScarletPimpernel'': The de Tournays and the other noble émigrés rescued by the Pimpernel.

* Subverted in ''Tongues of Fire''. The exile, Don Pasquale, is considered by most European governments to be the rightful King of Italy(through arcane and questionably legal justifications) following a socialist revolution which wipes out almost all the nobility. Pasquale was given "refuge" by the Polish government and allowed to set up a court in Warsaw. The only problem is that Don Pasquale is a fish-and-chip shop owner from Glasgow who has never set foot in Italy and whose title is 50 acres of useless land.
* Paul Atreides and his mother in the original ''Literature/{{Dune}}'' seek refuge among the Fremen after the Harkonnens kill his father the Duke Leto. Whom he rallies into an unstoppable army and uses to claim the Golden Lion Throne. In the [[Literature/PreludeToDune prequel novels]], the entire House Vernius goes renegade after their world of Ix gets invaded by the Tleilaxu with the secret support from Padishah-Emperor Elrood IX and, later, his son Shaddam IV. All but one end up dead before Rhombur Vernius re-takes the planet with the help of the Atreides and receives his father's title of Earl. [[spoiler: To accommodate that Ix ''wasn't'' ruled by a noble house by the time of ''God-Emperor of Dune'', the ''Winds of Dune'' interquel (set between ''Dune Messiah'' and ''Children of Dune'') establishes that the entire ordeal weakened House Vernius' authority, allowing the Ixian technocrats to easily step in and take control when Rhombur's heir, Bronsu Vernius, is killed]].
* In Creator/SergeyLukyanenko's ''Literature/SeekersOfTheSky'' duology, Junior Prince Marcus, a bastard son of the Possessor, is hunted by the entire State and, later, by the Russian Khanate as well.
* In Creator/RobertEHoward's ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'' story "Literature/RoguesInTheHouse," Murillo thinks of fleeing to exile but doesn't know if it would be allowed.

* In the ''Literature/BelisariusSeries'', Princess/Empress Shakuntala, after she is rescued from Venandakatra the Vile.
* [[spoiler: Doremus]] becomes this at the end of ''Literature/ItCantHappenHere''. He returns to America to aid dissidents as part of the resistance against the totalitarian regime. He's constantly on the run because Corpos are hunting him, however.

* This describes Cassius Mass in ''Literature/LucifersStar'' by Creator/CTPhipps. The [[RedBaron Fire Count of Crius]] is wanted for war crimes against the Commonwealth of Interplanetary Systems after the end of the war. This despite the fact his home planet was destroyed during the end of the war and being the most honorable of the Crius generals. He ends up being a BrokenAce smuggler who maintains traces of his old honor.
* In the Hindu epic ''Literature/{{Mahabharata}}'' the Pandava brothers spend a short time on the run after escaping the wax house plot perpetrated by Duryodhan their evil cousin. They pretend to be wandering ascetics having to beg for alms in villages. They stop running after Draupadi marries Arjun and a compromise is reached to grant them the kingdom of Indraprasth. But then, Duryodhan [[LostHimInACardGame claims their kingdom and their personhood in a dice game]] and orders them to spend thirteen years in exile and a year incognito. With the stipulation that if they are found out during their year incognito, they have to repeat the ordeal again. The Pandavas live in the forests for thirteen years, then take jobs as a courtier, cook, dance instructor, horse and cow herds.
* In ''Literature/TheSunneInSplendour'' this is the fate of Francis Lovell, the BestFriend of UsefulNotes/RichardIII after Richard dies at Bosworth. Francis survives to lead a rebellion, but he never manages to topple Henry VII.
* In ''Literature/{{Tigana}}'', Alessan is the prince of Tigana who has had to go into hiding after his home was destroyed. He's trying to plot the death of the person who did it, which has the bonus effect of [[NoOntologicalInertia]] ending the curse that stops anyone not born there from even recognizing his homeland's name.