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* A pretty common occurrence in [[UsefulNotes/DynastiesFromShangToQing Imperial China]]. This usually happened when a bigwig--typically an official or a general--had displeased the Emperor in some way. The offending official/general would typically receive a letter explaining [[YouHaveFailedMe how he had failed his sovereign]], alongside a duly sealed imperial order to commit suicide. Recipients of such orders generally did as they were commanded, partly because this [[BetterToDieThanBeKilled allowed them to save face]], and partly because the penalties for defying for such orders were often [[CruelAndUnusualDeath shockingly unpleasant]].
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* The ''Literature/CraftSequence'' book ''Literature/RuinOfAngels'' has a character who has been secretly ordered by their monarch to become a DeathSeeker as penance for a perceived act of disloyalty. If the character had refused, they would have been more formally executed, which would have been a disgrace to their family.

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[[folder:FanWorks]]
* Voldemort in ''Fanfic/TheRigelBlackChronicles'' gets rid of [[spoiler: the Basilisk, by ''repeatedly ordering it to bite itself''. For extra horror, it pleads with him to make the pain stop while it's happening]].

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* Voldemort in ''Fanfic/TheRigelBlackChronicles'' gets rid of [[spoiler: ''ComicBook/StarWarsLegacy'': In the Basilisk, last issue of the main series, Darth Krayt demonstrates the fanatical obedience of his newly unveiled Sith Troopers by ''repeatedly ordering it one to bite itself''. For extra horror, it pleads with him to make kill itself. The Trooper places the pain stop while it's happening]].hilt of its lightsaber under its chin and switches it on without a moment's hesitation.


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[[folder:FanWorks]]
* Voldemort in ''Fanfic/TheRigelBlackChronicles'' gets rid of [[spoiler: the Basilisk, by ''repeatedly ordering it to bite itself''. For extra horror, it pleads with him to make the pain stop while it's happening]].
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Fix typo


* In a variation set before the war begins, Hitler tells a British diplomat that Germany is the stronger nation because of its iron discipline. To prove his point, he commands a soldier to jump out the window to certain death. The soldier obeys. This is repeated with a second solider. As [[RuleOfThree a third soldier]] is ordered to leap, the diplomat regains sufficient composure to protest.

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* In a variation set before the war begins, Hitler tells a British diplomat that Germany is the stronger nation because of its iron discipline. To prove his point, he commands a soldier to jump out the window to certain death. The soldier obeys. This is repeated with a second solider.soldier. As [[RuleOfThree a third soldier]] is ordered to leap, the diplomat regains sufficient composure to protest.
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Add the Rigel Black Chronicles

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[[folder:FanWorks]]
* Voldemort in ''Fanfic/TheRigelBlackChronicles'' gets rid of [[spoiler: the Basilisk, by ''repeatedly ordering it to bite itself''. For extra horror, it pleads with him to make the pain stop while it's happening]].
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->''"Listen to daddy. I want you to take the gun, and I want you to put it in your mouth, and I want you to turn around and blow your brains out. Blow your brains out. BLOW YOUR BRAINS OUT!"''
-->--'''Krug Stillo''', ''Film/TheLastHouseOnTheLeft''
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* In a variation set before the war begins, Hitler tells a British diplomat that Germany is the stronger nation because of its iron discipline. To prove his point, he commands a soldier to jump out the window to certain death. The soldier obeys. This is repeated with a second solider. As [[RuleOfThree a third soldier]] is ordered to leap, the diplomat regains sufficient composure to protest.
-->'''Diplomat:''' How can you throw away your life like this?\\
'''Soldier:''' You call this a life? ''(jumps)''
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Pointless censorship


* Joke - During World War 2 a Japanese officer tells some Australian soldiers he's taken prisoner that the Japanese will win because their soldiers are braver. To demonstrate, he orders one of his men to commit hari-kari. The Japanese soldier rips open his belly with his sword. Not to be outdone, the Australian officer orders one of his men to do the same. The Australian soldier tells him to f**k off.

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* Joke - During World War 2 a Japanese officer tells some Australian soldiers he's taken prisoner that the Japanese will win because their soldiers are braver. To demonstrate, he orders one of his men to commit hari-kari.hara-kiri. The Japanese soldier rips open his belly with his sword. Not to be outdone, the Australian officer orders one of his men to do the same. The Australian soldier tells him to f**k fuck off.
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* This was how Creator/{{Socrates}} died. Due to being found guilty of impiety and corrupting the Athenian youth, the Athenian government forced him to kill himself by drinking hemlock. It only insured he was made immortal due to being [[DontCreateAMartyr a martyr to his philosophy]], and ''Phaedo'' by {{Creator/Plato}} portrays him [[FaceDeathWithDignity facing his death with utter aplomb]].

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* This was how Creator/{{Socrates}} died. Due to being found guilty of impiety and corrupting the Athenian youth, the Athenian government forced him to kill himself by drinking hemlock. It only insured he was made immortal due to being [[DontCreateAMartyr a martyr to his philosophy]], and ''Phaedo'' by {{Creator/Plato}} portrays him [[FaceDeathWithDignity facing his death with utter aplomb]]. The government was not unaware of the martyr problem and would actually have preferred exile; they made it incredibly easy for Socrates' students to liberate him and get him out of the city. Plato's ''Crito'' is about Socrates rejecting that option and intentionally choosing martyrdom.
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Subtrope of MurderBySuicide. Supertrope to WalkThePlank, a specific version of execution by suicide; {{Seppuku}} can also be one.

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Subtrope of MurderBySuicide. Supertrope to WalkThePlank, a specific version of execution by suicide; {{Seppuku}} can also be one. \n A typical indirect way of achieving this while hypocritically disguising in wartime as duty is the all-time favourite UriahGambit.
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* This was how Creator/{{Socrates}} died. Due to how his influence corrupted the Athenian youth, the Athenian government forced him to kill himself by drinking hemlock.

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* This was how Creator/{{Socrates}} died. Due to how his influence corrupted being found guilty of impiety and corrupting the Athenian youth, the Athenian government forced him to kill himself by drinking hemlock.hemlock. It only insured he was made immortal due to being [[DontCreateAMartyr a martyr to his philosophy]], and ''Phaedo'' by {{Creator/Plato}} portrays him [[FaceDeathWithDignity facing his death with utter aplomb]].



** or The Old Man of the Mountain (that's the guy who led TheHashshashin, not the DirtyOldMan who chased WesternAnimation/BettyBoop.)

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** or Or The Old Man of the Mountain (that's the guy who led TheHashshashin, not the DirtyOldMan who chased WesternAnimation/BettyBoop.)
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** Confessor magic enslaves a person's mind completely, to the extent that powerful ones can order a person to drop dead, and he will. Kahlan had demonstrated the ability several times over the books.
** Jagang demonstrates his power to the captive Sisters of Dark by ordering a previously captured one to die... and showing them what it means to die when still formally serving a most displeased [[{{Satan}} Keeper]]

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** Confessor magic enslaves a person's mind completely, to the extent that powerful ones can order a person to drop dead, and he will. Kahlan had has demonstrated the ability several times over the books.
** Jagang demonstrates his power to the captive Sisters of Dark by ordering a previously captured one to die... and showing them what it means to die when still formally serving a most displeased [[{{Satan}} Keeper]][[GodOfEvil Keeper]].
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* In ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates'', when Kruschev arrives in Stalingrad, he immediately hands his predecessor - who had lost almost all of his command - a pistol and tells him he's on orders from [[UsefulNotes/JosephStalin The Boss]] and it will spare the paperwork.

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* In ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates'', when Kruschev arrives in Stalingrad, he immediately hands his predecessor - who had lost almost all of his command - a pistol and tells him he's on orders from [[UsefulNotes/JosephStalin The Boss]] and it will spare the paperwork.avoid red tape. The guy promptly kills himself with it offscreen.
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* {{Defied}} in ''Film/FlashGordon''. Ming orders Prince Thun to kill himself for providing inadequate tribute. Thun attacks Ming instead, and Ming kills him.

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* {{Defied}} in ''Film/FlashGordon''.''Film/{{Flash Gordon|1980}}''. Ming orders Prince Thun to kill himself for providing inadequate tribute. Thun attacks Ming instead, and Ming kills him.
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* In the opening sequence of ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'', Bane and his men are kidnapping a scientist from a plane, [[FakingTheDead while making it appear as though the scientist died in the plane crash]]. Bane orders one of his men to remain behind on the crashing plane, as the authorities expect to find one of Bane's followers in the wreckage. His man obeys immediately.
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* ''{{Toys/BIONICLE}}'': Roodaka demonstrates her authority over the Visorak to Vakama by ordering a few Visorak to jump off a cliff.

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* ''{{Toys/BIONICLE}}'': ''Toys/{{BIONICLE}}'': Roodaka demonstrates her authority over the Visorak to Vakama by ordering a few Visorak to jump off a cliff.
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* In the ''Literature/ConradStargard'' series by Leo Frankowski, a delegation sent by the Mongols does this as psychological warfare when demanding the Poles submit to the Mongol Empire. The protagonist realizes he's got to take charge of matters or the battle will be lost before it's begun. So Conrad asks the Mongol ambassador to order another member of their delegation to kill himself. He hesitates (because it's his son, as it turns out) but complies. Then Conrad asks for yet another demonstration. When the ambassador demands to know why, Conrad says if all the Mongols are stupid enough to kill themselves, they won't have to fight them on the battlefield.
* In ''Literature/ChroniclesOfTheKencyrath'', the increasingly paranoid Ganth Gray Lord decided his household was plotting against him and ordered his son Torisen's friends (some of his own sworn followers) to commit suicide, which they immediately did. This was a major factor in Torisen's choice to run away, something that was both dishonorable by Kencyr standards and the only reason he survived his father.

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* In the Literature/ChroniclesOfTheKencyrath, the increasingly paranoid Ganth Gray Lord decided his household was plotting against him and ordered his son Torisen's friends (some of his own sworn followers) to commit suicide, which they immediately did. This was a major factor in Torisen's choice to run away, something that was both dishonorable by Kencyr standards and the only reason he survived his father.
* In the ''Literature/ConradStargard'' series by Leo Frankowski, Creator/LeoFrankowski, a delegation sent by the Mongols does this as psychological warfare when demanding the Poles submit to the Mongol Empire. The protagonist realizes he's got to take charge of matters or the battle will be lost before it's begun. So Conrad asks the Mongol ambassador to order another member of their delegation to kill himself. He hesitates (because it's his son, as it turns out) but complies. Then Conrad asks for yet another demonstration. When the ambassador demands to know why, Conrad says if all the Mongols are stupid enough to kill themselves, they won't have to fight them on the battlefield.
* In ''Literature/ChroniclesOfTheKencyrath'', the increasingly paranoid Ganth Gray Lord decided his household was plotting against him and ordered his son Torisen's friends (some of his own sworn followers) to commit suicide, which they immediately did. This was a major factor in Torisen's choice to run away, something that was both dishonorable by Kencyr standards and the only reason he survived his father.
battlefield.
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* In ''Literature/ChroniclesOfTheKencyrath'', the increasingly paranoid Ganth Gray Lord decided his household was plotting against him and ordered his son Torisen's friends (some of his own sworn followers) to commit suicide, which they immediately did. This was a major factor in Torisen's choice to run away, something that was both dishonorable by Kencyr standards and the only reason he survived his father.
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* At the start of the ''LightNovel/NoGameNoLife'' movie, Riku orders Ivan to sacrifice himself to allow Riku and Alei to escape. Ivan accepts unquestioningly, asking Riku to look after his daughter, and Riku later reveals that he's done this dozens of times before.

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* At the start of the ''LightNovel/NoGameNoLife'' movie, Riku orders Ivan to sacrifice himself to allow Riku and Alei to escape. Ivan accepts unquestioningly, asking Riku to look after his daughter, and Riku later reveals that he's he has done this dozens of times before.



* ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982''. Thulsa Doom does this merely to demonstrate AnAesop that flesh is stronger than steel. He points out one of the Children of Doom standing high above him on a cliff, and gently encourages her to come to him. She fearlessly leaps off the edge, her impact smashing her through the floorboards.

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* ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982''. Thulsa Doom does this merely to demonstrate AnAesop that flesh is stronger than steel. He points out one of the Children of Doom standing high above him on a cliff, cliff and gently encourages her to come to him. She fearlessly leaps off the edge, her impact smashing her through the floorboards.



* In Creator/FredricBrown's short story "Rebound", a person discovers he has the power of CompellingVoice, and ends up shouting "Drop dead!" during a night walk. Next morning, he is found dead atop Echo Hill.

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* In Creator/FredricBrown's short story "Rebound", a person discovers he has the power of CompellingVoice, CompellingVoice and ends up shouting "Drop dead!" during a night walk. Next morning, he is found dead atop Echo Hill.



* In the Pocket Books ''Franchise/{{Star Trek|ExpandedUniverse}}'' novel ''Here There Be Dragons'', the ''Enterprise'' is attacked by a ship that clearly has no chance of defeating them; the attacking crew trigger the self-destruct rather than be captured, as per their standing orders. An odd example in that the crew aren't soldiers, {{Proud Warrior Race Guy}}s or religious fanatics, but regular human criminals who are OnlyInItForTheMoney; possibly their superiors have promised to ensure that blowing themselves up will be [[SuicidalSadisticChoice the]] ''[[SuicidalSadisticChoice less]]'' [[SuicidalSadisticChoice painful option]], but it's not elaborated on. [[spoiler:In any case, the flaws of this system rapidly become apparent, as one of the crew decides he'd rather live and ejects in the escape pod -- but rather than simply turn himself in and provide state's evidence, he attempts to lead the ''Enterprise'' into a trap, figuring he can sweet-talk his way back into his superiors' good graces. It turns out badly both for him ''and'' his superiors.]]

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* In the Pocket Books ''Franchise/{{Star Trek|ExpandedUniverse}}'' novel ''Here There Be Dragons'', the ''Enterprise'' is attacked by a ship that clearly has no chance of defeating them; the attacking crew trigger triggers the self-destruct rather than be captured, as per their standing orders. An odd example in that the crew aren't soldiers, {{Proud Warrior Race Guy}}s or religious fanatics, but regular human criminals who are OnlyInItForTheMoney; possibly their superiors have promised to ensure that blowing themselves up will be [[SuicidalSadisticChoice the]] ''[[SuicidalSadisticChoice less]]'' [[SuicidalSadisticChoice painful option]], but it's not elaborated on. [[spoiler:In any case, the flaws of this system rapidly become apparent, as one of the crew decides he'd rather live and ejects in the escape pod -- but rather than simply turn himself in and provide state's evidence, he attempts to lead the ''Enterprise'' into a trap, figuring he can sweet-talk his way back into his superiors' good graces. It turns out badly both for him ''and'' his superiors.]]
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** or The Old Man of the Mountain (that's the guy who led the [[UsefulNotes/TheCrusades Hashshashin]], not the DirtyOldMan who chased WesternAnimation/BettyBoop.)

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** or The Old Man of the Mountain (that's the guy who led the [[UsefulNotes/TheCrusades Hashshashin]], TheHashshashin, not the DirtyOldMan who chased WesternAnimation/BettyBoop.)

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* Variant version in ''Manga/OnePiece'', the personnel of the military group Germa 66 are expected to become a HumanShield for their commanders if they are ordered to. In particular, their supreme leader, Judge, during his fight with Sanji, ordered his men to form a wall in front of him and then he tries to strike Sanji ''[[GoThroughMe through]]'' his men, impaling one of them with his spear in the process, to distract Sanji.

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* Variant version in ''Manga/OnePiece'', the ''Manga/OnePiece''
** The
personnel of the military group Germa 66 are expected to become a HumanShield for their commanders if they are ordered to. In particular, their supreme leader, Judge, during his fight with Sanji, ordered his men to form a wall in front of him and then he tries to strike Sanji ''[[GoThroughMe through]]'' his men, impaling one of them with his spear in the process, to distract Sanji.Sanji.
** Earlier on, Don Krieg, infuriated by his lieutenant Gin's decision to spare Sanji, orders Gin to throw away his gas mask immediately before bombarding the area with poison gas. Gin complies, and when Luffy throws him and Sanji gas masks (forgetting to keep one for himself), Gin throws his back to Luffy, resulting in him being ([[UncertainDoom possibly fatally]]) poisoned.
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* At the start of the ''LightNovel/NoGameNoLife'' movie, Riku orders Ivan to sacrifice himself to allow Riku and Alei to escape. Ivan accepts unquestioningly, asking Riku to look after his daughter, and Riku later reveals that he's done this dozens of times before.
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Goes under Suicidal Sadistic Choice, Rommel's alternative would have been to be executed along with his family.


* Field Marshall Irwin Rommel was "allowed" to commit suicide by Hilter's orders instead of being executed for his involvement in the July 20 Bomb Plot.
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* In the Pocket Books ''Franchise/{{Star Trek|ExpandedUniverse}}'' novel ''Here There Be Dragons'', the ''Enterprise'' is attacked by a ship that clearly has no chance of defeating them; the attacking crew trigger the self-destruct rather than be captured, as per their standing orders. An odd example in that the crew aren't {{Proud Warrior Race Guy}}s or religious fanatics, but regular human criminals who are OnlyInItForTheMoney; possibly their superiors have promised to ensure that blowing themselves up will be [[SuicidalSadisticChoice the]] ''[[SuicidalSadisticChoice less]]'' [[SuicidalSadisticChoice painful option]], but it's not elaborated on. [[spoiler:In any case, the flaws of this system rapidly become apparent, as one of the crew decides he'd rather live and ejects in the escape pod -- but rather than simply turn himself in and provide state's evidence, he attempts to lead the ''Enterprise'' into a trap, figuring he can sweet-talk his way back into his superiors' good graces. It turns out badly both for him ''and'' his superiors.]]

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* In the Pocket Books ''Franchise/{{Star Trek|ExpandedUniverse}}'' novel ''Here There Be Dragons'', the ''Enterprise'' is attacked by a ship that clearly has no chance of defeating them; the attacking crew trigger the self-destruct rather than be captured, as per their standing orders. An odd example in that the crew aren't soldiers, {{Proud Warrior Race Guy}}s or religious fanatics, but regular human criminals who are OnlyInItForTheMoney; possibly their superiors have promised to ensure that blowing themselves up will be [[SuicidalSadisticChoice the]] ''[[SuicidalSadisticChoice less]]'' [[SuicidalSadisticChoice painful option]], but it's not elaborated on. [[spoiler:In any case, the flaws of this system rapidly become apparent, as one of the crew decides he'd rather live and ejects in the escape pod -- but rather than simply turn himself in and provide state's evidence, he attempts to lead the ''Enterprise'' into a trap, figuring he can sweet-talk his way back into his superiors' good graces. It turns out badly both for him ''and'' his superiors.]]
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* In the Pocket Books ''Franchise/{{Star Trek|ExpandedUniverse}}'' novel ''Here There Be Dragons'', the ''Enterprise'' is attacked by a ship that clearly has no chance of defeating them; the attacking crew trigger the self-destruct rather than be captured, as per their standing orders. An odd example in that the crew aren't {{Proud Warrior Race Guy}}s or religious fanatics, but regular human criminals who are OnlyInItForTheMoney; possibly their superiors have promised to ensure that blowing themselves up will be [[SuicidalSadisticChoice the]] ''[[SuicidalSadisticChoice less]]'' [[SuicidalSadisticChoice painful option]], but it's not elaborated on. [[spoiler:In any case, the flaws of this system rapidly become apparent, as one of the crew decides he'd rather live and ejects in the escape pod -- but rather than simply turn himself in and provide state's evidence, he attempts to lead the ''Enterprise'' into a trap, figuring he can sweet-talk his way back into his superiors' good graces. It turns out badly both for him ''and'' his superiors.]]
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* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': Dick Roman, leader of the Leviathan monster race, orders a minion who failed him to ''[[{{Autocannibalism}} eat himself]]''. Since they have a built-in HealingFactor, this is a ridiculously cruel punishment even by the standards of other {{Bad Boss}}es featured in the show.

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* ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex 2nd GIG'': Several cyborgs calling themselves the Individual Eleven publicly behead each other on top of a building after a MotiveRant. [[spoiler: It's revealed later they were under the control of a computer virus.]]



* Variant version in ''Manga/OnePiece'', the personnel of the military group Germa 66 are expected to become a HumanShield for their commanders if they are ordered to. In particular, their supreme leader, Judge, during his fight with Sanji, ordered his men to form a wall in front of him and then he tries to strike Sanji ''through'' his men, impaling one of them with his spear in the process, to distract Sanji.

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* Variant version in ''Manga/OnePiece'', the personnel of the military group Germa 66 are expected to become a HumanShield for their commanders if they are ordered to. In particular, their supreme leader, Judge, during his fight with Sanji, ordered his men to form a wall in front of him and then he tries to strike Sanji ''through'' ''[[GoThroughMe through]]'' his men, impaling one of them with his spear in the process, to distract Sanji.

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!!Examples

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\n!!Examples!!Examples:






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[[folder:Film -- Live Action]]

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-->'''Japanese officer:''' Aha! You said your men were braver!
-->'''Australian officer:''' They are. Your man wouldn't have dared answer you back like that.

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-->'''Japanese officer:''' Aha! You said your men were braver!
-->'''Australian
braver!\\
'''Australian
officer:''' They are. Your man wouldn't have dared answer you back like that.



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Created from YKTTW

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A leader demonstrates their authority by ordering one of their followers or underlings to kill themselves. Perhaps the lieutenant has [[YouHaveFailedMe failed]] one too many times. Perhaps it's a sheer demonstration of their own power and their followers' BlindObedience. Perhaps it's just to KickTheDog.

A key point is that the victim obeys of their own free will. If they [[CompellingVoice don't]] have a [[MindControl choice]], it's PsychicAssistedSuicide. If they have a choice between suicide and [[AFateWorseThanDeath something worse]], see SuicidalSadisticChoice. If the victim doesn't realize their action will kill them, see TrickedToDeath.

A variant is the leader ordering their people to do something obviously suicidally dangerous but not directly deadly, such as [[HumanShield stand between]] him and TheHero.

Subtrope of MurderBySuicide. Supertrope to WalkThePlank, a specific version of execution by suicide; {{Seppuku}} can also be one.

Compare PleaseKillMeIfItSatisfiesYou, where it's the character volunteering to die, and LeaveBehindAPistol, for when they are ''allowed'' to kill themselves as a way out. Telling someone to kill themselves without having the authority to expect them to obey is a SuicideDare, and can end in DrivenToSuicide.

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!!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex 2nd GIG'': Several cyborgs calling themselves the Individual Eleven publicly behead each other on top of a building after a MotiveRant. [[spoiler: It's revealed later they were under the control of a computer virus.]]
* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'' Vanilla Ice cutting off his own head to give Dio his blood out of BlindObedience might count, as he had no idea he could be revived and become a vampire. ''Might'' - maybe [[TooDumbToLive he's just too dense to realize decapitation is a fatal sacrifice]].
* Variant version in ''Manga/OnePiece'', the personnel of the military group Germa 66 are expected to become a HumanShield for their commanders if they are ordered to. In particular, their supreme leader, Judge, during his fight with Sanji, ordered his men to form a wall in front of him and then he tries to strike Sanji ''through'' his men, impaling one of them with his spear in the process, to distract Sanji.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film -- Live Action]]
* '' Film/BabylonAD''. In an extra included in the DVD, an animated scene called The Genesis of Aurora shows the BackStory of how Darquandier met the High Priestess of the Neolite cult. The latter has the two acolytes accompanying her take poison, just to show off her power.
-->'''High Priestess:''' If one will ''die'' for a religion...
* In the movie ''Film/TheBeastmaster'', High Priest Maax orders two of his underlings to kill themselves as a show of his power by hanging themselves. They immediately obey.
* ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982''. Thulsa Doom does this merely to demonstrate AnAesop that flesh is stronger than steel. He points out one of the Children of Doom standing high above him on a cliff, and gently encourages her to come to him. She fearlessly leaps off the edge, her impact smashing her through the floorboards.
-->'''Thulsa Doom:''' THAT is strength, boy. THAT is power!
* In ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates'', when Kruschev arrives in Stalingrad, he immediately hands his predecessor - who had lost almost all of his command - a pistol and tells him he's on orders from [[UsefulNotes/JosephStalin The Boss]] and it will spare the paperwork.
* {{Defied}} in ''Film/FlashGordon''. Ming orders Prince Thun to kill himself for providing inadequate tribute. Thun attacks Ming instead, and Ming kills him.
* ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'': "We are the Judean People's Front Crack Suicide Squad! Suicide Squad, attack!" ''(they all stab themselves)''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Jokes]]
* Joke - During World War 2 a Japanese officer tells some Australian soldiers he's taken prisoner that the Japanese will win because their soldiers are braver. To demonstrate, he orders one of his men to commit hari-kari. The Japanese soldier rips open his belly with his sword. Not to be outdone, the Australian officer orders one of his men to do the same. The Australian soldier tells him to f**k off.
-->'''Japanese officer:''' Aha! You said your men were braver!
-->'''Australian officer:''' They are. Your man wouldn't have dared answer you back like that.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* In ''Literature/{{Alamut}}'', Hassan-i Sabbah of TheHashshashin demonstrates his power over his acolytes by ordering two of them to commit suicide, which they do without hesitation.
* In the ''Literature/ConradStargard'' series by Leo Frankowski, a delegation sent by the Mongols does this as psychological warfare when demanding the Poles submit to the Mongol Empire. The protagonist realizes he's got to take charge of matters or the battle will be lost before it's begun. So Conrad asks the Mongol ambassador to order another member of their delegation to kill himself. He hesitates (because it's his son, as it turns out) but complies. Then Conrad asks for yet another demonstration. When the ambassador demands to know why, Conrad says if all the Mongols are stupid enough to kill themselves, they won't have to fight them on the battlefield.
* In ''Literature/QuoVadis'', a Roman nobleman Petronius is ordered to commit suicide by Emperor Nero. It's clear that if he doesn't do it, he can expect a FateWorseThanDeath. Petronius cuts his wrists and dies in a warm bath of water, which is supposed to be relatively painless. His beautiful slave and lover voluntarily joins him to invoke TogetherInDeath.
* In Creator/FredricBrown's short story "Rebound", a person discovers he has the power of CompellingVoice, and ends up shouting "Drop dead!" during a night walk. Next morning, he is found dead atop Echo Hill.
* At least two examples in the ''Literature/SwordOfTruth'' series:
** Confessor magic enslaves a person's mind completely, to the extent that powerful ones can order a person to drop dead, and he will. Kahlan had demonstrated the ability several times over the books.
** Jagang demonstrates his power to the captive Sisters of Dark by ordering a previously captured one to die... and showing them what it means to die when still formally serving a most displeased [[{{Satan}} Keeper]]
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[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* In the pilot movie of ''Series/{{Lexx}}'' His Divine Shadow orders a guard who failed to prevent the protagonists from escaping with the [[SapientShip titular superweapon]] to execute her partner, and then herself.
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[[folder:Toys]]
* ''{{Toys/BIONICLE}}'': Roodaka demonstrates her authority over the Visorak to Vakama by ordering a few Visorak to jump off a cliff.
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[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI'': Al Mualim has Altair and two other assassins jump to their deaths to prove to Robert they do not fear death. It's really a ploy to get them to circumvent the Templars and activate Masyaf's defenses.
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[[folder:Real Life]]
* Field Marshall Irwin Rommel was "allowed" to commit suicide by Hilter's orders instead of being executed for his involvement in the July 20 Bomb Plot.
* This was how Creator/{{Socrates}} died. Due to how his influence corrupted the Athenian youth, the Athenian government forced him to kill himself by drinking hemlock.
* Supposedly there was a Real Life incident that inspired this trope, variously attributed to any of the below. As with all such tales they should be taken with a grain of salt, as they may have just been exaggerated horror stories for the benefit of Western audiences.
** Shaka Zulu (who marched an entire ''impi'' off a cliff to impress visiting Europeans)
** Alexander the Great (to frighten a city into surrendering)
** King Henri Christophe of Haiti at the cliff castle of Sans-Souci
** or The Old Man of the Mountain (that's the guy who led the [[UsefulNotes/TheCrusades Hashshashin]], not the DirtyOldMan who chased WesternAnimation/BettyBoop.)
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