History Main / ReignOfTerror

''TabetopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' has the nation of Galt, which broke away from Cheliax in a bloody revolution that hasn't let up in ''forty years''.

* Given that it was blatantly based on TheFrenchRevolution, it's not surprising that this ends up happening to the country of Montaigne in ''[[TabletopGame/SeventhSea'''s metaplot.

Named after the Reign of Terror in TheFrenchRevolution, which lasted less than a year between 1793-1794 in a revolution which lasted 15 years, but is remembered as the most infamous part of the revolution, where 16,594 people were [[OffWithHisHead sent to the guillotine]] and at least 25,000 more were summarily executed.

* The world during the latter half of the Tribulation in the Literature/LeftBehind series became this after Nicolae Carpathia was "resurrected" and declared himself god over all the earth. Citizens were required to bear the MarkOfTheBeast and to bow down before Carpathia's image three times a day or face punishment, which includes death. Sometimes citizens who do end up getting the mark also become executed. All religions except for Carpathianism were illegal to practice, and rebels that didn't align themselves with either God or Carpathia were also killed. Dissenters and critics against Carpathia's authority, even with the slightest infractions such as staring nervously at him and not addressing him by his proper title, were dealt very harshly.

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* Given that it was blatantly based on TheFrenchRevolution, it's not surprising that this ends up happening to the country of Montaigne in ''[[TabletopGame/SeventhSea 7th Sea]]'''s metaplot.

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* The world during the latter half of the Tribulation in the Literature/LeftBehind series became this after Nicolae Carpathia was "resurrected" and declared himself god over all the earth. Citizens were required to bear the MarkOfTheBeast and to bow down before Carpathia's image three times a day or face punishment, which includes death. Sometimes citizens who do end up getting the mark also become executed. Dissenters and critics against Carpathia's authority, even with the slightest infractions such as staring nervously at him and not addressing him by his proper title, were dealt very harshly.

* One country that Kino visits in ''KinosJourney'' replaced a tyrant king with the rule of majority. First the people voted to kill the king and his family, then his supporters and their family. Then anyone who disagreed with the majority. The country is left with one man after he and his wife voted to kill the third man, and then the wife died of an unrelated illness. ( having a doctor would have helped.)

* Happens in ''{{Apocalypse no Toride}}'' when the inmates revolt against and kill the guards and staff and the most vile of the delinquents take over. And they have no problem with throwing anyone who disagrees into the mass of zombies outside the prison walls.

* In the Creatr/WoodyAllen film, ''Film/{{Bananas}}'', the rebels overthrow the evil Central American dictatorship. Then the new leader goes batshit insane and starts his ReignOfTerror. So the rebels get Woody to be leader instead. HilarityEnsues.
* ''Franchise/StarWars'' the Galactic Empires reign over the galaxy. In the EU it shows that they hunted down and stamp out anyone who would dissent against them, this included killing entire races to extinction.

* The rule of The Citizen in ''[[{{Mistborn}} The Hero of Ages]]'' has become this, leading to some of our heroes to attempt a FullCircleRevolution. [[spoiler: What they don't realize is that both sides are being influenced by the BigBad.]]

* In Sinclair Lewis' ''ItCantHappenHere'', Windrip's regime quickly and brutally suppresses dissent once he takes power. [[spoiler: After Windrip goes into exile and Saranson is assassinated, Haik's regime is even ''worse''.]]

* The third ''[=BlackAdder=]'' takes place during this time, for France. It even has some French aristocrats flee their nation in one episode. Edmund nearly gets executed for trying to reenact the Scarlet Pimpernell.

* Given that it was blatantly based on TheFrenchRevolution, it's not surprising that this ends up happening to the country of Montaigne in ''[[SeventhSea 7th Sea]]'''s metaplot.

** Technically the actual ReignOfTerror only began with the HorusHeresy. Before that the government while brutal and authoritarian tended to avoid the excesses and extremes that are the norm afterwards.

* ''LookToTheWest'' has a close analogue in its own version of TheFrenchRevolution, led by Jean-Baptiste Robespierre. He proclaims the "doctrine of continuous warfare," by which the Republic must be in a continuous state of war in order to terrify its people into submission. When [[FullCircleRevolution eventually overthrown]] by Jean de Lisieux, he is replaced by a regime which specifically rejects terror tactics and even the death penalty, but instead embraces TwoPlusTortureMakesFive.

Despite the TropeNamer, '''NoRealLifeExamplesPlease''' It would be too controversial.

* In the Woody Allan film, ''{{Bananas}}'', the rebels overthrow the evil Central American dictatorship. Then the new leader goes batshit insane and starts his ReignOfTerror. So the rebels get Woody to be leader instead. HilarityEnsues.
* ''StarWars'' the Galactic Empires reign over the galaxy. In the EU it shows that they hunted down and stamp out anyone who would dissent against them, this included killing entire races to extinction.

* ''AnimalFarm'', based upon the Russian Revolution and the rise of Communism, is the epitome of this trope.

* In ''TheTwilightZone 1961'' episode "The Mirror" a South American revolutionary overthrows a dictator. The dictator tells him that his mirror "shows him his enemies." The revolutionary, looking in it through the course of the episode sees his former compatriots and kills them off. He's finally left alone, and just sees himself in the mirror; then, realizing the significance, he kills himself.

* The third ''BlackAdder'' takes place during this time, for France. It even has some French aristocrats flee their nation in one episode. Edmund nearly gets executed for trying to reenact the Scarlet Pimpernell.

* ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' has the Committee of Public Safety taking over the Peoples Republic of Haven which is modeled exactly on the historical French government.
** Although it has parallels to Soviet Russia as well.

* The Egyptian novel, ''The Thief and the Dogs'' has this as the setting's backstory. Said Mahran (the main character) was a JustLikeRobinHood thief fighting against the colonialist European government during the revolutions of the 1950's. Unfortunately for him, his closest allies in the movement, Ilish Sidra and Rauf Ilwan, basically seize power for themselves. The result? Egypt is no better off than it was before (really the only difference is the totalitarian leaders are Egyptian instead of European) and Said is out for revenge as the book starts.

* The third ''BlackAdder'' takes place during this time, for France. And even in one episode has some French aristocrats flee their nation. Edmund nearly gets executed for trying to reenact the Scarlet Pimpernell.

** Technically the actual ReignOfTerror only began with the HorusHeresy before that the government while brutal and authoritarian tended to avoid the excesses and extremes that are the norm afterwards.

[[quoteright:224:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Reign_of_Terror.jpg]]

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* The third ''BlackAdder'' takes place during this time, for France. And even in one episode has some French aristocrats flee their nation. Edmund nearly gets executed for trying to reenact the Scarlet Pimpernell.

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* The Norsefire party in ''VForVendetta'' engineered this, first through fear-mongering and inducing xenophobia in the populace, then by the spread of a horrific virus to throw everything into a panic, and then, when they had gained power, by means of a Gestapo-like organization devoted to removing any citizens who posed the slightest threat to the government. The whole plot is a [[SatireParodyPastiche pastiche]] of the [[ThoseWackyNazis Nazi reign]].

* ''{{Gundam}}'' has used something like that. it did not really occur after a revolution but after a war/reshaping of the world order. In the UC timeline the special forces Titans were established (who have become a prime example for a oppressive military in anime), and later in the A.D. timeline an even straighter example were the A-Laws which pretty much ruled the earth with an iron fist behind the scenes (and behind them, the innovators).

* ''Series/DoctorWho'' actually had an episode titled "ReignOfTerror". [[CaptainObvious It was set during the Reign of Terror.]]

* ''Series/DoctorWho'' actually had an episode titled "TheReignOfTerror". [[CaptainObvious It was set during the Reign of Terror.]]

* ''Series/DoctorWho'' did an episode set during TheFrenchRevolution that was actually titled "ReignOfTerror".

* {{Gundam}} has used something like that. it did not really occur after a revolution but after a war/reshaping of the world order. In the UC timeline the special forces Titans were established (who have become a prime example for a oppressive military in anime), and later in the A.D. timeline an even straighter example were the A-Laws which pretty much ruled the earth with an iron fist behind the scenes (and behind them, the innovators).
* Happens in {{Apocalypse no Toride}} when the inmates revolt against and kill the guards and staff and the most vile of the delinquents take over. And they have no problem with throwing anyone who disagrees into the mass of zombies outside the prison walls.

* The third BlackAdder takes place during this time, for France. And even in one episode has some French aristocrats flee their nation. Edmund nearly gets executed for trying to reenact the Scarlet Pimpernell.

* The Egyptian novel, ''The Thief and the Dogs'' has this as the setting's backstory. Said Mahran (the main character) was a JustLikeRobinHood thief fighting against the colonialist European government during the revolutions of the 1950's. [[ItGotWorse Unfortunately for him,]] his closest allies in the movement, Ilish Sidra and Rauf Ilwan, basically seize power for themselves. The result? Egypt is no better off than it was before (really the only difference is the totalitarian leaders are Egyptian instead of European) and Said is out for revenge as the book starts.

* Katniss' killing of [[spoiler:President Coin]] in ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' (at the end of the third book ''Mockingjay''), is intended to avert this, due to her being privy to some disturbing discussions on the eve of the execution of President Snow.

->''"Terror is nothing more than justice. Swift, incorruptible justice."''\\
--'''MaximilienRobespierre'''

Named after the Reign of Terror in TheFrenchRevolution, which lasted less than a year between 1793-1794 in a revolution which lasted 15 years, but is remembered as the most infamous part of the revolution, where at least 16,594 people were sent to the guillotine and at least 25,000 more were summarily executed.

Named after the Reign of Terror in TheFrenchRevolution, which lasted less than a year between 1793-1794 in a revolution which lasted 15 years, but is remembered as the most infamous part of the revolution, where the guillotine was used and overused against many people.

Named after the Reign of Terror in TheFrenchRevolution, when the guillotine was used and overused against many people.