History Main / ReluctantRuler

* Prince Albert, Duke of York, would have liked nothing more than to live quietly with his nice family, and, since he was the second son, this was a reasonable expectation. However, his brother Edward VIII turned out to be a complete screwup, a playboy, and a Nazi sympathiser who earned the contempt of the establishment and was forced to abdicate. Albert (as George VI) shouldered the duties of the King-Emperor, the stress of which is often thought to have considerably hastened his death (either directly or indirectly, since he increased his smoking habit to cope), and he's generally considered to have done so pretty well. Being the figurehead for the nation during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII didn't hurt, nor does the fact that his daughter, UsefulNotes/HMTheQueen, is generally considered to have modelled her legendary devotion to duty after him.

* Webcomic/GirlGenius:

** It's worse for poor Klaus. He was the only one left after the PlayerParty disappeared, their world was starting to unravel, all the work his friends had done was being undone. So... [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040806 He fixed it.]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist His way.]] [[TheExtremistWasRight And it worked.]]

* [[{{Deuteragonist}} Yang Wen-Li]] of ''Anime/LegendOfGalacticHeroes'' would rather be a historian, but he is [[TheAce really, really good]] at the whole "admiral" thing. The Alliance government does not understand this and grows increasingly distrustful of him out of fear he will make a power grab. [[spoiler:This eventually results in his death.]]

* Lord Vetinari of Sir Terry's ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' does not rule the city because he wants to but rather because he feels it is his patriotic duty.
** Considering A) the sort of people who preceded him and B) TheChessmaster could be renamed "The Vetinari" with little to no change of meaning, he might have something there.
** Carrot is ''probably'' the heir to the throne of Anhk-Morpork[[note]]the books have never provided unequivocal proof, but the circumstantial evidence is pretty strong, and enough people ''think'' he is that whether it's actually true is neither here nor there.[[/note]] but refuses to claim the position of king. He would be a great king, but feels that it would be for the wrong reasons -- he has a preternatural aura of command (people just do what he says, which is probably related to the probably-the-true-king thing), but thinks that "is good at being obeyed" is a terrible reason to be obeyed, and he wants people to do the right thing because it is right and not because a king ordered it. He'd probably accept the position if there was no other way to save the city, but it hasn't been necessary as yet.
** Nobby is actually offered the position of king of Anhk-Morpork but runs away from the offer not because he would not want the job but because he is afraid of what Commander Vimes would do to him. He would make a horrible king.
** Come to think of it, Sam Vimes wasn't exactly wild about becoming Duke of Ankh, but that's more to do with his dislike of hereditary privilege; wielding quite considerable authority in his role as [[DaChief Commander of the City Watch]] is a different matter.

* King Roland from ''Literature/TheEyesOfTheDragon'' is a fairly decent king, but has little interest in the position, and would rather concentrate on his true passion, hunting. Still, he takes on the responsibilities of kingship, because his people need him. The same goes for both his sons technically, though only one of them is fit to rule. His eldest son Peter is kind, intelligent and takes after his mother, while his youngest son Thomas is slow, plain and unfortunately inherited all his father's bad traits. Neither really ''wants'' to be king, but both end up on the throne at different points- Thomas a puppet under the scheming court magician Flagg, and Peter after Flagg's treachery is exposed.

** [[spoiler:Alistair]] of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' can become this. He can become considerably less reluctant about it if you select certain dialogue choices, however, and he proves to be a much better king after said dialogue choices than otherwise.

** Subverted with [[HiddenBackupPrince Martin Septim]] in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]''. [[spoiler:Had he actually become TheEmperor, he would very likely have been even better than [[TheGoodKing his father]], since he never wanted to become one in the first place. Additionally, his experiences as a [[OurGodsAreDifferent Daedra]] worshiper and, later, a poor monk, would certainly make him care for his subjects a lot.]] [[PlayerPunch Alas]], it [[HeroicSacrifice was not meant to be]].

* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'', Rhea never wanted to lead the Church; [[spoiler:she only ever intended to be a temporary guide for humanity until her mother returned.]] Just before the timeskip, she reveals to the player [[spoiler:she intends to make Byleth her successor to the Church and, on routes that she survives, she follows through on handing the reigns of the Church over to Byleth.]]

* Prince Albert, Duke of York, would have liked nothing more than to live quietly with his nice family, and, since he was the second son, this was a reasonable expectation. However, his brother Edward VIII turned out to be a complete screwup, a playboy, and a Nazi sympathiser who earned the contempt of the establishment and was forced to abdicate. Albert (as George VI) shouldered the duties of the King-Emperor, the stress of which is often thought to have considerably hastened his death (either directly or indirectly, since he increased his smoking habit to cope), and he's generally considered to have done so pretty well. Being the figurehead for the nation during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII didn't hurt, and nor does the fact that his daughter, UsefulNotes/HMTheQueen, is generally considered to have modelled her legendary devotion to duty from him.

* Pope Benedict XVI may not have ever wanted to be Pope claiming publicly that he prayed he would never gain the position. Unfortunately for him, in the Roman Catholic Church, one oath ''all'' priests must swear to upon becoming ordained is to be willing to accept the position if selected. He ultimately became the first pope in nearly ''six hundred years'' to resign, the last to do so having been Gregory XII in 1415 -- and that was forced upon him in order to resolve the schism created by the Avignon Papacy. (He was the first to resign under his own volition since Celestine V in 1294.)

* King UsefulNotes/LouisXVI was noted in his lifetime for being extremely reluctant and hesitant and seemed to not really enjoy being King, and even before UsefulNotes/TheFrenchRevolution, he was constantly insecure and sensitive to constant insults about how different he was from the tradition of French monarchy[[note]]He was shy and timid, where French Kings were cold and decisive, he was also monogamous and stayed faithful to his wife, which provoked a scandal among aristocrats who mocked his prudishness. He also had unusually hands-on hobbies for a monarch (he liked locksmithing and tinkering with clocks) and was unusually pious for a French aristocrat of his era. Interestingly, his British contemporary [[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfHanover George III]] was also noted for being deliberate, pious, and faithful to his wife, and also had a weird hobby for a monarch (his was farming--like actually running a farm with the latest equipment and techniques). Unlike Louis, however, George could get away with it--partly because George did have an otherwise stronger personality than Louis, partly because as a constitutional monarch, George's personal inclinations didn't matter as much to the British system as Louis' did to the French absolutist one, and partly because the British have always had a high tolerance of noble eccentricity.[[/note]]. Even when he finally called for reforms to fix a financial crisis and escalating famine, he was perceived as being reluctant to follow through on the reforms he had himself called for, while at the same time not being as repressive on the revolutionaries and his subjects as his opponents had insisted upon. Even when he planned his famous Flight to Varennes, he left the planning to his wife and fatally delayed taking action.

* Played with in {{Series/Galavant}}. Richard's older brother Kingsley decided he didn't want to be given the job of being king... because he considered his destiny to be [[RapePillageAndBurn conquering, killing, and having sex all over the place]]. He doesn't mind keeping the royal sword, though, and during the show's first season he is talked into coming back and claiming Richard's crown.

* In ''Comicbook/SupermanRedSon'', Superman disliked the idea of being the new [[OverlyLongName General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] after Stalin's death, since he thinks that having someone as privileged as him, being Superman AND the adopted son of the ruler of the Soviet Union, as the new ruler of the party would be in complete opposition with what the Communist Ideology is about.

** And then there's Federation President Jaresh-Inyo, who finds himself in over his head as the Changelings infiltrate Earth and Starfleet Command. He admits that he almost refused his people's request for him to run for office, and decides that he probably should've done so.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersGenerationOne'', Rodimus Prime was never happy leading the Autobots, feeling - accurately - that he was an inexperienced leader and not as good of one as Optimus Prime was. He happily relinquished the Matrix back to Optimus the first time he seemingly returned but had to become leader again, as that was only a zombie. When Optimus finally returned for real, he was able to return to his old position with clear conscience.

* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'', [[spoiler:Rhea]] wanted to rule, and actually went to a great deal of trouble setting up a puppet society for her ''to'' rule...[[LongLived a thousand years ago]]. Today, she is old and tired and sick of being watched everywhere she goes. The only reason she hasn't abdicated yet is that she fears [[AndManGrewProud what humans might do]] without her "guidance" ([[spoiler:read: ChurchMilitant[=s=]]]), and she needs political authority to conceal her [[PoweredByAForsakenChild attempts]] at necromancy.

* In ''Literature/WarriorCats'', Onewhisker was given a very last-minute deputy appointment during Tallstar's death. In addition to infuriating the previous deputy Mudclaw, he was reluctant to lead and only took the position at the insistence of Firestar and Brambleclaw. After becoming leader, he had to quickly change his tune in order to gain the respect of everyone.

* Nineteen-years-old Emperor Ryuuki in ''LightNovel/SaiunkokuMonogatari''. Growing up as [[TheUnfavourite the youngest of six princes]], he [[UnexpectedSuccessor found himself on the throne]] after his second eldest brother was exiled and the other princes were executed for starting a bloody succession war. He [[ObfuscatingStupidity acts dumb and plays up his attraction to men]] and desperately waits for his exiled brother to return to take the throne. However, his subordinates [[spoiler: and said brother]] have none of that.

* 'Anime/CodeGeass'':

* A non-government example: Squall from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' hates leading but is forced to lead an entire army when they're attacked, and does a nice job while at it. RousingSpeech and everything.

* King UsefulNotes/LouisXVI was noted in his lifetime for being extremely reluctant and hesitant and seemed to not really enjoy being King, and somehow even before UsefulNotes/TheFrenchRevolution, he was constantly insecure and weak, sensitive to constant insults about how different he was from the tradition of French monarchy[[note]]He was shy and timid, where French Kings were cold and decisive, he was also monogamous and stayed faithful to his wife, which provoked a scandal among aristocrats who mocked his prudishness. He also had unusually hands-on hobbies for a monarch (he liked locksmithing and tinkering with clocks) and was unusually pious for a French aristocrat of his era. Interestingly, his British contemporary [[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfHanover George III]] was also noted for being deliberate, pious, and faithful to his wife, and also had a weird hobby (his was farming--like actually running a farm with the latest equipment and techniques). Unlike Louis, however, George could get away with it--partly because George did have an otherwise stronger personality than Louis, partly because as a constitutional monarch, George's personal inclinations didn't matter as much to the British system as Louis' did to the French absolutist one, and partly because the British have always had a high tolerance of noble eccentricity.[[/note]]. Even when he finally called for reforms to fix a financial crisis and escalating famine, he was perceived as being reluctant to follow through on the reforms he had himself called for, while at the same time not being as repressive on the revolutionaries and his subjects as his opponents had insisted upon. Even when he planned his famous Flight to Varennes, he left the planning to his wife and fatally delayed taking action.

** In general, the Founding Fathers tried to project an image of reluctance or humility towards power and positions as a sort of tradition, as a way to hide their political ambitions and project republican virtue (in the Roman sense). Privately, all of them were fairly ambitious wheeler-dealers, and they (Jefferson and Hamilton among others) got much mileage attacking their opponents for being ambitious and grabby for power while [[SarcasmMode they, in their opinion]] that is ''totally'' objective, are pure as snow.

* Baron Klaus Wulfenbach in Webcomic/GirlGenius is this, though a more extreme example. He conquered Europe to establish peace, but [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040114 really hates his job]].
-->"I swear, it's like running a kindergarten."

* According to the ''VideoGame/SaintsRow1'' instruction manual, Julius claimed to be this when he started leading the 3rd Street Saints, though the Stillwater Police believe he's a natural gang leader.

* In ''LightNovel/RecordOfGrancrestWar'', Theo conquered the country because its civil war would clearly not be stopped any other way. Once everybody was unified and no longer drafting peasants into their selfish power struggles, he gave up Emperor-ship to the ''actual'' heir (who was both virtuous and competent, but couldn't have done what Theo did because he was too preoccupied with [[StarCrossedLovers romantic shenanigans]] during the war) and went back home to be Lord of Sistina. He spent a single year on the throne, and only that because he knew the people would rebel if he left it earlier.

* This is a major part of Perrin's CharacterArc in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', the other part being his coming to grips with [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent being able to talk to wolves]]. He spends most of the series resisting leadership, and when he finally accepts it reflects that perhaps those who least want authority are most deserving of it.

* Liu Bei of ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'' fame, did not like the idea of titling himself as King of Shu Han as he was loyal to the (now defunct) Han Dynasty, whom he aimed to restore. His advisors, particularly the famed Zhuge Liang, advised him by taking the title of King of Shu Han, he is able to oppose the other two kingdoms better in his attempt to restore the Han dynasty.
** Furthermore, Zhuge Liang reminded him that he is a Liu, the family that built the Han Dynasty to begin with, which means he had a more legitimate claim to call his Kingdom of Shu as Shu ''Han''.

* The Roman Emperor Claudius, at least the way he's portrayed in ''Literature/IClaudius'' and ''Claudius the God''.