History Main / TheUsurper

* ''WebComic/PrincessPrincess'': Their father the king left his kingdom to Sadie and Claire jointly. However, Sadie wasn't keen on ruling, and Claire immediately seized it from her.

* ''VideoGame/BattleTech'''s main story deals with your mercenary company helping Lady Kamea Arano regain her throne in the Aurigan Reach after her uncle Santiago Espinosa overthrew her in a MilitaryCoup on the day of her coronation.

* ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer''
** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlertSeries''
*** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert'': Throughout the Soviet Campaign [[spoiler: A series of betrayals results in the player character indirectly usurping the role of Supreme Soviet Commander from [[UsefulNotes Stalin]].]]
*** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert2'': [[spoiler: Near the end of the Soviet Campaign, the Treacherous Yuri has usurped Premier Alexander Romanov and it falls on the player character to take control back (for his or herself)]]

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'':
** After the death of King Cailan, his father-in-law Loghain basically usurps his own daughter, the widowed Queen Anora (whose claim to the throne, as a queen-consort, is that she was the one really running things anyway), and declares himself regent of Ferelden. One of his emissaries to Orzammar even calls him "King Loghain," and in one sidequest he's having a crown made for himself.
** In the same game, the Dwarven succession crisis is due to Prince Bhelen attempting a power grab by eliminating his siblings and attempting to supplant his dying father, with the only person in his way being his father's adviser. However, if he becomes king, he becomes a benevolent dictator who makes progressive reforms while also destroying any perceived threat to his power.
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' Duke Gaspard of Orlais is attempting to steal the throne of his cousin Empress Celene and instigates a CivilWar. However, Gaspard was originally next in line for the throne until Celene had their uncle Emperor Florian assassinated in order to steal the throne for herself. In addition, Celene's lover/spymaster Briala is actively trying to manipulate whoever gains the throne and run the empire from the shadows. It's left up to the player to decide which of the three is the lesser evil.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls''

* Showing how complicated this kind of thing can be, ''both'' sides accuse the other of (attempted) usurpation in ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic II'', and not entirely without cause -- Archibald Ironfist cites that he was chosen by the royal seer, as per tradition (he was), while Roland Ironfist cites that Archibald being chosen wasn't legitimate as Archibald was only chosen after murdering several royal seers in succession, forcing Roland to flee to safeguard his life, and then using bribery and threats to force the new royal seer into choosing him as the new king (entirely true).
** Archibald, the loser of the succession war, would eventually go on to usurp the throne of Deyja, although in that case assuming the throne by magical duel appears to be established tradition. [[spoiler: He then goes on to lose that throne when he's forced to flee a coup led by his lead advisor Kastore, who then takes the throne of Deyja for himself.]]
* ''VideoGame/NiNoKuniIIRevenantKingdom'': The story begins with the Usurpation of the Throne of Ding Dong Dell by Otto Mausinger, the [[EvilChancellor royal advisor]]. [[spoiler:In a rare twist, Mausinger both has a [[HeelFaceTurn change of heart]] AND gets the blessing of [[AChildShallLeadThem Former King Evan]] to continue ruling the Kingdom as an Ally of Evermore.]]

* The backstory for the ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'' games involves Baron Praxis disposing the King of Haven City and banishing him to the Wasteland while taking over the city as a dictator. One of the plot points of ''[[VideoGame/JakIIRenegade Jak II]]'' involves overthrowing him and putting the Prince of Haven City, a toddler [[spoiler:who happens to be a young Jak]], on the throne[[note]]it does not happen, because Young Jak is sent to the past to fulfill a StableTimeLoop, while Present Jak does not ascend as King upon Praxis' death, simply letting Ashelin become the city's governor[[/note]]. ''VideoGame/Jak3'' involves the disposed King as a major character [[spoiler:who dies during the climax]].

* The BigBad of ''Videogame/KingdomsOfAmalurReckoning'', Gadflow, was originally the ''court jester'' of the Winter Court of the Seelie. [[spoiler:After hearing the whispers of the imprisoned Tirnoch promising him power]], Gadflow did something completely unprecedented for the Fae: he ''changed'' (and not for the better). One day, he took the Winter King's crown from his head and put it on his own, claiming it was just another jest. Then he drew his sword, and with one swing betrayed the Winter Court and seized the throne.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

[[folder:Web Original]]

* ''Film/TheHobbit'': Smaug attacked the Dwarven kingdom of Erebor, sacked it, and drove the dwarves out. He then spent the next several years living and "ruling" in its halls (where he has no subjects to rule over but does have [[DragonHoard a whole lot of treasure]]). In the climax of ''Film/TheHobbitTheDesolationOfSmaug'', he even [[BadassBoast proclaims himself such]].

* ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'':
** Celegorm and Curufin, two of the sons of Fëanor, plotted to take rule of Nargothrond from their cousin Finrod, who gives the crown to his brother Orodreth while he goes to help Beren. Though he dies as his cousins hoped [[UriahGambit he would]], they are driven from Nargothrond when their deeds are revealed.
** Túrin ''accidentally'' takes over the small woodland realm of Brethil, where the natives find his martial prowess and bold style of leadership preferable to their own lord.
** Ar-Pharazôn from the ''Akallabêth'' usurped the throne of Númenor by marrying his cousin Tar-Míriel by force. [[spoiler:He ends up destroying Númenor when, on the advice of [[ManipulativeBastard Sauron]], he attacks Valinor.]]

* Prince Jewelius, one of Princess Celestia's nephews and Princess Cadance's younger cousin from ''Fanfic/LovedAndLost'', an extended retelling of "A Canterlot Wedding". Immediately after he helps Twilight Sparkle [[ForWantOfANail stop the Changeling invasion herself]], he denigrates the princesses as well as Twilight's brother and friends by telling to the public selective truths about the heroes' (all but Twilight) mistakes that led to the invasion happening. Thanks to everyone being shaken because of the narrowly stopped invasion and [[NiceJobBreakingItHero the panicked heroes' failed escape attempt making them look as guilty as Jewelius says they are]], the citizens quickly believe him, allowing him to dismantle the princesses and make himself Equestria's king. [[spoiler:He's later revealed to have [[GreenEyedMonster resented Celestia and Cadance because he "stood in their shadows" for years]], [[CrimeConcealingHobby traveling a lot to find a way to usurp them]]. He allied with Queen Chrysalis to invade Equestria on Cadance and Shining Armor's wedding day, but once he decided he'll gain more out of seducing Twilight Sparkle, he betrayed the Changelings by helping Twilight stop them.]]