List of fictional revolutions and coups

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This is a list of fictional coups d'état and revolutions in various media: instances that are mentioned or described in fictional works but have not occurred in reality.

Contents

[edit] Books

  • Animal Farm by George Orwell
    • In this satirical allegory, farm animals representing Bolshevik revolutionaries successfully execute a coup d'état (which they call 'The Rebellion'), ousting the cruel farmer Mr Jones (representing Tsar Nicholas II).
  • Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy
    • General Alekseyev, aware that the Politburo was considering using tactical nuclear weapons, stages a successful coup d'état with the KGB head and the Minister for Energy to replace the Politburo with a 'Troika' and cease war between the USSR and NATO.
  • The Bear and the Dragon by Tom Clancy
    • After badly losing against a Russo-American alliance that invaded Siberia, Red China attempted using nuclear weapons against both countries, Chinese protesters invade a Politburo meeting, whence Politburocrat Fang Gan assumes government, arrests the leaders of the military invasion, and withdraws Chinese forces from Russia.
  • A Very British Coup a 1982 novel by Chris Mullin
    • Features a successful coup d'état against Harry Perkins a Left-wing Labour Prime Minister. In the television version of the story, the result is different (cf. below).
  • O Senhor Embaixador by Érico Veríssimo
    • First Sacramenteña Revolution - Liberal Revolution against a corrupt democratic government in the Caribbean Republic of Sacramento. Led by António Chamorro, it installed him as Dictator and his wife as the true Commander.
    • Second Sacramenteña Revolution - Liberal Revolution against the dictatorship of António Chamorro in the Caribbean Republic of Sacramento. Led by Juventino Carrera and Gabriel Heliodoro, it installed Carrera as Dictator.
    • Dr. Júlio Moreno overthrow - coup d'état in the Republic of Sacramento against the leftist, democratically-elected Moreno government. Led by ex-president Juventino Carrera to reinstall him as Dictator.
    • 1959 - Revolución Socialista Sacramenteña - Socialist revolution in the Caribbean Republic of Sacramento against the dictatorship of Juventino Carrera. Led by Manuel Barrios, it installs a socialist government.
  • Seven Days in May
    • American Generals unsatisfied with U.S. President Jordan Lyman's ratification of a disarmament treaty with the Soviet Union develop the ECOMCON (Emergency Communications and Control) plan to divert the country's communications media and infrastructure to prevent the treaty's ratification.
  • The Man Who Held the Queen to Ransom and Sent Parliament Packing
    • British Army Captain Richard Wyatt leads the kidnap of the Queen, dismisses Parliament, and installs a revolutionary government.
  • The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
  • The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
    • Describes a coup d'état organized by right wing conservatives to overthrow the popular, newly-elected socialist government.
  • The Dogs of War by Frederick Forsyth
    • Describes a coup d'état in a small African republic organized by mercenaries hired by a British industrialist who uncovered a very rich platinum source in the republic.
  • Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
    • Revolutionaries provoked by the over-paranoid, evil methods of the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork, Homicidal Lord Winder, organise a rebellion against him, wherein Samuel Vimes finds himself, for the second time, after a magical accident sends him back in time.
  • Settling Accounts: In at the Death by Harry Turtledove
    • Confederate Army officers led by chief of staff Nathan Bedford Forrest III attempt to overthrow Confederate President Jake Featherston in the dying days of the Second Great War in 1944. General Forrest confronts Featherston in the latter's bunker in Richmond, Virginia and attempts to talk the president into surrendering power while waiting for backup from his soldiers. Featherston figures out what Forrest is up to and secretly alerts his own loyalists, who intercept Forrest's followers and break into the meeting between Forrest and Featherston. Forrest is taken away for execution, his coup having failed and thus the one attempt for the CSA to get a negotiated peace with the United States goes with him.
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
    • Voldemort assumes control of the Ministry of Magic, first by using the Imperius Curse on Pius Thicknesse, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. With this compromise in the ministry, he successfully murders the Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeor, and installs Thicknesse as his puppet.
  • Wicked by Gregory Maguire
    • The Wizard stages a bloodless coup d'état to arrest the Ozma Regent and have Ozma imprisoned. The adult Elphaba and the resistance also plan a counter-coup d'état to kill the Wizard and the high authorities, but it fails.

[edit] Comic books

[edit] Film and television

  • Akira
    • Colonel Shikishima, upon hearing the civilian government trying to arrest him, orders the military to overthrow the government.
  • Avatar: The Last Airbender
    • Azula of the Fire Nation infiltrates Ba Sing Se and is able to take over the Dai Li who then proceed to, once again, take over the Earth Kingdom capital.
  • A Very British Coup a1988 British television adaptation of the 1982 novel by Chris Mullin
    • Features an unsuccessful coup against Harry Perkins a left-wing Labour Prime Minister and in that way differs from Chris Mullin's book.
  • Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)
    • At the end of season one, President Roslin interferes with Adama's authority over his own people, convincing Starbuck to hijack a captured Cylon spacecraft and return to Caprica. As a result, Adama stages a military coup and assumes total authority. This results in unrest, rebellion, and ultimately the break-up of the fleet. Later, Martial law is imposed (Fragged) by then Commanding Officer Col. Tigh. The military coup and martial law are finally resolved by Home, Part 2, as Roslin and her followers continue their search for the Tomb of Athena on Kobol as Adama travels there to reunite the fleet. All return to Galactica and Adama reinstates Roslin as President.
  • Eureka Seven
    • During the entire series The Gekkostate, an anti-government militia and counterculture collective led by Holland, attempt to take control of the Government though rebelius means. When control of the U.F Forces gets transferred(in a Coupe, see below) to Dewey Novak, they become more determined to defeat him and take control of the government.
    • In episode 38 Dewey Novak a high ranking Colonel in the U.F. Forces (and primary antagonist of Eureka Seven) leads a Coupe to overthrow the Sage Council (the main authority in the U.F.). He has his men release poisonous gas on the lower levels of the building the Sages are in, traping them and their guards. He then somehow manages to get to the level the Sages are on and kills Braya and Kuzemi. The remaining Sage, Koda, then handed power over to Dewey. It is unknown what happens to her afterwards.
  • Naruto

In Naruto, a coup d'etat against Konoha was planned by the Uchiha Clan before their massacre due to their oppression from the village's elders and Hokages. This had occured due to the battle at the Valley Of The End's outcome between Madara Uchiha and the Senjuu's leader, who eventually became the First Hokage.

  • The Office
    • In the episode, "The Coup", Angela prods Dwight to meet Jan and propose taking over the branch. After the meeting, Jan calls Michael and demands he get his branch under control. Michael leads Dwight to believe that he has been given control of the branch before revealing the ruse.
  • Patlabor: The Movie 2
    • Tsuge and the National Defense Family stage a series of terrorist attacks in Tokyo, including a bombing of the Rainbow Bridge with military aircraft and tricking the air force into dog fighting over the city, meant to appear to the civilians like a military coup. The attacks escalate tensions between civilian government, who arrest military officers believed to be involved in the attacks, and the military, who declare martial law. Tsuge takes this opportunity to attack Tokyo with JSDF-marked helicopters and disrupt outside communications, completing the illusion of a military takeover.
  • Seven Days in May
  • The Simpsons
    • Cape Feare
      • Lisa Simpson receives pen-pal's letter informing her that the pen-pal's country has been overthrown by "the benevolent General Krull".
    • Bart vs. Australia
      • As Bart Simpson conducts a series of telephone inqueries to a variety of southern hemisphere locales about the which way does the water turn in their toilet, he calls the presidential palace of a Latin American dictator. When an aide mistranslates Bart's question to el Presidente as "The tide is turning", the dictator panics and, thinking it's a signal from the rebels, flees the capital.
    • Simpson Safari
      • When the Simpson family travels to the African country of New Zanzibar, their guide Ktengi informs them that President Muntu "took over in a bloodless coup - all smothering". At the end of the episode, President Ktengi has ousted Muntu, who works as a flight attendant on the Simpsons' flight home.
  • Stargate Atlantis
    • Coup D'etat
      • Ladon Radim, a member of the Genii strike force, contacts Atlantis with the prospects of a new ZPM in exchange for weapons to orchestrate a rebellion and overthrow Cowen, the current leader of the Genii.
  • V,
  • Z
    • In early 1960s, a military coup in an unnamed country (a reference to Greece). A leftist deputy, who was expected to be elected prime-minister in the coming election, is murdered and the authorities try to cover up the crime. After Examining Magistrate managed to prove that the murder was committed by prominent right-wing militaries and prosecute them, the communists win the parliamentary election and are overthrown by the militaries.

[edit] Star Trek

[edit] Star Wars

Senator Palpatine of Naboo, also known as Darth Sidious, who is a Sith Lord and, thus, secretly an avowed enemy of the Jedi, plays both sides against each other. Starting by using the issue of high tax charges on shipping the Trade Federation, which holds a prominent franchise in the region, is persuaded by Darth Sidious into creating a trade blockade around his representative homeworld of Naboo, which eventually leads to a full scale invasion. As a show of force to the Republic's Senate that the Trade Federation is a force to be reckoned with. Attempts to a diplomatic dialogue are dashed as Darth Sidious recommends to the Trade Federation that the Jedis sent would short change them. The news of the blockade eventually leads to the Senate, the Viceroy counter argue that there is no proof of an occupation and is debated whilst the invasion is commencing, the bureaucratic central government is showed up to be ineffective. Using the sympathy portrayed by the majority of the senate, Queen Amidala is forced to call for a vote of 'No Confidence' in the present leadership. The Jedi play little part here as they watch the new leadership of the senate elected. With this opportunity Senator Palpatine runs for leadership and is subsequently elected as a more effective leader, becoming Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic in Episode I. The invasion is stopped shortly as the Viceroy are arrested on Naboo, when the droid army they use is destroyed also they fail to secure any legal claim. (Around this time Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas places a secret order on behalf of the Jedi, without their knowledge, for a clone army based on a bounty hunter. Shortly after Sifo-Dyas is killed in mysterious circumstances).

In Episode II, the climax begins that will eventually plunge the Republic into a civil war (the Clone Wars). The original Trade Federation joins with many systems such as Techo Union and Banking Clan that wish to leave the Republic and form their own government and becomes the Confederacy of Independent Systems (or, more commonly, the Separatists movement). As Chancellor Palpatine really controls both sides, as Palpatine on the Republic side through the Senate, and as Sidious on the Separatist Side, through his apprentice, Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus. The Situation grows worse that will tear the Republic in two, the Chancellor is informed that the Jedi would not be able to cope if it becomes a full scale war. Soon Obi-Wan Kenobi whom was chasing a bounty hunter throughout the galaxy learns of the Clone Army. Palpatine is informed, knowing the senate would not allow clones to be used. Palpatine uses the Separatist crisis to retain control longer and persuade the Senate to grant him emergency powers, which he then uses to officially commission an army to counter the increasing threat poised by the separatists. This makes the official conception of the clones and unleashes a massive clone army on the galaxy, which Palpatine himself secretly ordered and retains controls of. The Jedi are promoted to the ranks of General, to lead the newly formed Clone Army, mistakingly believe they control it. Subsequently, the Clone Wars begin.

In Episode III, Palpatine has been captured by Dooku and General Grievous (who is unknowingly on orders from Sidious/Palpatine himself), in a daring plan. He is eventually rescued by Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin having killed Dooku at Palpatine's urging in the process. However, Grievous escapes, and Palpatine assures Mace Windu that the senate will vote to continue the war as long as Grievous is still at large. Subsequently, Palpatine begins voicing to Anakin his doubts about the Jedi Council's allegiance to the Repubilc, and starts influencing Anakin to share them. Palpatine eventually reveals to Anakin that he, in fact, is Darth Sidious, and tempts him with the power to save Anakin's secret wife, Padmé Amidala, from her death as Anakin had foreseen it in his nightmares. In fact, Palpatine wants Padmé dead, though, somehow, Anakin doesn't realise this. It is also revealed that Palptine has been gathering even more emergency powers and has become a virtual dictator. Anakin tells Mace Windu that Palpatine is Sidious. The Jedi move quickly to arrest Palpatine. Palpatine kills all four jedi who come to arrest him, except Mace Windu. Windu appears to have beaten Palpatine when Anakin arrives. Palpatine tells Anakin of a Jedi coup on the Senate and tempts Anakin again that he is the only one who can help Anakin save Padmé. Anakin asks Windu to arrest Darth Sidious but Windu argues back claiming Darth Sidious has too much power as Chancellor of the Senate and the courts. Windu not listening to Anakins reason tries finish off Darth Sidious when Anakin sides with Palpatine, disables Windu allowing Palpatine to kill Windu, and becomes Palpatine's new apprentice. Palpatine then tells the newly rechristened Darth Vader to lead an attack on the Jedi Temple, and then go to the Mustafar System and eliminate the Separatist leaders warning otherwise there will be civil war without end. Meanwhile, Sidious issues Order 66, which forces the clones to turn on their Jedi generals, killing most of them. Palpatine the declares the "Jedi Rebellion" and the Separatists, with Grievous's destruction to have been crushed, announces that the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire for the sake of security, and that the Clone Wars are over, and then subsequently successfully mainipulates Anakin/Vader into seriously injuring Padmé, although Sidious does not realize that her unborn children were saved. However, he fails to anticipate Anakin/Vader's failure to defeat Obi-Wan--which results in the reconstructed Vader not being entirely what Sidious bargained for.

[edit] Universal Century Gundam

[edit] Video Games

  • Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction
    • As North Korean president Choi Kim was in a conference with the South Korean leader, his son, General Kim Song (Kim Jong ll reference) kills President Kim and takes North Korea.
  • Republic: The Revolution
    • Novistrana is finally liberated from the clutches of evil ex-Soviet Secret Police Chief, President Vasily Karasov. The game can end in one of three ways; A coup d'état is launched and Karasov is shot via a firing squad; a peaceful resignation happens, only for Karasov to be shot by Police officers posing as a taxi; the people revolt and force their way into the offical resisdance. Karasov is pulled from his car while attempting to escape and is beaten to death by the revoltionists.
  • Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
    • Factions of several countries' governments form a coup, later named "A World With No Boundaries." They believed the world should not have borders, and attempted to use a V2 Tactical Nuclear Missile, in order to send the world into a chaotic bliss, in which everyone would need to work together to survive.
  • Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
    • Fifteen years after their defeat (and the events of Ace Combat Zero), Belkan Aces that have infiltrated the Osean and Yuktobanian Air Forces' in attempts to weaken both sides' military strength. Their mission was simple: take revenge on those that defeated them before to show the true "strength" of Belka. Part of their plan wqas to kidnap the Prime Minister, Nikanor, from Yuktobania, and the President of Osea, Harling, leaving the country in the hands of war mongrels.
  • Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter
    • The Mexican rebellion organization in the game calls a coup after it has stolen the U.S. approved tanks, it's the main mission of the Ghosts to settle this coup.
  • Fire Emblem: Fūin no Tsurugi
    • During the Bern Invasion in Elibe, Roartz, the royal advisor of the king of Etruria, and Arcard, governor of the Western Isles, plan a strike against the king, who is in a depression because of his son's death. They succeed taking control over Etruria and the Western Islands. With this strike, the Etrurian Coup d´etat handed over the fragile government of Etruria to The Kingdom Of Bern. General Cecilia of Etruria created the Etrurian Anti Coup d´etat Army, looking reinstate the king and recover Etruria. The Etrurian Anti Coup d´etat army was decimated by the superior forces of the Bern Dispatch (Commanded by the King Zephiel himself and the Dragon General Narshen), and the Etrurian Coup d´etat army. General Cecilia was defeated by King Zephiel in single combat at a castle in the island of Missur. General Cecilia was rescued by Roy and the Lycian Alliance Army. The Anti Coup de'etat army eventually reaches the Etrurian capital of Aquelia, where Narshen was defeated and Etruria was reclaimed.
  • Half-Life 2
    • Lead by the messianic freedom fighter Dr Gordon Freeman, the revolution of humanity (known as the Resistance Fighters) against an alien race known as the combine takes place over the course of Half-Life 2 and the episodic sequels.
  • Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
    • In the mission 'Coup De Tat`', Imran Zakhaev and his ally, Kahled Al-Asad, execute President Yasir Al-Fulani and assume position over an unknown middle-eastern country.

[edit] See also