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* ''The Icarus Agenda'' by [[Robert Ludlum]] has a conspiracy of [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|Well Intentioned Extremists]] who want to give America a good President, implying one who didn't seek the power for its own sake, but recognise that one such would be unlikely to volunteer for high political office or to beat the more power-hungry and politically wily candidates if he did; their solution is to find a suitable candidate and manipulate his career without his knowledge.
* Invoked in one book (sorry, can't remember author or title) when someone explains, more or less, "We want someone who has to be dragged into office kicking and screaming, but who will then do the best job he can in hopes of being let off early for good behavior."
** Sounds a bit like The Republic, where Plato writes that the philosophers who have no interest in ruling should be forced to become kings for the benefit of the people.
* The Roman Emperor Claudius, at least the way he's portrayed in ''I, Claudius'' and ''Claudius the God''.
* King Cinhil Haldane in ''[[Deryni|The Legends of Camber]]'' trilogy. He had been a cloistered priest for many years when he was found and removed from his monastery. He was persuaded to give up his vocation and accept a wife and a crown, but he didn't like it, and he came to blame Camber for his misery.
* [[The Messiah|Raamo]] in the [[Green-Sky Trilogy]] is actually ''terrified'' by the prospect of becoming one of the ruling Ol-Zhaan, to the point of trying to telepathically scream at the people looking at him with awe that he's just an ordinary Kindar. It's his reluctance that tips off Neric and sets the bigger plot in motion. {{spoiler|later, we learn that D'ol Falla had intended this as a [[Batman Gambit]]. The only one who could set things right was someone who wouldn't be caught up in the trappings of power.}}
* King Zachary Hillander of the [[Green Rider]] series. He was the younger son and expected to govern Hillander Provice while his elder brother Amillton ruled, but King Amigast finally saw [[The Evil Prince|Amillton]] for what he was.
* Jenna Heap in ''[[Septimus Heap]]'' is reluctant to become a Queen at first, but she grows more accepting over the books.
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* {{spoiler|Martok}} in [[Star Trek]]:[[Deep Space 9]] episode ''Tacking Into the Wind''
* ''[[Babylon 5]]'': ex-Narn Ambassador G'kar is both stunned and hesitant when told he has become [[The Messiah|a religious icon to the Narn]], and outright refused leadership of the government after overthrowing the Centauri. He eventually accepted spiritual, if not political, leadership, but only because the public wouldn't take no for an answer.
* Claudius in ''I, Claudius'' becomes this after he's proclaimed Emperor by the Praetorian Guard following his nephew Caligula's assassination. He really wants to make Rome a true republic again, but the Guard literally forces him into the imperial role and Claudius realizes he has to accept or risk having himself and his family slaughtered. Much later, however, {{spoiler|he decides to marry his corrupt niece Agrippina and let her unhinged son Nero succeed as emperor, to force the Romans to get sick of monarchy. He only succeeds in insuring that his only son and only loyal adviser die.}}
== Video Games ==
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[[Category:Politics Tropes]]
[[Category:Reluctant Ruler]]
[[Category:Alliterative Trope Titles]]
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