The Empire: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
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The [[Evil Counterpart]] to [[The Republic]], the [[Foil]] to [[The Kingdom]], the [[Shadow Archetype]] to [[Hegemonic Empire]], and [[The Rival]] to [[The Federation]], The Empire wants to be the [[One World Order]]. Amassing [[The Evil Army]], it sets out to conquer all of its neighbors by force of arms. Taking cues from history, it [[Putting on the Reich|often resembles the historic Roman, German, Russian/Soviet, or Chinese empires in some way]]. Led by [[The Emperor]], who is usually also an [[Evil Overlord]], [[Emperor Scientist]] or [[God-Emperor]] or by some kind of [[Corrupt Church|theocratic]] [[Path of Inspiration|cabal]]. A theocracy of a [[Religion of Evil]] will almost certainly be The Empire. None of these apply to depictions of the British Empire, which was led at the height of its power by a Size 50 Matron otherwise known as [[Queen Vicky]].
If
Of course, there's going to be some kind of [[La Résistance|Resistance]] movement within its borders, and small autonomous nations without who may need encouragement by the heroes to become [[The Alliance]]. They may also be helped by [[Les Collaborateurs]]. There may also be one or more powers that oppose it, often [[The Kingdom|kingdoms]] or [[Good Republic, Evil Empire|republics]], which may or may not band together into [[The Alliance]]. The Empire is usually too strong to defeat militarily (unless the story is set in a war strategy video game), but taking down the leaders while they're instigating their sinister plan is usually enough. Or [[La Résistance]] may well turn out to be nothing but a treasonous cliqué to [[The Starscream|overthrow the government or dynasty and replace it with something even more cruel and brutal]], or a nationalist or racist separation movement.
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[[Skeleton Government|Note that just being called an Empire is not sufficient to qualify a nation for this trope]]. Especially in a [[Heroic Fantasy]] setting, other types of empires abound, often based on the Holy Roman or British Empires (and occasionally a more sympathetic take on the actual Roman or the Chinese Empire). These types of empires may be better described as an expansionist [[The Kingdom|kingdom]], a militaristic [[The Federation|federation]], a nationalist [[The Republic|republic]], or a more centrally controlled [[The Alliance|alliance]]. The confusion springs from the fact that in real life, there is no actual definition of what constitutes an empire. Take Japan. With "the Empire of Japan" or "the Japanese Empire" you probably meant [[Imperial Japan|its time as a colonial power...]] but since it still has an emperor, it technically still is the "Japanese Empire" ([[Japanese Political System|although as a firmly established constitutional monarchy rather than an absolute one]]). Also, until recently the term "Empire" was used synonymously with "sovereign nation", and [[Values Dissonance|did not acquire its negative connotations until the twentieth century]]. For instance, the early United States referred to itself as an [[People's Republic of Tyranny|"Empire of Liberty,"]] without irony.
Weakened or weakening versions of
{{examples}}
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** Also the Morgoth's empire in ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.
** Saruman attempted to set up one at Isengard, but failed.
** Nûmenor, especially at the end of the Second Age. Nûmenor began as [[The Kingdom]], but transmuted into
*** On the other hand, the dominant human 'good guy' societies, Gondor and Arnor, offspring of Numenor's uncorrupted minority, are also empires, especially Gondor, which at its height controls most of the southern reaches of the area mapped by Tolkien. Later, Aragorn, the leader of the 'good guys' reunited Arnor and Gondor and establishes the 'Reunuted Kingdom, which is a very large, civilized, and decent empire.
* In David Wingrove's ''[[Chung Kuo]]'' series, the world is run by the Seven and called Chung Kuo.
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** Asimov's Empire is explicitly modeled on [[The Roman Empire]], and the Foundation's therefore bears some resemblance to Byzantium, the Greek-centered "Eastern Roman Empire" that lasted a thousands years longer - but not exactly, as it was set up specifically to reestablish the Empire within a single millennium.
* Although the Terran Empire in [[Marion Zimmer Bradley]]'s ''[[Darkover]]'' novels didn't start this way, by the time of its collapse it was a full-blown example of this trope.
*
* The Barrayaran Empire and the Cetagandan Empire of [[Lois McMaster Bujold]]'s [[Vorkosigan Saga]] both qualify at any point they're feeling expansionist. Barrayar's at the peak of one, and starting to slide down, during ''Shards of Honor'' and ''Barrayar'', but by the time of ''The Warrior's Apprentice'', it's mostly caught up colonizing a new world (one it didn't have to conquer; it was uninhabited by anything above animals) and helps fight off the Cetagandans, who are still messing about. By ''A Civil Campaign'' Cetaganda's calmed down too.
* Persian, Ottoman, Hapsburg, and Chinese influences all show up in the Imperium of the ''[[Dune]]'' novels. While it doesn't receive a villainous portrayal (indeed, the heroes run it in some books), it doesn't exactly receive a heroic one either. It appears mainly as a status-quo form of society that keeps working because it's what the characters can build in their circumstances (particularly the civilization's dependence on the Bene Gesserit and Spacing Guild, who both rely on a natural resource found only on one single planet).
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** Eventually the CoDominium military forces leave the Earth when the USA and USSR blow each other to pieces (and other nations join in), to relocated on the planets Sparta and St. Ekaterina, where they found a full-bore aristocratic empire of their own. The last line of 'The Prince of Spartans' is ''AVE. AVE LYSANDER, IMPERATOR''
* Inverted, played with and otherwise [[Deconstruction|Deconstructed]] in the ''[[Honor Harrington]]'' series. Manticore may finally revel in some good old-fashioned imperialism, but that doesn't stop them from being ''the nice guy'' of the series, while alleged [[The Federation|Federations]] are either corrupt bureaucratic monstrosities that are falling apart at the seams (League), or alternate between that and bloody tyranny (Haven). Although Haven has gotten a lot better lately. You can make a pretty good case that are now as much the "good guys" as anyone else. Right now the only reason they're fighting Manticore is over a ''really big'' misunderstanding (details would be a major spoiler).
** Indeed, the only true black in the series now are the [[Corrupt Corporate Executive|people behind genetic slavery]]
**
* In [[C. S. Lewis|CS Lewis]]'s ''[[The Horse and His Boy]]'', Calormen is a mild instance of this. Although it is not entirely bent on conquest, the book features an attempt to conquer Archenland, and the promise that will help conquer Narnia. The curse on Rabadash is explicitly described as making life easier for small countries nearby, as he can not conquer them himself, and is afraid of the power generals would amass if they did so for him.
* The Instrumentality of Mankind in the eponymous series by [[Cordwainer Smith]]. However, the Instrumentality is very, very unusual.
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* Magravandias in [[Storm Constantine]]'s ''[[Chronicles of Magravandias]]''.
* Every major power is an Empire in [[Belisarius Series]]. The difference is not between Evil empire and good "something besides empire", it is between "that's just how humans arrange their affairs empire", and "Really evil empire".
* Fred Saberhagen's ''The Empire of the East'' is about the war between the [[La Résistance|Free Folk]] and the titular
* The Yeerk Empire in ''[[Animorphs]]'', complete with conqured planets and slave races.
* The Enterran Empire from [[The Diving Universe]]. The main character, Boss, keeps claiming that she doesn't have any particular desire to come into conflict with it; but the events of the novels cause her to keep butting heads with it again and again, and things seem to be inevitably marching towards all-out war.
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** ''[[Final Fantasy II]]'' has the Empire of Palemecia, which conquers, destroys, and enslaves seemingly for the heck of it. Partway through the game the Emperor {{spoiler|[[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?|kills the devil and usurps his throne]]}}. And as if that weren't enough to make him a [[Badass]], {{spoiler|the expanded GBA release reveals that his "good" side has also taken over the equivalent of Heaven}}.
** ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]'' has an empire called...well, "The Empire" (it was renamed "Gestahlian Empire" in the GBA release) as the main antagonist for most of the game. As if it weren't clear enough, the intro shows the emperor giving the Nazi salute to his subjects. {{spoiler|''They're'' not the dangerous ones.}}
** In ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'', Shinra fits the mold of
** In ''[[Final Fantasy IX]]'', Queen Brahne is in the process of creating one of these until {{spoiler|her death}}.
** ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'' includes the Empire of Aht Urghan, which makes up the setting for it's named expansion. It rules over the Aradijah continent with an iron grip, and is in constant war with various Beastmen factions and the Far Eastern army. Bioweapons, chimeras, electric harnessing and Blue Mages are the result of Aht Urghan's technology. The best part is that the player character works as a mercenary/double agent for the big bad Empire for the entire plot.
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* While not always directly antagonistic, the Holy Lodis Empire is easily the largest military force in the ''[[Ogre Battle]]'' and ''[[Tactics Ogre]]'' games and makes its presence known similarly to the Harmonians listed above.
* Alfard from the ''[[Baten Kaitos]]'' video games is an interesting example in that there's no resistance against it. The reason: the empire works to instill extreme civic pride in all of its citizens, so that the idea of acting against it has all the attractiveness of stepping on one's own foot.
{{quote|'''Lyude:''' It's unthinkable! To ''act against
* The Combine of the ''Half-Life'' series are bent on inter-dimensional conquest. [[Blatant Lies|It's for our own good, though]]
* In ''[[Panzer Dragoon]]'', the Empire is portrayed this way, but slowly becomes more and more sympathetic as the series progresses.
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** One of three ways to win the game is to join the rebels and help take revenge by assassinating the leader of The Empire. Although this ''does'' spark a war for the second game, and, well, The Empire does have a ''few'' more legions of disposable soldiers than the rag-tag underground rebels do. (Good thing you find aliens to help you!) Seriously, this game is ''fun''.
*** Subverted starting in the third game when Avernum ends up helping the Empire out, which leads to the Reconciliation and the Empire and Avernum becoming allies. The fifth game even has you play as Empire soldiers.
*
* ''[[The Elder Scrolls]]'' series contains an unusual subversion, in that the Empire is generally treated as fairly benevolent. By [[The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim|Skyrim]], they've lost a lot of power and have become somewhat corrupt, but they are still more benevolent than most examples of this trope. The Aldmeri Dominion plays this trope straight.
* If it's a ''[[Fire Emblem]]'' game it has one of these. Generally the Empire has somehow fallen into the power of some [[Sealed Evil in a Can|dark evil God]]. ''[[Fire Emblem Tellius|Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance]]'''s Daein and its King Ashnard are the best fitting, the others are all 'correct' but with a few details of note.
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** The UEF is the state formed by the Earth Empire's military (EarthCom) when the Empire collapsed. So yeah, it's essentially a military dictatorship.
** The Aeon would also count, since they happen to led by a warmongering commander who plans to usurp the princess, and their goal is to brainwash everyone into accepting [[Path of Inspiration|The Way]], and cleanse all nonbelievers.
* A few corrupt officials and officers aside, this is generally averted in ''[[Tales of Vesperia]]'', where
* ''[[World of Mana|Secret of Mana]]'' has an empire simply called
* The East European Imperial Alliance from ''[[Valkyria Chronicles]]'' is your standard Empire.
* ''[[Arc the Lad]]''
** The Dilzweld Empire. Their army seems
** The Romalian Empire were actually somewhat competent and are the cause of all the problems in the series. The Academy from ''Arc the Lad 3'' fit this trope too, albeit they are a collection of scientists and scholars.. with platoons of soldiers with heavy machine guns and plans to rule the world.
*** Romalia is a subversion: it started as a ''commercial'' empire, because a Romalian merchant was the first to discover spirit stones and to use them as an energy source: When Arc the Lad start, Romalia has been the world first super-power for already 1000 years, thanks to its control of the energy supplies, and things started to go really bad only one generation ago.
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* [[Overlord]] II has the Glorious Empire, a copy-paste of the Roman Empire, seeking to eradicate all magic in the world. {{spoiler|By "eradicate", The Emperor means gather it all in one spot then use it to become a god and reshape the world. Standard stuff.}}
* Played straight in ''[[Breath of Fire]]'' and ''extremely'' to trope in ''[[Breath of Fire]] IV''.
** How much to trope? This much:
* [[Soul Nomad and The World Eaters|All hail the BFF Empire!]]
* Averted in the ''[[Disciples]]'' series. The Empire, the human force and the local [[Jack of All Stats]] race, are more often than not generally the good guys, though there were some corrupted nobles that gained a lot of power during the time skip between the Original game and the Sequel, because the Emperor did mostly nothing for the entire decade. Once they got a new King, they cleaned up their act considerably. And then the Elves invaded them for [[Designated Antagonist|poorly explained reasons]].
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* The Confederation in ''[[Escape Velocity]]''.
** The Voinian Empire in ''[[Escape Velocity]] Override''.
** The Auroran Empire of ''[[Escape Velocity]] Nova'' is mostly [[The Alliance]] merged with [[Proud Warrior Race]], but they do have their
* The Terran Dominion in ''[[Starcraft]]'', ruled by Emperor and former terrorist, Arcturus Mengsk.
** The UED later in Brood Wars.
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* In ''[[Nip and Tuck]]'' [[Show Within the Show]] ''Rebel Cry'', the Federation is an Empire.
* ''[[Last Res0rt]]'' has the People's Republic of Celigo, which is allied with the [[Church of Happyology|Star Org]] (and it's up for debate which half is really in control).
* ''[[Homestuck]]'': It's never seen in action being that the main characters are all teenagers, but the Alternian Empire from which the [[
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** Still an empire by any reasonable definition of the term
* The Macedonian Empire that [[Alexander the Great]] created out of his conquest of Greece and the entire Persian Empire.
* Although not the first one by any stretch of the imagination, the original [[Trope Namer]] (and, in the Western tradition at least, the [[Trope Codifier]]) is the Roman Empire.<ref>''Imperium'', from which the term "empire" is derived, originally referred simply to quasi-military authority, particularly over matters of life and death, and an ''imperator'' was simply a high-ranking and particularly honored commander, usually of praetorian or consular rank. Some terms in other languages, such as the German "Kaiserreich/Kaiser" and the Russian "Tsarstvo/Tsar" are derived from [[Gaius Julius Caesar|Caesar]]'s name.</ref>
* China, on and off until Revolution of 1911/12 and the establishment of the First Republic of China. Arguably 1949 as well, when the Communists won the Civil War and declared the Peoples' Republic of China. The PRC took advantage of the political climate to take control of Tibet and Xinjiang, which had (de-facto) seceded from the China during the 1911 Revolution without joining the Republic. Until the '60s Taiwan ("The Republic of China") still hoped that in the event of Civil War between elements of the PRC or the outbreak of World War 3 they would be able to [[Vestigial Empire|retake areas of the mainland]] from (what they saw as) a bunch of illegitimate commie rebels. At its height in the Tang Dynasty (which came during the European 'Dark Ages', characterised by their lack of documentation) the Empire's influence extended as far as the caliphate, and such was the veneration of the Emperor that the ''[[Baten Kaitos]]'' example about dissing the Empire having "all the attractiveness of stepping on one's own foot" is not so far off. Though there were always people poised to dethrone an Emperor who looked to have lost the favour of heaven - i.e. he was mad and/or incompetent.
** The later Han Dynasty and Rome were aware of each other and in fact had embassies in each other's empires. The Han were the first to disintegrate, becoming three separate kingdoms after the Battle of Red Cliffs in 208 AD - there are two major factors in the grand narrative of Chinese History: conquering foreigners and centralising state control and power. As a dynasty is established, both of these things work in their favour but after a time the trends reverse and the Empire invariably self-destructs and/or is conquered by foreigners (from the steppes). Europe only experienced one full cycle of this kind of Imperial Confederation, however.
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