Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

Political Hostage

 Political Hostage
type
FeatureClass
 Political Hostage
label
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage
page
PoliticalHostage
 Political Hostage
comment
A state has another under their umbrella as a vassal state. The vassal state is expected to be loyal, pay tribute and committed to their host state's call. However, that vassal state is still its own country and its ruler could get uppity and even help an adversary. How can the host country maintain control? Have a hostage. In this case, a political hostage.
The political hostage is someone who is important to those in charge of the vassal state. Quite often, they end up being family members, children, heirs or someone else of importance. However, unlike most hostage situations, which are often unpleasant, political hostages are usually treated quite well, given comfortable lives and even mingling with the court. However, if the vassal state steps out of line or the hostage breaks a rule, the latter can expect harsh reprisals.
Another situation is an exchange of hostages. When two sides decide to ally with one another but don't really trust one another, they will exchange people they care about so if either betrays the other, the hostage will face the consequences. So will the other.
An empire good or bad, will often use this opportunity to educate the heir to the throne of a smaller nation to be more versed in Imperial customs and culture than their own, which helps assimilate captured kingdoms into a larger Imperial culture.
The political hostage is, to put it mildly, an insurance policy. However, sometimes the person meant to be kept in line just doesn't care and will act out as they see fit.
Truth in Television, as this was very common throughout history.
See also Hostage Situation. This is a sister trope to Altar Diplomacy, and they may actually overlap in particularly unpleasant circumstances.

Examples
 Political Hostage
fetched
2023-08-30T17:30:29Z
 Political Hostage
parsed
2023-08-30T17:30:29Z
 Political Hostage
processingComment
Dropped link to ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Political Hostage
processingComment
Dropped link to ImproperlyParanoid: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Political Hostage
processingComment
Dropped link to SheIsTheKing: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Political Hostage
processingComment
Dropped link to TheParanoiac: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Political Hostage
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Political Hostage / int_210767ac
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_210767ac
comment
Crusader Kings:
Crusader Kings II: It is impossible to declare war on a ruler who holds a close relative prisoner, and the game warns you that if one of your relatives is being "educated" by another ruler, they may be killed if you declare war.
A patch to Crusader Kings III allows the exchange and housing of Hostages, which are children in a neighboring ruler's family, and can be exchanged, demanded, or offered to help secure a White Peace during wartime when it isn't worthwhile to secure a total victory. The Hostage's host becomes their Warden, and once they reach adulthood, the Warden can often gain a Hook (favor) over the Hostage until one outlives the other. If a ruler declares war on the Warden of their loved one, the Warden can execute the Hostage to gain Dread, instilling fear in their own vassals, or spare their life. Even if the Hostage is expendable or if the instigating ruler banks on the Ward to spare them, the aggressor gets severe penalties to their fame, prestige, other characters' opinion of them, and even debuffs to their armies for a number of years.
 Political Hostage / int_210767ac
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_210767ac
featureConfidence
1.0
 Crusader Kings (Video Game)
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_210767ac
 Political Hostage / int_2192aeb3
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_2192aeb3
comment
Fire Emblem:
Fire Emblem Fates: Felicia and Flora, the twin daughters of Kilma, chieftain of the Ice Tribe, are kept in Nohr as essentially political hostages in order to prevent an insurrection. Felicia is oblivious towards their hostage status, whereas Flora is well aware of it.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses: Petra, granddaughter of the king of Brighid, was given to the Adrestian Empire as a token of their new allegiance following Brigid's defeat and vassalage at the end of the Brigid and Dagda War.
 Political Hostage / int_2192aeb3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_2192aeb3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fire Emblem (Franchise)
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_2192aeb3
 Political Hostage / int_22fa3992
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_22fa3992
comment
The Expanse: In season 5, the terrorist Marco Inaros declares war on Earth and sets out to unite the entire Outer Planet Alliance under his Free Navy banner. As part of a deal with Drummer's fleet, he exchanges officers as a token of "friendship" between crews. Of course, it's really just to have a spy on Drummer's ship and a convenient hostage (who is also one of Drummer's lovers) should she decide to betray him. She turns on the Free Navy to save the Rocinante and her crew, forfeiting her officer's life in the process.
 Political Hostage / int_22fa3992
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_22fa3992
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Expanse
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_22fa3992
 Political Hostage / int_232066df
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_232066df
comment
Shaka Zulu: While much of the series covers the rise of King Shaka, the Framing Device follows Lieutenant Farewell and his expedition's efforts to establish trade with the Zulu nation. Shaka eventually allows Farewell to return to Capetown with his emissaries, but keeps most of his crew captive so he doesn't get any funny ideas. Farewell later returns to free his crew, which Shaka allows. Having already come to terms with the fact that the "white men" tricked him and wanting nothing to do with them anymore, he could have easily just executed them all.
 Political Hostage / int_232066df
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_232066df
featureConfidence
1.0
 Shaka Zulu
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_232066df
 Political Hostage / int_29f0502c
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_29f0502c
comment
Dracula Untold: Vlad's time as a royal hostage in the Ottoman Empire was mentioned. This was Truth in Television.
 Political Hostage / int_29f0502c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_29f0502c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Dracula Untold
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_29f0502c
 Political Hostage / int_32c541e6
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_32c541e6
comment
Fullmetal Alchemist: When Ed, Al and Mustang refuse to comply with Father's plans for Amestris, Führer Bradley points out he could easily have Winry and all of Mustang's men killed instead, preventing them from defying the military. As a further precaution, Bradley reassigns all of the colonel's subordinates and, knowing Hawkeye is his closest and most capable ally, has her made Bradley's personal assistant.
 Political Hostage / int_32c541e6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_32c541e6
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fullmetal Alchemist (Manga)
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_32c541e6
 Political Hostage / int_37317955
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_37317955
comment
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st Edition supplement Kara-Tur boxed set. In the nation of Wa, the shogun's policy of "sankin kotai" requires the wives and children of daimyos (provincial rulers) to stay in the capital city of Uwaji at all times. If a daimyo does anything against the shogun's will, their wife and children will pay the price.
 Political Hostage / int_37317955
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_37317955
featureConfidence
1.0
 Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st Edition (Tabletop Game)
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_37317955
 Political Hostage / int_442535a4
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_442535a4
comment
Novoland: Eagle Flag: Asule, crown prince of Qingyang, is sent as a hostage to Xiatang. He lives in the royal court and is ordered to marry Yu Ran, a princess of Xiatang.
 Political Hostage / int_442535a4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_442535a4
featureConfidence
1.0
 Novoland: Eagle Flag
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_442535a4
 Political Hostage / int_468c2a7a
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_468c2a7a
comment
Judge Dee: After the judge narrowly prevents a border invasion by three Tartar tribes under prince Ooljin, it's mentioned the local khan's son will lead a diplomatic mission to make formal apologies (said local khan having secretly pledged his support of the invasion until a Chinese victory elsewhere made him reconsider).
 Political Hostage / int_468c2a7a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_468c2a7a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Judge Dee
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_468c2a7a
 Political Hostage / int_49c9285
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_49c9285
comment
Gleams of Aeterna: This trope is institutionalized in the Kingdom of Talig via the Laic School, where young scions of noble families train to be squires. In addition to starting young nobles on a military career track, the School also ensures old nobility's loyalty to the crown by keeping their heirs within striking range of the capital in case their parents try to rebel.
 Political Hostage / int_49c9285
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_49c9285
featureConfidence
1.0
 Gleams of Aeterna
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_49c9285
 Political Hostage / int_5556464
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_5556464
comment
Barbarians has Arminius grow up in Rome as a hostage for his tribe's loyalty to Rome. However, this is mostly Artistic License – History as the historical Armininius Majored in Western Hypocrisy and was sent to Rome by his father voluntarily rather than Rome requesting him as a hostage.
 Political Hostage / int_5556464
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_5556464
featureConfidence
1.0
 Barbarians
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_5556464
 Political Hostage / int_5827b53c
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_5827b53c
comment
Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere: When P.A.ODA and M.H.R.R. take over the Testament Union, putting them in charge of the worldwide history recreation, they force the Date clan into compliance by having Date Kojirou, chancellor Date Masamune's brother, also inherit the name of Hashiba Hidetsugu, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's nephew. The historical Hashiba Hidetsugu was forced to commit seppuku after a falling out with Toyotomi, so P.A.ODA keeps the Date clan in line by threatening to reenact Hashiba's falling out and make Kojirou commit seppuku if the Date clan isn't co-operative. This also puts the Mogami clan in a similar situation, as Mogami Yoshiaki's daughter Komahime was married to Hashiba and died with him.
 Political Hostage / int_5827b53c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_5827b53c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_5827b53c
 Political Hostage / int_5cfb879b
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_5cfb879b
comment
This was supposed to be the idea in the New Gods story. The exchange of Scott Free and Orion, the sons of the High Father and Darkseid, respectively, each sent to the other's world to keep a truce between the two factions. Darkseid treated Highfather's son appallingly on the hopes he'd run away, giving justification that the truce was off and they could go back to war.
 Political Hostage / int_5cfb879b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_5cfb879b
featureConfidence
1.0
 New Gods (Comic Book)
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_5cfb879b
 Political Hostage / int_67ce5a04
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_67ce5a04
comment
Fire Emblem Fates: Felicia and Flora, the twin daughters of Kilma, chieftain of the Ice Tribe, are kept in Nohr as essentially political hostages in order to prevent an insurrection. Felicia is oblivious towards their hostage status, whereas Flora is well aware of it.
 Political Hostage / int_67ce5a04
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_67ce5a04
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fire Emblem Fates (Video Game)
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_67ce5a04
 Political Hostage / int_69e47d85
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_69e47d85
comment
This is a potential way to resolve one of the situations in Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening. There comes a point at which the Warden-Commander, who also holds the title of Arl/Arlessa of Amaranthine, has to pass judgement on a number of cases. One of these involves a plot to overthrow the Warden-Commander, and one of the judgements which can be rendered is to "invite" a dearly loved relative of each of the suspected plotters to come and stay at the Gilded Cage which is Vigil's Keep. The plotters are brought to heel because they won't dare oppose the Warden-Commander while their loved ones are this trope.
 Political Hostage / int_69e47d85
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_69e47d85
featureConfidence
1.0
 Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening (Video Game)
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_69e47d85
 Political Hostage / int_7668653a
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_7668653a
comment
Mass Effect 2: Current Krogan culture combines this with the role of diplomat, some of the best fighters are sent to ally clans who will be killed if their hosts should the original clan break their treaty. The reason they're the best fighters is based on the hope that should it come to war they'll hold out long enough for help to arrive.
 Political Hostage / int_7668653a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_7668653a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Mass Effect 2 (Video Game)
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_7668653a
 Political Hostage / int_7dc73376
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_7dc73376
comment
The Force Unleashed: Leia is being held as one to keep her father in line until Starkiller rescues her.
 Political Hostage / int_7dc73376
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_7dc73376
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Force Unleashed (Video Game)
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_7dc73376
 Political Hostage / int_7e5bfda7
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_7e5bfda7
comment
Inter Nos has this as a plot point. The children of nobles who willingly surrender are taken hostage, sent to the Himean capital, taught in Himean schools, and then, assuming their parents honored the terms of surrender and did not engage in rebellion against the Himean rulers, returned to their homeland, now integrated into Himean modes of thinking and acting, and thus making them more likely to support continued Himean rule, rather than suborn a revolution.
 Political Hostage / int_7e5bfda7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_7e5bfda7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Inter Nos (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_7e5bfda7
 Political Hostage / int_86c3beca
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_86c3beca
comment
In Girl Genius, Baron Klaus Wulfenbach keeps children from various ruling families aboard Castle Wulfenbach. Tarvek Sturmvoraus mentions being held there had its advantages:
 Political Hostage / int_86c3beca
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_86c3beca
featureConfidence
1.0
 Girl Genius (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_86c3beca
 Political Hostage / int_9cba83fd
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_9cba83fd
comment
A patch to Crusader Kings III allows the exchange and housing of Hostages, which are children in a neighboring ruler's family, and can be exchanged, demanded, or offered to help secure a White Peace during wartime when it isn't worthwhile to secure a total victory. The Hostage's host becomes their Warden, and once they reach adulthood, the Warden can often gain a Hook (favor) over the Hostage until one outlives the other. If a ruler declares war on the Warden of their loved one, the Warden can execute the Hostage to gain Dread, instilling fear in their own vassals, or spare their life. Even if the Hostage is expendable or if the instigating ruler banks on the Ward to spare them, the aggressor gets severe penalties to their fame, prestige, other characters' opinion of them, and even debuffs to their armies for a number of years.
 Political Hostage / int_9cba83fd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_9cba83fd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Crusader Kings III (Video Game)
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_9cba83fd
 Political Hostage / int_9d47a2a2
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_9d47a2a2
comment
A Song of Ice and Fire:
Theon Greyjoy begins the series as the ward/hostage of the Starks, who is treated well by them and even came to see the Starks' children as his adoptive siblings. He was given to them after his family led the Iron Islands' failed rebellion against King Robert Baratheon, who forced his father to give Theon up as a hostage to ensure the Greyjoys would not attempt another rebellion.
After the events of the first book, the ruling-in-all-but-name House Lannister keeps Sansa Stark as a ward of the court even after her engagement to their son Joffrey falls through as political leverage over her older brother Robb, who is rebelling against the crown.
In the backstory, Aerys Targaryen kept his daughter-in-law Elia Martell and her children as hostages in King's Landing instead of sending them to Dragonstone with Rhaella and Viserys, to ensure Dorne remained loyal to him throughout Robert's Rebellion. House Martell actually considered this insulting as they would always support whatever side Elia was on, although Aerys was well-known for being paranoid. This backfired horribly, as it meant Elia and children were stuck in the Red Keep during the Sack of King's Landing and ended up being murdered by enemy forces.
During the reign of King Jaehaerys I, one mildly rebellious lord came to him apologizing for some poor behavior, and offered up some of his children as potential wards to prevent it happening again. Jaehaerys calmly and politely showed him his fully grown dragon. Maester Bennifer caught the implication; While the Targaryens had dragons, everyone was their hostage.
 Political Hostage / int_9d47a2a2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_9d47a2a2
featureConfidence
1.0
 A Song of Ice and Fire
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_9d47a2a2
 Political Hostage / int_a4a6b86a
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_a4a6b86a
comment
In Code Geass, Charles Vi Britannia punishes his children Lelouch and Nunnally for perceived weakness (poor Nunnally becoming a blind paraplegic as collateral damage of the assassination of her mother) and defiance (Lelouch getting angry at Charles for not trying to investigate who did it) and sends them off to Japan to be used as political hostages shortly before Britannia invaded the country. It says a lot about Charles and the Britannian royal court as a whole that the time Lelouch and Nunnally were political hostages was one of the few times in their childhoods when they were truly happy.
 Political Hostage / int_a4a6b86a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_a4a6b86a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Code Geass
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_a4a6b86a
 Political Hostage / int_c72c2d06
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_c72c2d06
comment
Star Wars Rebels: Alrich Wren became one by Saxon after Sabine left the Empire in order to ensure that Clan Wren remained loyal.
 Political Hostage / int_c72c2d06
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_c72c2d06
featureConfidence
1.0
 Star Wars Rebels
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_c72c2d06
 Political Hostage / int_da52a723
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_da52a723
comment
Rivers of London: This is the solution Peter proposes to end the conflict between Father Thames (god of the upper Thames) and Mama Thames (goddess of lower Thames) - a daugher of Mama Thames goes to live upriver and a son of Father Thames goes to live in London. As Peter himself readily admits, he got the idea from Dungeons & Dragons.
 Political Hostage / int_da52a723
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_da52a723
featureConfidence
1.0
 Rivers of London
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_da52a723
 Political Hostage / int_e04f934e
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_e04f934e
comment
Fire Emblem: Three Houses: Petra, granddaughter of the king of Brighid, was given to the Adrestian Empire as a token of their new allegiance following Brigid's defeat and vassalage at the end of the Brigid and Dagda War.
 Political Hostage / int_e04f934e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_e04f934e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Video Game)
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_e04f934e
 Political Hostage / int_ef57d399
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_ef57d399
comment
The Mountain and the Wolf:
The Wolf reveals that he had Missandei hostage all this time, and threatens to have her raped to death if Grey Worm doesn't comply with his demands. Fortunately, those demands amount to Grey Worm staying in Westeros to fight the Wolf instead of sailing for Naath, which he is all too happy to do.
He also holds Varys, Qyburn, Jaime and Cersei prisoner, although he's yet to make this known to the rest of the Westeros cast.
 Political Hostage / int_ef57d399
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_ef57d399
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Mountain and the Wolf / Fan Fic
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_ef57d399
 Political Hostage / int_f01c0730
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_f01c0730
comment
RCN: It's a standard practice of the so-called Alliance of Free Stars to take family members of the rulers of conquered planets as hostages to ensure future good behavior. In one book, Adele Mundy intentionally blows up a ship carrying said hostages to get the rest of a convoy to surrender, knowing that their Secret Police minders would have thrown them out the airlock before surrendering anyway.
 Political Hostage / int_f01c0730
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_f01c0730
featureConfidence
1.0
 RCN
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_f01c0730
 Political Hostage / int_f069d850
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_f069d850
comment
The Eagles of Rome: Arminius is a German chieftain's son (real name Ermanamer) sent to Rome after a Roman victory as a hostage and raised alongside a Roman general's son. They become Bash Brothers after a rocky start, but eventually find themselves on opposite sides as the hostage-taking completely backfired: instead of a German raised on Roman ideals, the Romans now have to deal with a German chieftain who knows their ways and tactics.
 Political Hostage / int_f069d850
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_f069d850
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Eagles of Rome (Comic Book)
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_f069d850
 Political Hostage / int_f4b0cbe2
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_f4b0cbe2
comment
In Ranger's Apprentice, The Royal Ranger books 4 and 5, the rebellious Gallican Baron Lassigny has taken the son of the Gallican King Felipe hostage in his keep. The official stance the Baron has is that the king's son had only gotten lost on a hunting expedition and has stopped in the Baron's territory for a temporary rest, but the prince is clearly a prisoner, kept locked in a tower. Baron Lassigny has aspirations of overthrowing the king, who already barely holds the throne. The cover story exists to make King Felipe look bad were he to break his son out, which would upset his fragile hold on the kingdom. Rangers Will and Maddie are sent to rescue the captured prince.
 Political Hostage / int_f4b0cbe2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_f4b0cbe2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Ranger's Apprentice
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_f4b0cbe2
 Political Hostage / int_fccc35cc
type
Political Hostage
 Political Hostage / int_fccc35cc
comment
Crusader Kings II: It is impossible to declare war on a ruler who holds a close relative prisoner, and the game warns you that if one of your relatives is being "educated" by another ruler, they may be killed if you declare war.
 Political Hostage / int_fccc35cc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Political Hostage / int_fccc35cc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Crusader Kings II (Video Game)
hasFeature
Political Hostage / int_fccc35cc

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Political Hostage
processingCategory2
I Have Your Index
 A Young Girl's Game of Thrones (Fanfic) / int_ea919c7f
type
Political Hostage
 Ad Astra Per Aspera (LadyDaybreaker) (Fanfic) / int_ea919c7f
type
Political Hostage
 Erec and Enide / int_ea919c7f
type
Political Hostage
 October Daye / int_ea919c7f
type
Political Hostage
 Rivers of London / int_ea919c7f
type
Political Hostage
 7th Time Loop / int_ea919c7f
type
Political Hostage
 Steel Crow Saga / int_ea919c7f
type
Political Hostage