High Protector
High Protector was a title given to Megatron. It was a title given to one of two rulers of the planet Cybertron, the other being Prime, a title held by his sibling Optimus Prime. High Protector is a military title, rather than a governing one, with Megatron overseeing the armies of Cybertron while Optimus Prime was the civilian and spiritual leader. Together, they both stewarded the AllSpark. However, Megatron's military command led to a dangerous imbalance of power when he came to covet the life-giving artifact and formed the Decepticons. Movie Prequel
Fiction
IDW movie comics
During a speech in the new Cybertronian capital city of Trypticon, last of the Primes and mentor Sentinel Prime divided the new government into two branches: scientific and military. As appointed head of the newly established Defense Force, Megatron held the rank of "High Protector." Foundation #1 Upon hearing the voice of the Fallen from inside an ancient sarcophagus, Megatron initially refused his demands and pulled rank as Protector of Cybertron in order to instruct he reveal himself and face punishment. Defiance #2 During an argument with Optimus Prime, he demanded to be called Lord High Protector instead, beginning the reformation of the Decepticons. Foundation #2
Notes
- In Marvel Comics continuity Straxus had a similar title, Lord High Governor.
- According to the Challenge of the GoBots cartoon, Leader-1 and Cy-Kill both had the same title in the distant past.
- In real life, a Lord Protector was a British term for those who ruled the country while the monarch was still too young to rule. The title was used by the ruling Cromwells when Britain became a republic following the English Civil War.
- In Transformers: Defiance, Megatron seemed to outrank Optimus, despite them being heads of their respective fields, as Optimus called him "sir." However, in Transformers: Foundation, Optimus offers no such respect, even before becoming the next Prime.
- The Shattered Glass recap featured in Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue #27 refers to the evil universe Optimus Prime as the "Autobot High Warlord", possibly in reference to the High Protector rank (it wouldn't be the first movie Megatron reference made in relation to the character). Though it is unknown whether this is an actual title of the evil Autobot despot (who is more commonly called an "Emperor of Destruction") or just a generic descriptor.
