View source for King of Hyrule

{{Stub}}
{{Infobox|character
| image    = [[File:The-King-Of-Hyrule.png]]
| game     = ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link|The Adventure of Link]]''<br/>''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|A Link to the Past]]''<br/>''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]''<br/>''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker|The Wind Waker]]''<br/>''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap|The Minish Cap]]''<br/>''[[The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild|Breath of the Wild]]''<br/>''[[The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom|Tears of the Kingdom]]''<br/>''[[Cadence of Hyrule]]''<br/>''[[The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom|Echoes of Wisdom]]''
| location = [[Hyrule]]
| race     = [[Hylian]]
}}

The '''King of Hyrule''' is a recurring character in [[The Legend of Zelda (Series)|''The Legend of Zelda'' series]]. He was introduced in the backstory of ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link|The Adventure of Link]]'', and first appeared physically in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|A Link to the Past]]''.

==''The Adventure of Link''==
The King of Hyrule ruled the kingdom of [[Hyrule]] with the power of the united [[Triforce]]; however, anticipating his death and deciding [[Prince of Hyrule|his son]] was not worthy of succession to possess the complete Triforce, he split the artifact into three parts. The wisdom and power portions remained in Hyrule whereas the [[Triforce of Courage]] was locked in the [[Great Palace]] to be obtained by the hero after numerous trails of endurance.

==''A Link to the Past''==
When Hyrule is struck by misfortune, the King of Hyrule offers a reward to anyone who can solve the kingdom's problems. [[Agahnim]] steps forth, assumes role of chief adviser, brainwashes the soldiers, and kills the King of Hyrule.

The King is later resurrected when [[Link (A Link to the Past)|Link]] wishes Hyrule to be healed at the end of the game.

==''Ocarina of Time''==
The King of Hyrule in ''Ocarina of Time'' is never actually seen in-game, so his physical appearance is unknown. He is the father of [[Zelda (Ocarina of Time)|Princess Zelda]] and the sworn brother of the [[Goron]]'s patriarch [[Darunia]]. The king is first mentioned during [[Link (Ocarina of Time)|Link]]'s introduction to Zelda; she mentions telling her father about the prophetic dream she had as they spy on [[Ganon]]dorf bowing to him. It is the king's disbelief in her dream that drives Zelda to enlist Link's help and stop Ganondorf's plans in secret.

Once Link has collected all three [[Spiritual Stones]], Ganondorf suddenly attacks [[Hyrule Castle]], driving Zelda and Impa into hiding, with the castle surrendering a short time afterward. It is unknown what became of the king as a result of this or whether he survived into Link's adulthood.

Upon being returned to his childhood at the end of the game, Link revisits Hyrule Castle warns the King of Hyrule of what Ganondorf has planned. His possession of the [[Triforce of Courage]] is enough to sway Zelda's father's decision, and he proceeds to arrange for Ganondorf's arrest so that he can be tried and [[Ganondorf's Execution|executed]] for his crimes.

==''The Wind Waker''==
{{Spoiler|section}}
{{Main|Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule}}
In ''The Wind Waker'', the King takes on a new form as the [[King of Red Lions]], [[Link (The Wind Waker)|Link]]'s talking boat companion. After Link gains the [[Master Sword]], he informs Link that he was the king of the old [[Hyrule]] that had to be flooded by the three [[Golden Goddesses]] to prevent the destruction of [[Ganon]]dorf.

==''The Minish Cap''==
{{Main|King Daltus}}
In ''The Minish Cap'', the King of Hyrule is imprisoned and impersonated by the evil sorcerer [[Vaati]], until being rescued by [[Link (The Minish Cap)|Link]]. Additionally, the [[King Gustaf|phantom of a past king]] makes an appearance in order to impart prophecy and counsel to Link.

==''Breath of the Wild''==
{{Main|King Rhoam}}
First introduced as the [[Old Man (Breath of the Wild)|Old Man]] on the [[Great Plateau]], King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule serves as a guide for [[Link (Breath of the Wild)|Link]] at the start of his quest. King Rhoam reveals his true self after Link has completed the first four [[Ancient Shrine|Shrines]] and is ready to leave the Great Plateau. 100 years prior to the events of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild|Breath of the Wild]]'', King Rhoam lost his life during the [[Great Calamity]], alongside the four [[Champion]]s. King Rhoam appears in a number of [[Recovered Memory|Memories]], focusing on his relationship with [[Zelda (Breath of the Wild)|his daughter]], that Link finds during the [[Captured Memories]] main quest.

==''Echoes of Wisdom''==
{{EoW-Stub|section}}
{{FutureRelease|section|date=26 September 2024}} 
In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom|Echoes of Wisdom]]'', the King of Hyrule appears, but is seen taken away into the [[Still World]], by a [[Rift]] that appears in [[Hyrule Castle (Echoes of Wisdom)|Hyrule Castle]].

==Non-Canon Appearances==
{{Non-Canon|section}}
===''Cadence of Hyrule''===
[[File:CoH King of Hyrule Sprite.png|68px|right]]
In ''[[Cadence of Hyrule]]'', the King of Hyrule appears only once in gameplay and only under the right conditions. Entering the [[Hyrule Castle (Cadence of Hyrule)|castle]] as Zelda opens the way to the throne room where the king is asleep under [[Octavo]]'s spell. By completing the [[Music Puzzle]], the king wakes up and offers Zelda the [[Royal Rapier]] to help defeat Octavo.

==Trivia==
*Although [[Ganon]]dorf is shown paying respects to the King of Hyrule in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'', the king is not visible in the scene. As such, no model was included in the game.
*The King of Hyrule appears only twice in the [[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Manga)|''Ocarina of Time'' manga]], both times with his face obscured.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:King-of-Hyrule-Looking-Over-Hyrule.png|The King of Hyrule from ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link|The Adventure of Link]]''
File:The-King-Of-Hyrule-Dead.png|The Dead King from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|A Link to the Past]]''
File:Return-Of-The-King.png|The Return of the King during the End Credits of ''A Link to the Past''
</gallery>

{{Listbox|The Adventure of Link Characters}}
{{Listbox|Cadence of Hyrule Characters}}
{{Listbox|Ocarina of Time Characters}}

{{Cat|The Adventure of Link Characters}}
{{Cat|A Link to the Past Characters}}
{{Cat|Ocarina of Time Characters}}
{{Cat|Cadence of Hyrule Characters}}
{{Cat|Echoes of Wisdom Characters}}