> I don't know much about your examples, but did any of them turn down an offer of great power?

Not parent, but I can think of one: Oliver Cromwell. He led the campaign to abolish the monarchy and execute King Charles I in what is now the UK. Predictably, he became the leader of the resulting republic. However, he declined to be crowned king when this was suggested by Parliament, as he objected to it on ideological grounds. He died from malaria the next year and the monarchy was restored anyway (with the son of Charles I as king).

He arguably wasn't as keen on republicanism as a concept as some of his contemporaries were, but it's quite something to turn down an offer to take the office of monarch!