rags to riches

Rags to riches refers to any situation in which a person rises from poverty to wealth, and in some cases from absolute obscurity to heights of fame, fortune and celebrity—sometimes instantly. This is a common archetype in literature and popular culture, such as the writings of Horatio Alger, Jr. Pre-20th-century fictional examples Fairy tales, such as Cinderella and Aladdin. The Dickens novel Oliver Twist, whose protagonist rises from a workhouse to child labour to a gang of pickpockets to being adopted by a wealthy family. The Arthurian story of Sir Gareth, who rises from a lowly kitchen boy to a prominent Knight of the Round Table. The folklore tale of Dick Whittington and His Cat, who, with the help of his cat, rises from orphaned poverty to become thrice Lord Mayor of London. Historical examples Abdalonymus was a gardener who was appointed king of Sidon by Alexander the Great due to his possible royal ancestry. Baibars, a slave who rose to become the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt through his military prowess. Emperor Basil I, born a simple peasant in the theme of Macedonia, he rose in the imperial court and despite his humble origins, he showed great ability in running the affairs of state. On Michael III's death, Basil, as an already acclaimed co-emperor, automatically became the ruling emperor. Catherine I of Russia, born into a peasant family, married Peter the Great, and became Empress of Russia following his death. Chandragupta Maurya of India, who from a humble beginning founded the Maurya Empire. Emperor Diocletian, born to a freed slave of low social standing in Dalmatia, rose through the ranks of the Roman military to become a cavalry commander. After the death of emperor Carus, Diocletian defeated the former emperor's son Carinus in battle and proclaimed himself Roman emperor. His reign was marked by the consolidation of power around himself and its impact on the history of the late Roman Empire.