This happens in at least 2 Final Fantasies, Mateus Palamecia in II and Gesthal in IV.

I'm not aware of this ever happening in real life, but perhaps it's a Japanese thing as it is in the Anime Code Geass.

Intresting thouhg how doing this icnreases the chance the Emperor will never be refered to by name, but just called "The Emperor" Star Wars style.