Other games with a similar progression?

[Billy Shears]

The thing I love about this game is the character progression. You start off as a nobody taking jobs under others and, eventually, you work your way up the ladder and command your own troops, buy ships, and even aquire territory.
What I'm wondering is if there are any other games which are similar in this respect? Mount and Blade takes you from a random adventurer to a monarch but you start with the ability to recruit and command troops. Are you guys aware of any games that have you start from the very bottom and work your way up????

[Triptrippen]

Darkfall, Life is feudal(mmo). Can't think of any others off the top of my head, but in both those games you start out as a nobody, and potentially can have the entire rest of the server under your employ.
p.s. bittersweet love of mount and blade, it spoiled me on combat, hate other games combat systems now.