Benevolent Overlord Meaning

(idiomatic, euphemistic) A person in a position of power.

Example: 1990, Hisao Kimura; Scott Berry, Japanese agent in Tibet: my ten years of travel in disguise, page 103:
  Ever since our benevolent overlords, the Japanese, began to panic everything has been all turned around.
2007, Lara Adrian, Kiss of Midnight, page 279:
  Look, the benevolent overlord attitude might have gone a lot further for you back in the day, but don't even think you can use it on me.