The king-men were a Nephite faction of the latter half of the first century BC, named around 67 BC, who sought to overturn the free government of judges and set a king over the land. They were those of high birth, who themselves sought to be kings and were backed by others seeking power and authority over the people (Alma 51:8).
The faction arose when part of the people petitioned the chief judge Pahoran I to alter certain points of the law, and Pahoran refused. Those who then wanted him removed from the judgment-seat were called king-men; those who wanted him to remain took the name freemen, having covenanted to maintain their rights and the privileges of their religion under a free government. The dispute was settled by the voice of the people, which came in favor of the freemen, and Pahoran kept the judgment-seat (Alma 51:3-7).
When the Lamanite army under Amalickiah came down to battle, the king-men were glad and refused to take up arms, being too angry with the chief judge and the people of liberty to defend their country (Alma 51:13). Moroni petitioned the governor, with the voice of the people, for power to compel the dissenters to defend the land or be put to death, and it was granted. His army marched against the king-men; four thousand were slain by the sword, their surviving leaders were cast into prison, and the remainder yielded and were compelled to hoist the title of liberty and take up arms. Moroni thus put an end to any who were known by the name of king-men (Alma 51:14-21).
Years later, dissenters led by Pachus drove Pahoran from the judgment-seat and out of Zarahemla, taking the land and intending to set up a king (Alma 62:6). After Moroni and Pahoran retook the city and Pachus was slain and Pahoran restored, the men of Pachus and the king-men who had earlier been imprisoned were tried under the law; those who would not take up arms in defense of their country but would fight against it were put to death (Alma 62:9).