History Main / KnightInShiningArmor

* Sir Thomas Grey, 'Quite the Knight of the Realm' as an outlaw observes in one episode of ''CovingtonCross''. Sir Thomas' sons William, Richard and Cedric are aspiring knights - as is his only daughter! On the other hand his eldest son wants to be a cook...

* The point of chivalry, as a code of honor, was to put behavioral restrictions on the Knight in Shining Armor. Most people alive today have never wielded a sword, much less against a suit of full plate, but if they tried they'd discover that it's ''really'' hard to cut through[[note]]In fact, that's why swords gradually moved from the swinging designs of the "broadsword" to the stabbing design of the fencing weapon; see our Useful Notes: UsefulNotes/{{Swords}} page for more[[/note]]. A Knight in Shining Armor is close to invincible, his only real vulnerabilities are stab wounds or ranged attacks (which are dishonorable in a chivalric feudalism). If you're gonna ''put'' a man in this Infinity +1 Armor, you'd better make sure he won't abuse his power once he's in there!

* In Creator/PatriciaAMcKillip's ''Literature/TheBellAtSealeyHead'', [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses Princess]] Ysabo's home also has many knights, and part of her prescribed rituals is to perform certain services for them, filling cups with wine. She is [[ArrangedMarriage told she must marry one]], and when she asks why, he hits her. [[spoiler:However, this turn out to be false knights, not even human. The [[CleverCrows crows]] she feeds every day as part of the ritual [[BalefulPolymorph are in fact the true knights]], and when restored, they behave in a much more knightly manner.]]

* In Creator/PatriciaAMcKillip's ''Literature/TheBellAtSealeyHead'', [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses Princess]] Ysabo's home also has many knights, and part of her prescribed rituals is to perform certain services for them, filling cups with wine. She is [[ArrangedMarriage told she must marry one]], and when she asks why, he hits her. [[spoiler:However, this turn out to be false knights, not even human. The [[RavensAndCrows crows]] she feeds every day as part of the ritual [[BalefulPolymorph are in fact the true knights]], and when restored, they behave in a much more knightly manner.]]

* ''Literature/AConnecticutYankeeInKingArthursCourt'': was written as a scathing deconstruction of this trope (among other things), portraying the knights as little more than wandering bullies who picked fights with each other for no reason. The tales of their heroic deeds are entirely fabricated (and absurd on their faces, leading the main character to marvel at how nobody picks up on the Antarctica-level FridgeLogic), and the story features a lengthy description of how uncomfortable the main character is when he is put in his own shiny armor to go on his own quest. And still, in some of the final chapters, in which Camelot falls apart all around, the admirable knighly Lancelot of the origial Arthurian canon several times visibly breakes through Twain's cyniciam.

** Jedi in general are a mix between knights and samurai. However, how much "knight" and how much "samurai" actually varies between cultures. Corellian Jedi, according to ''The Essential Guide to Warfare'' and ''StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', are actually a lot closer to European knights than the mainline Jedi, being descended directly from those who swore oaths of fealty to a Jedi Lord during the darkest days of the [[DarthBane New Sith Wars]]. They're noted for being ''very'' inflexible about the law and justice.

* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh: By day Ghostrick Dullahan masquerades as a suit of antique armor, but at night he shows his true colors as a veteran knight, acting as a leader figure for the other residents of the museum.

** Paizo's {{Pathfinder}} RPG has brought the Paladin full-circle with the "Shining Knight" archetype, complete with bonuses to mounted combat and riding skill.

** Other more literal knights include the second Magna Defender of ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy'' (the original was a BlackKnight) and Sentinel Knight of ''Series/PowerRangersOperationOverdrive.'' Robo Knight of ''Series/PowerRangersMegaforce'' was intended to be one, but programming flaws lead him to focus strictly on eliminating threats and not consider things like civilian safety.

* [[TheHero Cecil]] in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV''. Indeed, his turn from [[BlackKnight the dark side]] to this is one of the driving forces behind and most emotionally satisfying part of the overarching plot.

* The Warrior of Light in ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' takes the trope and runs with it. As does [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV Cecil]], but that rather goes without saying.

* In ''Roleplay/FateNuovoGuerra'' Sir Gawain's devotion to Chivalry eventually led to Camelot's downfall as he refused to call for Lancelot's help for the Battle of Camlann.

* On ''Series/GameOfThrones'', Ser Loras Tyrell (see Literature above) literally has the shiniest armor in Westeros, at least in the first season. By the second season, his armor becomes rusty and dirty, expressing [[KnightInSourArmor his increasing cynicism]], and he does not smile as much.

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* Balmung of the ''[[DotHack .Hack//]]'' series (all incarnations) is probably one of the straightest examples in quite a while. While the setting of the series is an MMORPG, Balmung specifically investigates circumstances which could easily get him hurt in the real world. However, he has a strong moral code on issues of lesser significance, such as a strong distaste for hacking and player harassment. He also has a penchant for swooping in at the last moment to save other characters:

** Galahad, fittingly enough for the best knight in the world, can even get his own bullet point. Because he was intended to represent knightly perfection, ''Literature/LeMorteDarthur'' writes him as a flawless creature. There is an unused chair at the Round Table that will kill any who sit in it, except the one destined to find the Sangreal. Galahad introduces himself to Arthur by sitting in it. Arthur then takes him to a stone with a sword sticking out of it (sound familiar?) that can only be pulled by the best knight in the world. Galahad pulls it. Arthur announces a jousting tournament. Galahad beats everyone he faces. The text makes several remarks on his virtue (that he's still a maid, that he doesn't wantonly kill), and he achieves the Sangreal, eventually being allowed to ascend up to Heaven.// ''Literature/TheOnceAndFutureKing'' uses him to deconstruct the IncorruptiblePurePureness trope, as he's so inhumanly perfect that all the other knights hate him.

A cultural trope in Europe since medieval times, most good knights practice something called [[http://www.astro.umd.edu/~marshall/chivalry.html chivalry]], [[HonorBeforeReason Honor]], and [[EmotionsVsStoicism Self-Control]] and occasionally [[NatureAdoresAVirgin chastity]]. Prone to rescuing the DamselInDistress, or delivering her from [[MaliciousSlander false accusations]], often whilst bearing TheLadysFavour. The Knight In Shining Armor was a frequent victim of TheDulcineaEffect: medieval {{Chivalric Romance}}s, indeed, portrayed knights who fell in love with a ''[[PeerlessLoveInterest princesse lointaine]]'' merely on hearing her described, without even seeing her - though his love and heroism usually [[SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan won her heart]]. Another occupational hazard is ChronicHeroSyndrome, [[KnightErrant Knights Errant]] being charged to WalkTheEarth righting wrongs until a worthy quest shows up.

When PrinceCharming is a Knight In Shining Armor he's the WarriorPrince. PrinceCharmless, on the other hand would not be a knight by choice.

If the Knight In Shining Armor wanders the land seeking evil to slay, then he's also a KnightErrant.

** The Skull Knight doesn't do a lot of lady-wooing, preferring to act as a MysteriousProtector to Guts and Casca, but he's perhaps the closest thing so far to a Knight In Shining Armor in the ''Berserk'' universe, particularly when he [[spoiler:[[BigDamnHeroes saves Guts and Casca from being finished off by Femto(Griffith's Godhand self) and the Godhand at the end of the Eclipse]]]]. Fan rumor is rampant that the guy is [[spoiler: Emperor Gaiseric, the guy who unified Midland]], who may have gone through [[spoiler:a similar ordeal when Void was incarnated as a Godhand]], explaining [[spoiler:his stone-cold hate for the Godhand in general]]. And the guy is a complete {{Badass}} to boot.

* Female examples: Alanna, Sabine and Kel in TamoraPierce's books. Seen best in ''[[TortallUniverse Song of the Lioness]]'' when Alanna and her apprentices have to defend the Bloody Hawk tribe from being attacked.

* ''TheDresdenFiles'': Michael Carpenter, the noble Knight of the Cross, fits this trope to a T. Complete with kevlar-lined shining armour. He even met his wife by saving her from a fire-breathing dragon.

* Anthony Woodville is portrayed as this in Philippa Gregory's ''[[TheCousinsWarSeries Cousins' War]]'' series. It's something of a deconstruction, because while Anthony is a genuinely good man who really does fit this trope, he's often dragged down by the turmoil and conflict-ridden surroundings and the far less upstanding people around him.
* Sparhawk, from the DavidEddings' ''{{Elenium}}'' trilogy, fits the spiritual heroism of this trope even as he rejects its superficial aspects. Ironically, Sparhawk's own mental image is the aging, weather-beaten, not-especially handsome professional soldier he is, rather than a romantic hero, and the affections of his formerly DistressedDamsel wife were at first a source of considerable guilt, as she is almost half his age. His armor, by the way, like all knights of the Pandion order, is far from shining; enameled black.
** Played with slightly with Sir Bevier and by extension the rest of the Cyrinic Knights from the same series who are ''literal'' Knights In Shining Armor. The Cyrinic Knights polish their armor to a mirror finish as opposed to the Pandions, and the other two orders of Church Knights go with unadorned dull steel.
** Sir Mandorallen from David Eddings' ''{{Belgariad}}'' saga (and its sequel, the ''Malloreon'' saga) is a textbook example of the Knight In Shining Armor; he embodies this trope, both outwardly and inwardly. Complete with a tragic chivalric love-from-afar affair. Eddings lampshaded the heck out of the trope, though: Mandorallen is heroic, brave and fearless, unbeaten in combat, honorable, truthful, and so on and so on. The first time in his life that he suddenly felt real fear (when he faced a magical opponent that he couldn't defeat) let to a kind of nervous breakdown, a self-doubt of epic proportions during which Mandorallen developed phobophobia, a paralyzing fear of being afraid. He eventually got over it, with the help of his friends. The other characters routinely tended to poke gentle fun of Mandorallen's utter dedication to chivalry. People who met him for the first time kept asking "Is this guy for real?" and "Did he really just charge the enemy? He's going to die!" - "No he isn't. He's Mandorallen."

* In Creator/PoulAnderson's ''Literature/ThreeHeartsAndThreeLions'', the hero Holger is thrown in a world where the Matter of France, Charlemagne and his paladins, is fact, and both becomes a Knight In Shining Armor and meets up with knights. The three hearts and three lions of the title are the coat of arms on his shield. The Paladin class of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' is primarily inspired by the paladins from this story.
* ''ForgottenRealms'': There's a rather nice paladin in ''The Threat from the Sea'' trilogy [[spoiler:(never mind that he once was pious enough to carry the symbol of his divine patron... and then hurl it to sea)]], but though he eventually acquires a mount (''[[HorseOfADifferentColor sort of]]''), he never wears heavy armor [[spoiler:(after all, he's a ''seaman'')]]. Complemented with the usual Knight In Shining Armor for contrast. There were more traditional stiff ones (including some protagonists) in ''The Pools'' trilogy. And now there's ''[[http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Thornhold Thornhold]]'' featuring Knights of Samular who "seems to think that [[http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Harpers Harpers]] and [[http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Zhentarim Zhents]] are fit to stew in the same pot" (which ''seems'' right to some extent) but ''seems'' not to be any less fit for the same pot themselves. They have an agent of a ChaoticEvil church among them.
* ''{{Dragonlance}}'' has the Solamnic knights (see TabletopRPG's examples below). In particular Sturm Brightblade, who holds to the Oath and Measure upheld by his father, even though [[spoiler: he was never actually knighted]] and most people he knows hold the order in scorn.

* Despite his anti-hero tendencies, Literature/PhilipMarlowe is explicitly compared, by Creator/RaymondChandler, to a Knight In Shining Armor.
* Subverted in ''SecondApocalypse'' with Sarcellus, who turns out not to be what he looks like, to say the least.

* Costis in ''The King of Attolia'' of Megan Whalen Turner's {{Sounis}} series. Not only does he have "a sense of honor as wide as a river," but he actually spends quite some time hoping that his armor is shiny enough for the King's critical eye.

* As an adaptation of the Arthurian legends, Gerald Morris' ''TheSquiresTales'' naturally features this, but Lancelot's character arc actually deconstructs it.

* Sir Nigel Loring, of ''TheWhiteCompany'', fits this to the letter.
* In ''TheGuardians'', Hugh was a medieval knight sincerely striving towards honor and chivalry when he met Lilith. She taunts his naivete by nicknaming him "Sir Pup". He was rewarded for his life of honesty with the [[PersonalityPowers Gift]] of lie detection.

* ''The Knight In Rusty Armor'': The Knight is this twenty four hours a day. [[spoiler: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] as he only does this because he'll be appreciated by others for it. Indeed, the armor is also a metaphor for hiding one's TrueSelf, and when he sheds it, so he does this trope]].

** Galahad, fittingly enough for the best knight in the world, can even get his own bullet point. Because he was intended to represent knightly perfection, ''Literature/LeMorteDarthur'' writes him as a flawless creature. There is an unused chair at the Round Table that will kill any who sit in it, except the one destined to find the Sangreal. Galahad introduces himself to Arthur by sitting in it. Arthur then takes him to a stone with a sword sticking out of it (sound familiar?) that can only be pulled by the best knight in the world. Galahad pulls it. Arthur announces a jousting tournament. Galahad beats everyone he faces. The text makes several remarks on his virtue (that he's still a maid, that he doesn't wantonly kill), and he achieves the Sangreal, eventually being allowed to ascend up to Heaven. ''Literature/TheOnceAndFutureKing'' uses him to deconstruct the IncorruptiblePurePureness trope, as he's so inhumanly perfect that all the other knights hate him.
* Galahad, from ''AnElegyForTheStillLiving'' initially appears to be one of these. But when the time comes for him to fight the dragon, he reveals that it is unbeatable and that [[DeathSeeker he only went there to die.]]

** On the other hand, Jaime Lannister is a {{Deconstruction}}. At first he appears appears the perfect Knight In Shining Armor, being incredibly handsome, the best fighter in the land, the slayer of the previous [[TheCaligula tyrant king]] and, due to to having his armour gilded, actual shining armour. However, he's quickly revealed to be violent, arrogant and [[spoiler: in an incestous relationship with his sister]]. And thanks to being the Kingslayer, a breach of his vows as a knight of the Kingsguard, nobody trusts him. After going through BreakTheHaughty and a HeelFaceTurn, Jaime struggles to become a true Knight in Shining Armor.

* Since Eleanor has a crush on a knight in TheRoyalDiaries ''Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine'' she wants him to be her bodyguard. Once when they are attacked Clotaire the Strong pulls her into his saddle and races her back to the safety of the castle.
* In "The Last Hero", one of the earlier novels (1931) of Literature/TheSaint, Simon Templar takes backstage to his gallant and tragic associate Norman Kent, who falls in love hopelessly with Templar's girlfriend Patricia Holm (who hardly notices him) and at the end of the book sacrifices his life to let Templar and his other comrades-in-arms escape the current villain and fight again another day. A book called "Knights Errant of the Nineeteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries" by Caroline Whitehead and George Mc Leod says it all: "Norman Kent is an archetypal knight-errant. Though formally a man of 20th Century England, he lives (and dies) by the Code of Chivalry. He loves totally his Lady, Patricia Holm - who, like Don Quixote's Dulcinea, is not aware of that love. He is totally loyal to his Liege Lord, Simon Templar. Like Sir Gawain in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", Norman Kent takes on the threats to his Lord. Not only physicial threats to life and limb, but also the sometimes inavoidable need to take dishourable acts which would have reflected badly on the reputation of King Arthur/Simon Templar is taken on, wholly and without reservation, by Sir Gawain/Norman Kent."

* In DevonMonk's Literature/AllieBeckstrom novel ''Magic to the Bone'', Allie plays with this, speaking of looking for police in shining armor and the like.
* There are occasional references to upstanding men as this trope in the ''AuntDimity'' series, especially when they demonstrate their goodness openly. Also, among Lori and Bill's wedding gifts is a portrait of Bill on horseback and wearing armour—and his glasses.
* In JackCampbell's Literature/TheLostStars novel ''Tarnished Knight'', leading up to the TitleDrop, Iceni reflects that she doesn't have this, but she may have a somewhat more tarnished version.
* In JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/CountToTheEschaton The Hermetic Millennia]]'', Knights Hospitalliar are frozen to wake when the Tombs need protection.

-->''"Yes, I was," persisted Miss MacBee. "I lay on the hammock which I have had slung in my cellar, and shut my eyes, and loosed my spirit, and it shot upward like a lark released. It detached itself from the common trammels of the body, yes, my spirit, in shining armour, fought with the false, cruel spirits of murderers."''

* In JohnHemry's ''Literature/PaulSinclair'' novels, Jen refers to Paul as this, repeatedly. Her father ironically observes that he expected to need sunglasses while meeting him.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': The [[AlwaysLawfulGood paladin]] class was based on Knight In Shining Armor archetype in general and supposedly ''Three Hearts and Three Lions'' in particular. Paladins are more like holy crusaders empowered with divine magic, though.

** Something of a subversion is found in ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening Awakening]]'' with the Spirit of Justice. A Fade Spirit based on the concept of Justice, it is eventually trapped in the corpse of a Grey Warden named Kristoff. It then joins your party as a Knight In Shining Armor [[DarkIsNotEvil Undead]].

* Although most D&D adaptations (as in the cases of ''Record of Lodoss War'' and ''Dragonlance'') play the trope straight, the trope is subverted in the ''WesternAnimation/DungeonsAndDragons'' cartoon series, in which Eric the Cavalier, the cast member closest to a knight, is vain, selfish, and cowardly. (He does demonstrate a [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold well-buried better nature]] at certain points, usually against his better judgment). Hank the Ranger, meanwhile, occupies the Knight In Shining Armor role.
* The recurring ''GummiBears'' character Sir Victor, the White Knight, was a classic Knight In Shining Armor. However, it turned out that he was actually the estranged brother of the series BigBad, Duke Igthorn, and lived in constant fear that he would [[InTheBlood turn evil like the rest of his family]] (before AnAesop was delivered to him, anyway) and righted wrongs as perceived [[TheAtoner atonement]] for his house's ill deeds.

* The point of chivalry, as a code of honor, was to put behavioral restrictions on the Knight In Shining Armor. Most people alive today have never wielded a sword, much less against a suit of full plate, but if they tried they'd discover that it's ''really'' hard to cut through[[note]]In fact, that's why swords gradually moved from the swinging designs of the "broadsword" to the stabbing design of the fencing weapon; see our Useful Notes: UsefulNotes/{{Swords}} page for more[[/note]]. A Knight In Shining Armor is close to invincible, his only real vulnerabilities are stab wounds or ranged attacks (which are dishonorable in a chivalric feudalism). If you're gonna ''put'' a man in this Infinity +1 Armor, you'd better make sure he won't abuse his power once he's in there!

** Xing-ke plays the trope straight; an honorable and badass swordsman devoted body and soul to his empress.

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* In MarvelComics' outer space stories, the [[HollywoodCyborg Spaceknights]] of Galador also aspire to this ideal, but arguably only [[RomSpaceknight Rom]] ever truly achieved it. One story even has Rom encounter the frozen form of KingArthur, still waiting for the day he will reawaken to save Britain from some future calamity, and Rom feels an instant, instinctive kinship with him.
* Johan, the protagonist of the Belgian comic book series ''DeRodeRidder''.

* Female examples: Alanna, Sabine and Kel in TamoraPierce's books. Seen best in ''[[TortallUniverse Song of the Lioness]]'' when Alana and her apprentices have to defend the Bloody Hawk tribe from being attacked.
** Kel in particular fits this trope, being the "Protector of the Small", and will do anything to help those in need.
** Also, we've got at lest ten or so male examples to go with it, due to the majority of Kel and Alanna's friends and rivals being knights also.

* Galahad, from ''AnElegyForTheStillLiving'' initially appears to be one of these. But when the time comes for him to fight the dragon, he reveals that it is unbeatabe and that he only went there to die.

** Similarly, Balmung's introduction in the video games has him chasing down another corrupted monster and trying to get Kite and BlackRose to run away.

* Sayaka from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' aspires to be this - her love interest in this case is Kyousuke, who used to play the violin until his hand was badly injured in an accident. When she contracts to become a MagicalGirl, her outfit (of the magical girls we see in the series, hers is the only one [[TheCape with a cape]]) and weapon of choice (swords) reflect this goal. Of course, this is a series written by GenUrobuchi, so things turn out...[[DeconstructionFleet less than the ideal this trope represents.]]