History Main / KnightInShiningArmor

* William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, was the younger son of a minor nobleman who went on to serve the royal family of [[TheHouseOfPlantagenet Henry II of England]] and be given the hand and estates of Isabel de Clare. He eventually came to be known by his contemporaries as "[[SpellMyNameWithAThe The Marshal]]" and "the greatest knight."

[[TheLastDance Cut well old friend, and then... farewell.]]"''

* ''Disney/{{Enchanted}}'' begins with Prince Edward saving Giselle from a troll, resulting in their planning to get married the next day.

Often invoked to describe a man who acts ''chivalrously'' toward women. The term may be used in more cynical works to indicate a WideEyedIdealist. Even the UrExample of the straight usage of trope, KingArthur, messed around with it a lot. The one-two punch of {{Disney}} and DungeonsAndDragons saw this trope's stock rise like crazy.

* ''Webcomc/{{Goblins}}'': Big-Ears is made of this trope. Kore, on the other hand, is a subversion.
* Sir Toby, from Chivalry and Knavery. A Christian knight (who happens to be an anthropomorphic lion), who is kind, brave and extremely strong. And patient, otherwise he would have run screaming from Kira and Ulf. According to his character description, he believes that there is good in everyone-amazingly, his time with the two of them hasn't beaten that belief out of him.
* Sir Muir in ''{{Harkovast}}'' fits this trope, even if his armour is more battered then shining most of the time!
* ''SquidRow'' [[http://squidrowcomics.com/?p=1060 A knight in a shining hatchback, anyway]]
* Esten in ''{{Roza}}''. Even if lacking the armor and resembling a BountyHunter.

* In ''{{Sinfest}}'',

* In ''OurLittleAdventure'', [[http://danielscreations.com/ola/comics/ep0052.html after a rogue tricks a wizard into identifying their scrolls, he gives her the one she needs, and she gushes that he's her knight in shining armor.]]

** Griffith, aside from leading a pack of mercenaries, fits during the [[FlashBack Golden Age arc]], making for a nice, juicy {{Deconstruction}}.

* Kururugi Suzaku from ''Anime/CodeGeass'' is a Deconstruction of this trope; he initially seems like the perfect knight, but his attitude is formed partly by his own inherent idealism towards helping people and not letting the ends justify the means -- a problem, to say the least, in a Japan occupied by TheEmpire and site for several violent armed rebellions -- and partly by the repressed knowledge that [[spoiler:he himself is guilty of the very thing he loathes by killing his own father at the age of 10 to make Japan surrender and keep it from becoming a permanent war zone.]] His lack of punishment for having done it drove him into becoming a DeathSeeker that wants to die serving his ideals. Having acknowledged the memories fully halfway through the season, he freely admits to being selfish, hypocritical, and, in his own words, "despicable".

* 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...[[DeconstructorFleet less than the ideal this trope represents.]]

* As ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek 2}}'' opens Prince Charming has adventured, overcoming many obstacles and climbing the high tower in order to rescue Fiona, finding instead a cross-dressing wolf. It turns out that there was an old promise that Charming would be able to marry Fiona. He turns out to be both a parody and a deconstruction.

* Anthony Woodville is portrayed as this in Philippa Gregory's ''[[Literature/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.

* ''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 cynicism.

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

** 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.

** 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 incestuous 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 with Brienne's example waved in front of his face, Jaime struggles to become a true Knight in Shining Armor in truth.

* In Creator/RobertAHeinlein's ''Literature/HaveSpaceSuitWillTravel'', Kip has a dream featuring knights in shining space armor (and dragons and Arcutarian maidens among its tamer elements). Afterward, he insists on preceding Peewee out of the cell like a proper knight, and after a failure regards himself as not a knight but a soda jerk.

** Camus and Arran from ''FireEmblemAkaneia'' could be seen as deconstructions. Camus ends up having to choose between his love and his country, ending up going with the latter. This results in him being left for dead and his love being stuck in a loveless ArrangedMarriage. When he returns as Sirius in ''Mystery'', he devoted himself to saving Nyna, but in the end [[spoiler: even though he's able to snap her out of being BrainwashedAndCrazy, he resigns himself to the fact he can't be with her, and leaves never to return.]]

* [[spoiler: Oersted]] from LiveALive is this trope. Demon-slaying, princess-saving, the whole nine yards. [[spoiler: Then, the whole concept is [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructed.]]]]
* ''SoulSeries'': {{Gender Flip}}ped in the series with [[AwesomeMcCoolname Hildegard]] [[BadassPrincess "Hilde"]] [[TheStoic Von]] [[LadyOfWar Krone]]. Also, [[LightIsNotGood Sieg]][[TheAtoner fried]] [[KnightTemplar Schta]][[DeathSeeker uffen]] is a ''massive'' [[DeconstructedTrope deconstruction]]. Siegfried's father, [[DisappearedDad Frederick]] was an example of one of these.
* Balmung of the ''[[Franchise/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:

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': Stan Marsh became a mix of this and the Only Sane Man. And sometimes he himself parodies and[=/=]or deconstructed this trope.

*** [[ItMakesSenseInContext He or one of his kinfolk might have been captured again of course.]]

* Flash Sentry from ''Westernanimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls'' is another straight example.

* Hong Chunhwa from ''TowerOfGod'', a chivalrous knight who always pays his respects to the ladies.

** See also: EstrogenBrigadeBait. Do want.

** Ironically, Alain Germande, the Iconic Cavalier, is very much ''not'' this, though he does excel at presenting himself this way to aid in seducing impressionable women. He's a LawfulNeutral (bordering on NeutralEvil, in the eyes of many fans) arrogant GloryHound BloodKnight who, though surprisingly charismatic, regards all others as expendable tools in pursuit of ever-greater glory and success.

* Sparhawk, from the DavidEddings's ''[[Literature/TheElenium 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.

* Samara in VideoGame/MassEffect2, even going so far as to give a KnightErrant (perhaps with a bit of Samurai) as the closest human equivalent to her order. Though she is much more LawfulNeutral than LawfulGood.

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** The Skull Knight doesn't do a lot of lady-charming, 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.

The medieval knight who fights baddies, whether knights or dragons, and in TheTourney, woos ladies without deliberately seducing them, [[IncorruptiblePurePureness behaves honorably]], and saves the day with his [[CoolSword sword]]; but also, any hero who behaves similarly. Invariably LawfulGood and [[TheFettered honor bound]]. First appeared in the ChivalricRomance. Lately has a very high incidence of having a BodyguardCrush and RescueRomance.

* Annelotte Kreutz from [[QueensBlade Queen's Blade Rebellion]] is a noble knight with a strong sense of justice.

** 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.
** Griffith, aside from leading a pack of mercenaries, fits this perfectly during the [[FlashBack Golden Age arc]], making for a nice, juicy {{Deconstruction}}.
** [[BadassGrandpa Azan]] the [[RedBaron Bridge Knight]], despite his advanced age.

* As ''{{Shrek}} 2'' opens Prince Charming has adventured, overcoming many obstacles and climbing the high tower in order to rescue Fiona, finding instead a cross-dressing wolf. It turns out that there was an old promise that Charming would be able to marry Fiona. He turns out to be both a parody and a deconstruction.

* ''TheFlightOfDragons'': Sir Orrin Neville-Smythe is set on fire by dragon's flame. He withstands the heat long enough to hurl the now-flaming sword into the heart of the black dragon, then collapses next to his fallen love. He provides the page quote.

* ''KidIcarusUprising'' makes it clear that Pit is one, as he is [[UndyingLoyalty endlessly loyal]] to [[GodOfGood Palutena]] and will always fight for the human race, even though the game also shows that HumansAreBastards and [[spoiler:the real BigBad, Hades, easily manipulates them to kill each other.]]

* Sheriff Cody Johnson, BrianThompson's character in the short-lived series ''KeyWest'', was thoroughly one of these.

* Aeron, of ''VideoGame/PandorasTowerUntilIReturnToYourSide'', who starts the game off sneaking into the capital city of the country his homeland is at war with just to watch his girlfriend sing, then doesn't hesitate to disappear with her when Elena is promptly afflicted with a curse. He then spends half the game looking to break said curse, and the other half looking after her and making their shabby safehouse a much more pleasant place to be just so she's more comfortable. Bonus points for the fact his armor is literally bright, shiny gold.

* {{Enchanted}} begins with Prince Edward saving Giselle from a troll and they plan to get married the next day.
* Phoebus of ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame''.

** Though she has some aspects of a KnightInSourArmour, Brienne of Tarth is mostly this trope played as straight as you can get (being a woman in a job otherwise held solely by men notwithstanding). She suffers from deep insecurities, and and is struggling to reconcile the ideal of what knights should be with what most are... hence, some of the sour touches. Yet, she nevertheless [[{{Derterminator}} shows]] the boys how it ''should'' be done.
** 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 incestuous 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.

** Though she has aspects of a KnightInSourArmour, Brienne of Tarth is mostly this trope.

** Brienne of Tarth also counts as one. She however is also suffering from deep insecurities (being a woman in a job otherwise held solely by men), and and is struggling to reconcile the ideal of what knights should be with what most are.

* [[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire Ser Loras Tyrell]], [[AgentPeacock the Knight of Flowers]], embodies the chivalric ideals of Westeros. Supposedly anyway. He's not above being a CombatPragmatist, and some other knights in attendance considered what he did [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty dirty cheating]].

* [[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire Ser Loras Tyrell]], [[AgentPeacock the Knight of Flowers]], embodies the chivalric ideals of Westeros.

** Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of Morning, was this as well. Jaime idolized him in his youth and considers the day he witnessed Arthur's fight against the [[BloodKnight Smiling]] [[AxCrazy Knight]] one of the best moments of his life. Jaime in a moment of self-reflection wonders how the boy who wanted to become the Sword of Morning became the Smiling Knight instead.