History Main / SelfProclaimedKnight

* In the 1954 film, ''Film/TheBlackKnight'', John, a blacksmith and swordsmith, is tutored at [[KingArthur Camelot]]. As a commoner, he can't hope to win the hand of Lady Linet, daughter of the Earl of Yeoniland, so he creates a secret alternate identity as the Black Knight.

* In ''TabletopGame/Warhammer'', the Kingdom of Bretonnia is a feudal society that places great religious importance on knighthood and a chivalric code, but by law only pure-blooded noblemen can become knights. Despite this, its not uncommon for women to play SweetPolyOliver by donning a full suit of armor and presenting themselves as young [[RiteOfPassage knights errant]] out to prove themselves. According to some lore, major battles are known to result in at least one knight being outed as a woman after dying or sustaining injury; an embarrassing OpenSecret that is typically swept under the rug to avoid scandal.

** Brienne of Tarth isn't allowed to be a knight because she's a woman, but she fights and acts like knights are supposed to act better than most of the real ones. This has gained her, on the whole, very little respect.

->''"So, we lie. How did the nobles become [[BlueBlood noble]] in the first place? They took it! At a tip of the sword! I'll do it with a lance... A man can change his stars. I won't spend the rest of my life as nothing."''

** James Eckert, the titular DragonKnight is one of these, claiming to be a Baron from America. However, his lack of martial capabilities makes a few wonder about it. However, the fact that he's also a magician, and thus a Magic Knight, in addition to his ability to turn himself into a dragon, at least make those who initially doubt his capabilities as a knight to accept the fact that he can't be a Master at both a Knight and a Mage at the same time.

* Fernando from ''VideoGame/{{Paladins}}'' became one after assuming the identity of a knight whom he once served.

* Fernando from ''VideoGame/Paladins'' became one after assuming the identity of a knight whom he once served.

** Gregor Clegane (a.k.a. The Hound) is an inversion. He's totally eligible but refuses to be knighted because he views the whole institution as a sham because even monsters like his brother are knighted.

* In ''TabletopGame/LegendOfTheFiveRings'' lore, it's not entirely unheard of for a peasant to [[RobbingTheDead scavenge]] (or [[AlmostDeadGuy "scavenge"]]) a samurai's katana and wakizashi from a battlefield and present themselves as a wandering ronin. Since many ronin travel to lands outside of their original families' (if they had much of a family to begin with) and any documentation would be difficult if not impossible to confirm, the swords are treated by law and tradition as incontestable proof of samurai heritage. Although it goes without saying that a commoner actually ''caught'' doing this will be executed in creative and exciting ways.

** To elaborate: Don Quixote is truly GenreSavvy at ChivalricRomance books. Chapter III shows him aware of this trope and he tries to defy it when he insists to [[ThePresentsWereNeverFromSanta an innkeeper (who he thinks is a castellan)]] [[{{Knighting}} to knight him after he has watched his armor in the castle chapel -- that is, in the stable of the inn]]. So DonQuixote believes he has averted this trope. However, ''Las partidas de Alfonso el Sabio'', the spanish chivalry code, states that a man cannot be knighted if he is too poor or if he is knighted as a joke… so, Don Quixote, being an ImpoverishedPatrician [[{{Irony}} trying to defy this trope, only has enforced it]].

* ''TheWitcher3WildHunt'' has Sir Ronvid of the Small Marsh, who constantly challenges Geralt (who is an actual Knight) to duels [[GoldfishPoopGang but never poses much threat]].

* ''TheWitcher3:TheWildHunt'' has Sir Ronvid of the Small Marsh, who constantly challenges Geralt (who is an actual Knight) to duels [[GoldfishPoopGang but never poses much threat]].

* Two of these end up coming into ''Film/AKnightsTale''. One is the classic struggling underdog, William Thatcher, the peasant who's masquerading as the knight Ulrich Von Lichtenstein, and the other is the royal in disguise, Sir Thomas Colville or Edward, the Black Prince, who just wants a chance to actually ''compete'' and earn something himself instead of being given everything because of his station.

* Sterkenburg Cranach in the ''Arland'' trilogy of the ''Franchise/{{Atelier}}'' series. He ''was'' an actual knight in ''VideoGame/AtelierRorona'', but between that game and ''Videogame/AtelierTotori'', Arland has changed from monarchy into a Republic, and disbanded the knights. He travelled the lands trying to find the disappeared former king, while keep calling himself a knight. He continues this in ''VideoGame/AtelierMeruru''.

* ''Manga/{{Yaiba}}'' has Frederick Luther III, who claims to be a knight. His behaviour in battle proves otherwise.

* ''{{Yaiba}}'' has Frederick Luther III, who claims to be a knight. His behaviour in battle proves otherwise.

* In ''TabletopGames/LegendOfTheFiveRings'' lore, it's not entirely unheard of for a peasant to [[RobbingTheDead scavenge]] (or [[AlmostDeadGuy "scavenge"]]) a samurai's katana and wakizashi from a battlefield and present themselves as a wandering ronin. Since many ronin travel to lands outside of their original families' (if they had much of a family to begin with) and any documentation would be difficult if not impossible to confirm, the swords are treated by law and tradition as incontestable proof of samurai heritage. Although it goes without saying that a commoner actually ''caught'' doing this will be executed in creative and exciting ways.

* In ''ASongOfIceAndFire''

* Lancelot in ''{{Series/Merlin}}''. He isn't a noble, so he can't become a knight, but lies about it to enter the tournament. Uther finds out and only spares his life because he believes Lancelot killed the griffin. Later, Arthur knights him for real. Gwaine zig zags the trope: He is a noble but does not reveal that, so he can't be a knight and eventually gets exiled after trying to stop a couple of guys impersonating knights with magic (further examples of the trope). Later, he gets knighted like Lancelot did.

* The ''{{House}}'' episode ''Knight Fall'' starts in a medieval reenactment community. A knight collapses in battle. While in the hospital William tells how he tries to live by the knight's code of honor.

** Ser Osmund Kettleblack, claims he was knighted by "Ser Robert... Stone," which is about as generic and untraceable a name as MrSmith.

-->-- '''William''', ''AKnightsTale''