[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Wyeth_knight_6581.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Escort duty is one]]

This is the set of tropes that cluster around KnightTemplar: the forces of light in hardcore mode, excessively or otherwise. This mentality is all the way over on the Idealistic side of the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism -- but it has ''nothing'' in common with modern idealism of the GranolaGirl and CloudCuckooLander variety.

The {{Trope Codifier}}s are the {{Chivalric Romance}}s of the medieval Matters of Britain (Myth/ArthurianLegend) and of France (Charlemagne) -- especially the innumberable [[OlderThanTheyThink fantasy novels]] and verse epics of the 15th through 17th centuries which were based on, set in, or [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_Delivered vaguely inspired by]] the older Carolingian myths. The Arthurian myths have a less militantly idealistic style than the Carolingian ones; the Arthurian work most completely of this style is ''Literature/SirGawainAndTheGreenKnight''.

This pattern is rarer outside of Europe (and before the Middle Ages) than within it. The closest analogue to European chivalry was ''[[BushidoIndex bushido]]'', the code of the Japanese ''{{samurai}}'', but the Japanese code emphasized [[MyMasterRightOrWrong loyalty to one's lord, even to the point of doing evil]], while the European one emphasized loyalty to one's conscience, even to the point of treachery.

Of course, that doesn't mean that non-European heroes can't act like this--and it doesn't mean that European heroes always do, either. The Roman-derived tradition of "MyCountryRightOrWrong" was always present in Europe...

See also HeroTropes, to an extent. A particular variety of IdealismTropes. A civilization that embraces this is a variety of MartyrdomCulture.
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!!Tropes
[[index]]
* AllAPartOfTheJob
* AristocratTeam
* AttackAttackAttack: A character's strategy consists of nothing but attacking the target mindlessly.
* BlackKnight
* TheCape
* TheChampion
* ChurchMilitant
* DeclarationOfProtection
* DragonsVersusKnights
* TheExtremistWasRight
* AFatherToHisMen
* TheFettered
* GoodIsBoring (but it beats the alternative)
* GoodIsNotDumb: Being the good guy does not mean you are stupid.
* GoodIsNotNice: Being the good guy does not mean you are not a jerk.
* HarmonyVersusDiscipline (Discipline)
* HeroAntagonist: The antagonist of the work is a good guy.
* HeroicSacrifice: A hero lets themselves get killed for the greater good.
* HolyHandGrenade
* HonorBeforeReason: Doing the honorable thing even if it's not the sensible action to take in the current situation.
* HumongousHeadedHammer: War hammers tend to be associated with knights and especially paladins.
* IdealHero
* IncorruptiblePurePureness: A character who is so honest and good that it is impossible for them to go bad.
* InspectorJavert: A law enforcer is obsessed with turning in a wanted criminal, regardless of whether the person is truly guilty or not.
* JumpingOnAGrenade: Jumping onto a grenade about to detonate so that only you get killed by it.
* KeepTheReward
* TheKindnapper: both the Heroic variant and the Obviously Misguided type
* KnightErrant: The hero wanders the earth helping anyone they come across.
* KnightInShiningArmor: The classic original recipe.
* KnightInSourArmor: A CrapsackWorld (or their own JadeColoredGlasses) may have rusted their armor, but their HeroicSpirit still shines.
* KnightlySwordAndShield
* KnightKnaveAndSquire
* KnightTemplar (what happens when they get fully blinded by their zeal)
* TheLadysFavour
* LawfulGood (although not interested in ''secular'' law)
* LawfulStupid (more or less common, depending on the work)
* LightEmUp
* LightIsGood: Positive alignment = brighter atmosphere
* LightIsNotGood
* LordErrorProne
* MachiavelliWasWrong
* MagicKnight
* MartyrdomCulture
* MartyrWithoutACause
* MoreHeroThanThou
* NobleDemon: They might be acting toward an evil goal, but at least they're chivalrous about it.
* OrderVersusChaos (Order)
* ThePaladin
* TheParagon
* PragmaticHero
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy
* SaintlyChurch
* ScaryDogmaticAliens
* ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules: Showing your integrity by refusing to accept a bribe.
* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight
* SelfProclaimedKnight
* SirVerbALot
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism (Idealistic)
* SmallStepsHero
* TheSoftHeartedWarrior
* TheStoic
* TakingTheBullet: Jumping in front of a firing gun so that you get shot instead of the intended target.
* ThinkNothingOfIt
* ToBeLawfulOrGood
* VillainousValor
* WarriorMonk
* WhatYouAreInTheDark: A character shows their true colors in private.
* WorthyOpponent: Someone respects the person they do battle with as an honorable adversary.
[[/index]]
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