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"Himekishi" (JP), also known as "Princess Knight", is a term for a female character who has the status of a noble lady or princess but fights by arming herself as a knight. They are a woman who goes against the expectations of being a helpless noble lady who gets saved by male knights.
Etymology
Meaning of the Term
Himekishi (姫騎士) is a combination of "hime-sama" (姫様), meaning "young lady of noble birth", and "kishi" (騎士), meaning "knight".[7]
The term "hime-sama" is often translated into English as "princess", however, it is actually an honorific used as a sign of respect to address all women of nobility (including the princess). The Japanese word for a princess specifically is "oujo" (王女).
Origin
Karen Mikumo from Himekishi Monogatari -Princess Blue-
The earliest currently known use of the term is from the 2002 romance adventure visual novel Himekishi Monogatari -Princess Blue- (JP) released for the Game Boy Advanced. The game follows the story of the princess of the Blue Knight Kingdom, Karen Mikumo who sets out on a journey to save her kingdom from an evil organization known as the Black Army. The game featured turn-based battles, character customization, and a branching storyline with multiple endings.[6]
The modern day archetype of himekishi is believed to have originated and gained popularity from the 2004 erotic visual novel Himekishi Lilia ~Mashoku no Oujou ni Otsu~ (JP) to describe the titular character Princess Lilia Evelvine. The term was stated by the developers to have been coined specifically for this game, though there are earlier instances of this term being used since it's a general term.[7]
Localization
The term is most commonly romanized as one word as "himekishi", but is also occasionally romanized as two words as "hime kishi".[2][1][3]
It is most commonly localized as "princess knight" in Japanese media.[4] In English media, the term has also been localized as "warrior princess".[5]
History
Official Media
The himekishi character type is very popular in Japanese anime, manga, light novels, and visual novels.[1][5][8][4][2][9][10][3]
Characteristics
Status
Himekishi characters are of noble status and are very important members of society. They are the daughters of a noble family such as dukes, or in many cases the daughter of a king.
Design
Most typically himekishi characters are presented as having long blonde hair. Unlike other noble ladies who often have curls in their hair as a sign of their nobility, himekishi often have their hand down as a sign that they're ready for combat. They also carry around a sword as a sign of their bravery and may also incorporate armor into their outfits, showing a mix of feminine beauty with the strength and bravery of a traditionally male knight.
Personality
As a noblewoman they generally hold themselves in a very high regard. However, rather than being the helpless girl who needs to be saved by male knights they take up arms and defend themselves. In many cases, they may even defend male knights and exceed their skills in combat. Often they are known as the strongest fighter in the kingdom.
They are a woman who is very strong-willed, even willing to die if it means maintaining their honor and saving those close to them. If they are ever defeated and captured by the enemy they will often say things like "just kill me" as a means of maintaining their honor.[1] most commonly pitted against the maou and make it their mission to defeat the demon king to save their own kingdom.[2]
Himekishi characters most commonly have the following traits:[7]
- They boast high combat abilities and are not content with being merely a decorative knight. They lead the charge and fight as "the duty of a noble person".
- They are idealists with a serious personality, and are noble people who are respected and trusted by the common people and knights.
- They struggle to support their country when it is facing civil war due to power struggles and invasions from other countries and races. Or they are trying to rebuild and recapture their homeland that was destroyed after a defeat or is under enemy occupation. Most commonly they are pitted against the maou and make it their mission to defeat the demon king to save their kingdom.[2]
Similar Archetypes
- Himedere: A term for a female character of nobility who starts out wanting their love interest to constantly give them lots of attention and affection, but adopts a deredere attitude and starts fawning over their love interest and doing loving things to make them also feel taken care of.
- Maou: A term for a character who is a demon king.
- Western:Oujodere: A term for a female character who has a strict dignified exterior and behaves with perfect ladylike manners like a true princess in public but turns cute and affectionate when alone with their love interest.
List of Characters
Gallery
 Darkness from Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Syukufuku wo!  Darkness from Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Syukufuku wo! |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Himekishi wa Barbaroi no Yome. Himekishi Anime. “Hundreds of years have passed since the Western Kingdom of Ildren set out to conquer the barbarians of the East. The "Himekishi" Serafina de Lavillant, renowned as the kingdom's strongest, was defeated by the barbarians during the fierce Eastern conquest and taken prisoner. "Damn it, kill me!" The defeated female knight faces days of humiliation. ...but instead, she is married to the barbarian king Veor! Despite his passionate proposal, Serafina refuses with a strong will. However, contact with a different culture, new encounters, and Veor's true face changes Serafina's heart...!? The princess knight vs. the barbarian king, the story of a marriage between former enemies in another world begins!!”
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Himekishi Quest. Ichijinsha (2015/04/18).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Isekai kara no Hitotsubu no: Kono Hime Kishi, Change!. Kadokawa (2015/05/09).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The Kept Man of the Princess Knight. YenPress (2024/02/20). “The Dungeon City is a wicked place filled with crime, debauchery, and death. Its one shining light is Arwin, the beautiful Crimson Princess Knight. She and her brave party of adventurers descend into the dungeon at the city’s center, seeking a legendary treasure with the power to rebuild the princess’s fallen kingdom. Many yearn to be by her side, but that spot is already taken by Matthew, a man despised by all in town as a cowardly weakling. Everyone thinks he is scum who just spends her hard-earned money on booze, women, and gambling. No one in the city—not even the princess knight—knows what Matthew is truly capable of.”
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 The Warrior Princess and the Barbaric King. Kodansha. “"Just kill me!" These are the words of Serafina de Lavillant, the strongest female knight in the West. After being defeated in a war with the East, she has become a prisoner of the barbarians! What awaits the captive Serafina is a life of revenge, torture, and humiliation... or so she thought! What she is offered instead is a marriage to the barbarian king?! An intriguing tale of otherworldly marriage is about to begin!”
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Himekishi Monogatari -Princess Blue-. Tonkin House (2002/08/29).
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 What is Himekishi. Pixiv Encyclopedia (2013/02/25). “Refers to a woman who is a noble lady or princess but who fights armed herself. Roughly speaking, it's like "if Joan of Arc was a noble." In past works of fiction, they were depicted as beautiful women in stiff armor or astride horses, but in recent years they have been fused with magical girls and battle heroines, and there are more himekishi who wear armored dresses or colorful military uniforms, and who emphasize fantasy. A common tendency in their characters and settings is that: 1. They boast high combat abilities that are not content with being merely decorative, and they lead the charge and fight as "the duty of a noble person." 2. They are idealists with a serious personality, and are noble people who are respected and trusted by the common people and soldiers. 3. They struggle to support their country when it is facing civil war due to power struggles and invasions from other countries and races. 4. Or they are trying to rebuild and recapture their homeland that was destroyed after a defeat or is under enemy occupation. It is customary for them to be treated and play roles like these to add excitement to the story. The origin of this phrase's widespread use in modern times is said to be the adult game "Princess Knight Lilia" released in 2004, and according to the director of the publisher, it was a coined word made for this software. Because it is a general term, it seems to have originated and spread without any particular connection to the original game.”
- ↑ He is a kept man for princess knight. Dengeki Bunko (2022/02/10). “In the shadows of the bright lights of the dungeon, which is filled with countless monsters and treasures, pests are always lurking. A pure crimson flower blooms in this trash dump: Princess Knight Arwin. She is the vanguard of dungeon raids in search of treasures, aiming to restore the kingdom - and Matthew, a former adventurer who gathers around her, is just one of the many pests in this city.”
- ↑ Himekishi Seifuku Sensou. Kadokawa (2015/01/23). “Luana, the "Himekishi of the Demon Ancestors", a girl who stands on the front lines of the Empire's war of aggression, has an ambition. That is, to make all the himekishi on the continent submit to her. Accompanied by her mean-looking squire Benny, Luana rushes into the battlefield driven not by justice but by desire!”
- ↑ Shiroki Himekishi to Kuro no Senryakuka. Kodansha (2016/12/02).