Give the Villain a Hero's Funeral

The villain was evil, by the lights of the protagonist. But the villain was defeated, and now he's dead.

But he was famous, or he was in a highly-placed position, or somebody influential trusted him. If the general public finds out that he was a villain, then his family will suffer or his employers will go out of business. Alternatively, the ones he betrayed are not ready to break this new to the public.

There's no choice. So that innocent people do not suffer (or to protect the reputations of the people in charge, in more cynical works), the higher-ups have no option but to Give the Villain a Hero's Funeral. The protagonist is rarely happy with this decision... but usually understands why it had to be made.

This is a subtrope of both Never Speak Ill of the Dead and Treachery Cover-Up. Compare with The Power of Legacy, where people are mislead for the deceased's protection. Contrast with Redemption Equals Death, where the villain was no longer a villain when he died. If the villain is still alive but his superiors have ordered him to go get killed, that's Uriah Gambit.

Comic Books

 * Happens in Teen Titans during The Judas Contract arc. After, they all agree that it's in their best interest that no one knows . They give her a Titans funeral with honors. While Raven and Robin conclude that and remain solemn, Beast Boy is in denial, and spends the funeral sobbing over . This has repercussions in a later arc where a villain in the future tries to replicate the exact same plot.

Film

 * A variant occurs in Batman: Under the Red Hood. Batman has a memorial for Jason Todd in the Batcave, to remind himself of the son he lost. After learning that, Alfred asks with sympathy and calm if they should . Bruce says no; despite what happened and , he was still a child when he died, and a hero.
 * The Dark Knight ends with this: after Joker corrupts, Batman and Commissioner discuss that if word gets out about the truth, all the work that will be for nothing because the criminals in jail will get released on mistrial. Batman looks at . He convinces Gordon to frame . The movie ends with.

Literature

 * The Apollo Murders: It wasn't until was told to make sure his story was straight before his trial that he realizes he was not only acting against NASA's interests but was also guilty of murder and treason. He drowns himself, but because of his high-visibility position in a program faced with massive budget cuts, NASA gives him a headstone at Arlington.

Newspaper Comics

 * Villainous inversion during Flash Gordon. One arc featured Emperor Ming capturing Flash Gordon, having doctors treat him, and then doing a public execution. Afterward, he erects a large ostentatious tomb where Flash's body will rest for eternity, to break the rebellion's spirit. Fortunately, a doctor helped Flash fake his death in thanks for a life debt, and he graffitied: "MING LIES; FLASH GORDON LIVES" on the tomb before making his getaway.

Oral Tradition, Folklore, Myths and Legends

 * It's a staple of Hindu Mythology. You can have evil people, demons, and deities, but if they stuck to their dharma and honor, they can receive a funeral that purifies them of their sins and ascend to heaven.
 * After Vishnu as his Narasimha avatar kills Prahlad's father for attempting to kill his son, Narasimha says Prahlad must have a boon for his worship. Prahlad requests his father is purified for his sins in death. Narasimha says if Prahlad takes the throne and rules wisely, that will be done. He gives his father a kingly funeral.
 * When Karna dies in The Mahabharata, the Pandavas just remember him as the charioteer boy that beat them in archery and the Number Two to the war's instigator, Duryodhana. It's only after the war that their mother Kunti begs them to give him a proper funeral, because he's their older brother. She had him out of wedlock and sent him out on the river, where charioteers found him. They don't take it well, especially Jerkass Arjuna, but give him a funeral.

Western Animation

 * In the Teen Titans adaptation of the Judas Contract arc, a variant is added. Unlike in the comic where the Titans were able to cover up, they don't have that option when she leads . When the dust is settled, literally, . The civilians return, bewildered as they try to adjust to a normal life, while underground,.