History Main / KnightErrant

* ''ComicBook/TheWarlordDC'' seems to be based on this trope. Travis Morgan, a.k.a. "the Warlord", was a USAF lieutenant colonel who crash-landed in Skartaris, a world inside the hollow Earth. A modern man injected into a world of sword and sorcery, he falls in love with and marries Tara, the warrior-queen of Shambhala. The character avoids a bad cliché by not becoming Skartaris' leader and attempting to impose his values on it, but neither can he sit idly by at the royal court whilst knowing how much is "wrong" in the rest of the world. As a result, he is constantly absent, journeying around Skartaris as a knight errant, enjoying the role of an adventurer far more than that of a king.

Compare TheDrifter, an accidental Knight Errant.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons:

* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'': The [[Characters/SamuraiJackJack titular hero]] is an homage to this trope, as throughout his journey to [[SettingRightWhatOnceWentWrong prevent]] the BadFuture from happening again, he [[WeHelpTheHelpless helps the weak and the innocent]], [[LaserGuidedKarma brings justice]] against evil-doers, and battles the nefarious [[BigBad Aku]]. Also, TheHero is technically a {{Ronin}}, having no master while still following the samurai's honorable code.

* They, by definition, have ChronicHeroSyndrome. They may or may not [[WeHelpTheHelpless request compensation]], but will always try to do the right thing.
* They have no fixed home, and spend their lives WalkingTheEarth ([[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin "errant" means "wandering"]]). When they're finished smiting the local evil, they'll [[ButNowIMustGo up and leave.]]
* They have a code of honor. If they are heroes, they can be a KnightInSourArmor, but will always have some degree of idealism inside. On the rare occasion they're a villain, they're usually a NobleDemon or HeWhoFightsMonsters.
* They seek out wrongs to right, generally on a small scale -- a town beset by bandits, a dragon preying on the locals, etc. Only occasionally will they be pitted against an EvilOverlord with earth-conquering ambitions. They often have one specific quest they are on, but you can count on them running into unrelated trouble along the way.
* They are loners. They do not have any TrueCompanions and are not part of a [[TheTeam team]]. They may travel with a squire or two, but not with peers; they leave allies behind when they leave town. Their love interests, if any, are [[TemporaryLoveInterest left behind or bumped off by the bad guys.]] A general exception to this is they may have a loyal steed.
* Sometimes, they are TheStoic, almost to the point of being less a character and more a physical incarnation of justice. They are very prone to having a MysteriousPast. This type generally overlaps with TheDrifter.
* The classic Knight Errant of ChivalricRomance is often accompanied by his DistaffCounterpart and complement the DamselErrant. He is seeking adventure and she knows where adventures are to be found.

* ''Literature/{{Sharpe}}'': A rare anti-heroic version appears in the form of Richard Sharpe. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by [[TheChessmaster Major Hogan]] in ''Sharpe's Havoc''. Given Sharpe's [[ReallyGetsAround fairly]] [[AnythingThatMoves strong]] ChivalrousPervert tendencies, there's usually something in it for him...

* ''Anime/RecordOfLodossWar'': Parn. He's known as the Free Knight because he officially holds loyalty to no kingdom and helps anyone in need, no matter their allegiance or nationality.

* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': Finn and Jake are a rather absurdist take on this trope. Although they do have a home base that they return to frequently, they are otherwise traveling warriors who beat up baddies and save innocent villagers. Finn even [[spoiler: for the first few seasons]] treats Princess Bubblegum like his designated lady, as though he was a knight in a courtly romance.
* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'': The [[ProtagonistTitle titular hero]] is an homage to this trope, as throughout his journey to [[SettingRightWhatOnceWentWrong prevent]] the BadFuture from happening again, he [[WeHelpTheHelpless helps the weak and the innocent]], [[LaserGuidedKarma brings justice]] against evil-doers, and battles the nefarious [[BigBad Aku]]. Also, TheHero is technically a {{Ronin}}, having no master while still following the samurai's honorable code.

%%[[folder:Web Original]]
%%* ''Wiki/TheWorldbuildProject'': Travelling about and righting wrongs? Sounds like a classic scenario for a [[MagicKnight Rohomajeshi Justicar]].
%%[[/folder]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'': Adol Christin certainly fits the bill. He's a {{MasterSwordsman}} who [[WalkingTheEarth wanders the globe,]] helping out the locals of the regions he visits and defeating ancient demons, monsters, and death machines along the way. Numerous women have {{ShipTease}} with him, but he usually doesn't seem to return their feelings, with each game ending with him setting off for a new adventure alongside Dogi, his only constant traveling companion. He also wore knightly armor in the earlier games, though later installments moved away from the armored look.

* ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'': Adol Christin easily fits the bill. He's a {{MasterSwordsman}} who [[WalkingTheEarth wanders the globe,]] helping out the locals of the regions he visits and defeating ancient demons, monsters, and death machines along the way. Numerous women have {{ShipTease}} with him, but he usually doesn't seem to return their feelings, with each game ending with him setting off for a new adventure alongside Dogi, his only constant traveling companion. He also wore knightly armor in the earlier games, though later installments moved away from the armored look.

* ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'': Adol Christin decided when he was a kid that he'd travel the world, righting wrongs and nailing chicks. Well, the second part's mostly inferred.

* ''ComicBook/TheWarlord'' seems to be based on this trope. Travis Morgan, a.k.a. "the Warlord", was a USAF lieutenant colonel who crash-landed in Skartaris, a world inside the hollow Earth. A modern man injected into a world of sword and sorcery, he falls in love with and marries Tara, the warrior-queen of Shambhala. The character avoids a bad cliché by not becoming Skartaris' leader and attempting to impose his values on it, but neither can he sit idly by at the royal court whilst knowing how much is "wrong" in the rest of the world. As a result, he is constantly absent, journeying around Skartaris as a knight errant, enjoying the role of an adventurer far more than that of a king.

-->-- '''Literature/SolomonKane''', '''''The Blue Flame of Vengeance'''''

* ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'': Before he became a member of God's Right Seat, Acqua of the Back used to do this, serving as a mercenary unaligned with any official power who would travel to battlefield after battlefield helping people no matter where he went and never asked for anything in exchange. In addition, he would teach people how to better themselves, causing the people to call him a sage and ultimately would have earned him a knighthood from the United Kingdom if he didn't abandon it. Even becoming a member of God's Right Seat was because he believed he could serve his personal cause better in such a position. Quite fitting given he is a [[KungFuJesus Saint]].

%%* ''Anime/{{Monster}}'': Tenma, especially as he decides to join the MSF.

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': Ash Ketchum, by nature of the local Pokémon League's Badge requirements. He'll travel the length and breadth of a region to collect the badges by defeating the Gym Leaders, but since they're all far apart he spends the majority of his time on the road. This means he'll frequently often encounter new friends along the way and help them sort out their woes, usually caused by Team Rocket.

* ''ComicBook/TheSandman'': Invoked by Gilbert, who insists upon being Rose Walker's "Knight Errant" in her search for her brother.

* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' has this as a retirement option for Judges who don't want to take [[VeteranInstructor an academy teaching post]] or [[DeskJockey a desk job]]. They can either head out into the Cursed Earth or down into the Undercity to take the law to the lawless.

%%* ''Film/OnceUponATimeInTheWest'': [[NoNameGiven Harmonica]] , who was originally going to be the Man With No Name until Clint Eastwood was unavailable for the part.

* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'': The Elric brothers seem like this at the beginning, before the wider-reaching plot arcs start up--they travel from place to place, righting wrongs and searching for leads on how to get their bodies back. Especially true in [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist the 2003 anime version]], which had a few extra filler episodes near the beginning that consisted almost entirely of the Elrics going somewhere, righting some wrong, and going along their merry way, with the episode tying in minimally or not at all to the long-term plot.

* They are loners. They do not have any TrueCompanions and are not part of a FiveManBand. They may travel with a squire or two, but not with peers; they leave allies behind when they leave town. Their love interests, if any, are [[TemporaryLoveInterest left behind or bumped off by the bad guys.]] A general exception to this is they may have a loyal steed.

* Chapter 20 of ''Fanfic/TheGoodHunter'' introduces Sir Henry Watson who refers himself as such, with the armour and mannerisms to match. Upon noticing the Hunter, he recognises him as an arch-heretic and [[BullyingADragon proceeds]] to challenge the Hunter to a DuelToTheDeath in hopes of claiming his head. Henry ends up getting [[NeverBringAKnifeToAGunFight shot]] for his troubles, dying an UndignifiedDeath.