Line #117 Main/KnightErrant


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10	[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crane3.jpg]]
11	[[caption-width-right:320:''The White Knight'' by Walter Crane]]
12
13	-> ''"While evil flourishes and wrongs grow rank, while men are persecuted and women wronged, while weak things, human or animal, are maltreated, there is no rest for me beneath the skies, nor peace at any board or bed. Farewell!"''
14	-->-- '''Literature/SolomonKane''', ''The Blue Flame of Vengeance''
15
16	The medieval Knight Errant stems from the ChivalricRomance, where individual [[KnightInShiningArmor Knights in Shining Armor]] would wander the land, searching for [[OurDragonsAreDifferent evil to slay]] and [[DamselInDistress ladies to rescue]], most often guided by the DamselErrant. Since then, knights have declined in popularity, but the Knight Errant is still around in full force -- instead of knights, they are now often {{Samurai}}, {{Cowboy}}s, [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs or]] {{Samurai Cowboy}}s.
17
18	Historically, a knight errant would refer to a landless knight who would travel in the service of his lord and hoping to earn his own land. If he is traveling because he was sent by someone it might be a case of MyMasterRightOrWrong.
19	They are basically the feudal equivalent of TheStateless.
20
21	Knights Errant have some or all of the following traits:
22
23	# They, by definition, have ChronicHeroSyndrome. They may or may not [[WeHelpTheHelpless request compensation]], but will always try to do the right thing.
24	# 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.]]
25	# 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.
26	# 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.
27	# 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.
28	# 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.
29	# 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.
30
31	There are many variations on the Knight Errant outside of [[KnightInShiningArmor Knights In Shining Armor]]. TheWestern very often stars a Knight Errant in the form of a wandering [[TheGunslinger gunslinger]] or cowboy. {{Samurai}} are often, and {{Ronin}} are almost always, Knights Errant. {{Wuxia}} heroes are Knights Errant. Because of the shared archetype, stories about one type of Knight Errant can easily be {{Recycled IN SPACE}} -- NewOldWest and SpaceWestern are examples of this. Some people regard {{Superhero}}es as the modern-day version of knights errant.
32
33	{{Wuxia}} novels, films, plays, etc. are full of such figures, and the term even translates to something like "wandering knight". This derives from [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xia_%28philosophy%29 Chinese knighthood]], which isn't a widely-known subject in the West.
34
35	Adventuring parties from tabletop [=RPGs=] aren't normally an example of this; a key part of this trope is that the knight is solitary. "Solo" campaigns, with a single player and a DM, are however not uncommon. Many open-world RPG video games are basically built around being a Knight Errant. The player is given a WideOpenSandbox populated by people who need help, and they [[WalkingTheEarth wander around]] finding those people and solving their problems.
36
37	Compare TheDrifter, an accidental Knight Errant. The wizardly equivelant of this trope is WanderingWizard, though those are not necesarrily noble.
38
39	See ''Webcomic/KnightsErrant'' for the {{webcomic}}.
40
41	----
42	!!Examples:
43
44	[[foldercontrol]]
45
46	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
47	* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'': Gankoomon of the Royal Knights, according to supplemental materials, wanders the Digital World putting a stop to anything unusual, in-between mentoring the younger Hackmon. This makes it different from every other Royal Knight, who only ever show up when the Digital World's experiencing disaster, and as a result Gankoomon has a lot of friends all over. Gankoomon is working hard to pass on his title of knight to Hackman, for whatever reason.
48	* ''Manga/DragonBall'': Goku in his earlier years, but especially during the Pilaf Arc, the Red Ribbon Army arc, and the anime's "Worldly Training" filler. Goku would travel the world searching for his grandfather's Four-Star Dragon Ball (or just to train and experience the world), but would often get caught up in local trouble and sort out their issues along the way. ''Dragon Ball'''s wuxia influence persists even when Goku stops wandering the world in that while he never goes around ''looking'' for trouble, he'll always step in if he encounters injustice on his pursuit to his own goals.
49	%%* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'': Kenshiro is definitely one of these.
50	* ''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/FullmetalAlchemist2003'', 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.
51	%%* ''Manga/GoldenBoy'': The entire premise.
52	* ''Anime/{{K}}'': Kuroh Yatogami was this after his master's death, until he finds a new master in the first series. [[spoiler: Then, when his immortal new master apparently dies, he spends a year searching for him, sometimes with Neko as his companion.]] The prequel manga Stray Dog Story covers the first time, and a midquel manga covers the second.
53	%%* ''Manga/{{Monster}}'': Tenma, especially as he decides to join the MSF.
54	* ''Anime/{{Mushishi}}'': Having the skills to deal with ''mushi'' usually comes because they're a WeirdnessMagnet for them; as such, once ''mushisi'' finish off a foe, they usually leave before ''more'' of them are drawn in.
55	%%* In ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'', this seems to be the job description of a Magister Magi.
56	* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'': 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.
57	* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': This initially seems to be the life of {{Magical Girl}}s -- wander around on your own, saving people from monstrous "witches" whenever you find them. But this is subverted in various ways; Mami eventually reveals she's NotSoStoic, and would much rather fight on a team instead of solo. Sayaka takes the hero concept too seriously, and becomes a KnightTemplar. [[spoiler:Kyouko was originally more knight-esque than Mami, but became a KnightInSourArmor masquerading as a BloodKnight after a disastrous event broke her faith in goodness and justice. Homura seems to be the antagonist, but she's really attempting to [[DamselInDistress save Madoka from Kyubey]]; this, too, gets turned around when Homura fails and Madoka [[{{Wishplosion}} tricks Kyubey]], giving herself the ability to wander all of time and space on her own heroic quest.]]
58	* Parn in ''Literature/RecordOfLodossWar''. 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.
59	* In ''Manga/TheRedRangerBecomesAnAdventurerInAnotherWorld'', Tougo went to both ends of the world while trying to find a way home before realizing that this fantasy world has many of the same struggles as his own world. Because of this, he started travelling from place to place, helping everyone he could while raising his adventurer rank to figure out why he was sent here.
60	* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'': Kenshin did this for ten years prior to the series, which starts with him temporarily suspending his WalkingTheEarth to stay in a dojo in Tokyo. His variation is that unless he's actively kicking butt, his looks, natural personality, and ObfuscatingStupidity work together to make sure ''nobody'' takes him seriously.
61	* ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo'': Jin, prior to the series. After [[TheLastDJ objecting to his master's choices]], he was forced to kill him in self-defense and flee. Rejecting bushido as a code that binds people to [[MyMasterRightOrWrong mindlessly follow villains and idiots]] (best shown in his EstablishingCharacterMoment in the very first episode; he didn't mince his demeaning words towards three samurai guards and the lord they served), he [[WalkingTheEarth wanders around Japan]] searching for a purpose until Fuu makes him her bodyguard.
62	* ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'': Vash the Stampede does this with a lot of ObfuscatingStupidity. He's a little less formal about it than Kenshin, because he hasn't got a vow, this is just his lifestyle, and he only learned to fight out of necessity, so he doesn't have quite the same type of warrior ethos as a proper knight or samurai.
63	[[/folder]]
64
65	[[folder:Card Games]]
66	* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'':
67	** Elspeth Tirel, who actually bears the title of Knight-Errant. Elspeth's defining trait is that she doesn't want to planeswalk; she just wants to find paradise and stay there. Of course, [[TheWorldIsAlwaysDoomed this is]] ''[[TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering Magic]]''. Her first home was destroyed by [[TheCorruption Phyrexia]], and her adopted home of [[LawfulGood Bant]] became culturally contaminated when the shards of Alara merged. After that, she joined the rebellion against New Phyrexia on Mirrodin, only to watch that slowly crumble. She was then chosen by the sun god Heliod to be his champion, which she ''succeeded'' at... only for him to immediately murder her because he considers Planeswalker a threat. As of ''Theros: Beyond Death'' she is now BackFromTheDead, and has seemingly resumed this status.
68	%%** [[https://scryfall.com/card/7ed/24/knight-errant Knight Errant]], as such, appears as a vanilla card from ''Magic'''s early days.
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Comic Books]]
72	%%* ''ComicBook/GhostRider'': Ghost Rider has shades of this, depending on which version of him you're dealing with, as well as [[DependingOnTheWriter who's writing the books at the time.]]
73	* ''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.
74	* ''ComicBook/LuckyLuke'': The titular character embodies this, to the point where the last panel of every album is him riding off into the sunset, singing ''I'm a lonesome cowboy.''
75	* ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'': Invoked by Gilbert, who insists upon being Rose Walker's "Knight Errant" in her search for her brother.
76	* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
77	** ''ComicBook/StarWarsKnightErrant'' focuses on the adventures of Kerra Holt, a lone Jedi Knight during the dark time before the final Battle of Ruusan, where the Sith outnumber the Jedi and the Republic has been whittled down to just the areas around the core, as she travels around planets in the Sith zone and fights the good fight.
78	** ''ComicBook/StarWarsRepublic'': In Issue 53: ''Blast Radius'', Obi-Wan meets up with a group of Jedi who, rather than being part of the central, Coruscant-based Order, wander through the lawless areas of the galaxy helping strangers and righting wrongs, following their instincts and the guidance of the Force -- Knol Ven'nari, a Bothan bandit-hunter; Jon Antilles, who infiltrated the bounty hunters' guild to bring murderers to justice; Nico Diath, who plagued the Hutts' slaver cartels and freed hundreds of slaves over his lifetime; and Fay, a profoundly pacifist wanderer whose diplomacy had ended entire wars.
79	** Zao maintains little contact with the Jedi hierarchy and lets the Force guide him across the Galaxy to provide help wherever he's needed. He even maintains this lifestyle after Order 66.
80	%%* ''ComicBook/UsagiYojimbo'': Miyamoto Usagi.
81	* ''ComicBook/{{The Warlord\|DCComics}}'' 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.
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:Fan Works]]
85	* 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 recognizes 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.
86	* ''Fanfic/VowOfNudity'': While Haara is a monk (a naked one, no less), behaviorally she hits every bullet point on the list. Most stories involve her WalkingTheEarth, getting involved in local conflicts to help the underprivileged, and sending any money she earns to a group dedicating to freeing slaves from the tyrannical empire that once enslaved her.
87	[[/folder]]
88
89	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
90	%%* ''Film/TheBookOfEli''
91	%%* ''Film/CrouchingTigerHiddenDragon''
92	* ''Film/DollarsTrilogy'': The Man With No Name might be the ultimate Western example. His Japanese counterpart in ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}'' even moreso. He just stumbles on the town the film takes place in while wandering aimlessly and gets involved in the MobWar for both justice and profit.
93	%%* ''Film/TheForbiddenKingdom''
94	%%* ''Film/TheMagnificentSeven1960'' is a Western adaptation of ''Film/TheSevenSamurai''.
95	%%* ''Film/OnceUponATimeInTheWest'': [[NoNameGiven Harmonica]], who was originally going to be the Man With No Name until Clint Eastwood was unavailable for the part.
96	%%* ''Film/SevenSamurai'' are organized by a Knight Errant, and have a very Knight Errant-y M.O. despite their team size.
97	%%* ''Film/{{Shane}}'' may be the UrExample of cowboys as Knights Errant.
98	* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Jedi often act as Knights Errant. ''Film/ANewHope'' itself was adapted from ''The Hidden Fortress'', a samurai movie. By the book Obi-Wan is a good specific example because he is an ideal Jedi Knight.
99	%%* ''Film/SukiyakiWesternDjango''
100	* ''Film/WilliamShakespearesRomeoAndJuliet'' has Romeo symbolically dressing up as a knight errant at the Capulet's party as he calls himself a pilgrim who has traveled to the shrine of Juliet.
101	[[/folder]]
102
103	[[folder:Literature]]
104	* ''Literature/{{Bolo}}'' has the titular Bolo's, self-aware [[TankGoodness ultratanks]] with enough [[MoreDakka firepower to wipe a]] [[ApocalypseHow planet clean of life.]] They are openly stated as being Knight Errants, and [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman in many cases are more "Human,"]] than [[HumansAreBastards those they protect.]] Many Bolo stories involve a Bolo sacrificing itself to save the lives of innocents, or about them trying to understand their human companions. One story ends with the Bolo literally getting knighted.
105	* ''Literature/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]].
106	* ''Franchise/TheDarkTower'': Roland Deschain is a Gunslinger from another dimension who is descended from [[Myth/KingArthur Arthur Eld]] and wields guns that were forged from Excalibur. He's on an epic quest to reach the Dark Tower and fight the forces of evil. The story is very loosely based on the poem "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came," which is itself based on ''Literature/TheSongOfRoland''.
107	* ''Literature/DaughterOfTheSun'': Orsina is this with her duty as a {{paladin}}. She rides around in Vesolda on her quest to seek out an unknown great evil, helping anyone in need from other evils that she's encountered, asking nothing in return while usually all alone on the road. The main difference is she starts traveling with Aelia, whom Orsina believes is just another person in need, and Aelia's soon become her LoveInterest. Orsina is very grateful for having company even before they fall in love.
108	%%* ''Literature/DonQuixote'' is a {{deconstruction}} of, among other things, Knights Errant.
109	%%* ''Literature/TheDragon'': The main protagonist. He is also called [[MeaningfulName Lancelot]].
110	* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': The Knights of the Cross fit this archetype; even Michael, who has a home, a wife, and a small army of children spends much of his time traveling the globe, righting wrongs and fighting evil. Their main job, as it turns out, is somewhat different -- they're actually supposed to get the Denarians' hosts to repent and give up the [[FallenAngel Denarians]]. The doing random good seems to only be their secondary function.
111	* ''TabletopGame/{{Greyhawk}}'': The Justicar, hero of Paul Kidd's trilogy of ''White Plume Mountain'', ''Descent Into The Depths Of The Earth'', and ''Queen Of The Demonweb Pits'' does everything but travel alone. Much to his discomfort, he accumulates ever more companions through the series. He starts with just a sentient hellhound skin, and collects a faerie princess who is also an accomplished mage, a drunken human teamster (who later becomes a drunken badger), a female sphynx, a young male human soldier, a talking sword, and a non-evil demon (who just wants a nice clean, calm, safe place to settle down with her boyfriend).
112	* Myth/ArthurianLegend: The Knights of the Round Table were a squadron of Knights Errant. Even though they were a team, they typically adventured alone. The TropeNamer is ''Literature/SirGawainAndTheGreenKnight'', in which Gawain is referred to as a "knygt erraunt".
113	* Creator/JRRTolkien:
114	** "Errantry": A very [[TheFairFolk tiny]] knight errant is the subject of the aptly titled poem. The poem includes descriptions of his [[KnightInShiningArmour marvellously shiny armour]], his [[SatelliteLoveInterest attempts to woo and marry a butterfly]], and his epic battles with [[BugWar dragonflies and bumblebees]]. Also, perhaps coincidentally, you can sing it to the tune of Creator/GilbertAndSullivan's "[[MajorGeneralSong I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General]]".
115	** ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': Aragorn starts out as one of the Rangers, the ragged survivors of the fallen Kingdom of Arnor, who now live as solitary wanderers in the northern wilderness, hunting monsters and keeping the roads safe.
116	* ''Literature/KnightAndRogueSeries'': The protagonist is a knight errant who lives about 200 years after errantry has gone out of fashion. His squire is a former con man who at first comes along mostly because it keeps him out of jail, and later to look after his employer, who's prone to HonorBeforeReason.
117	* ''Literature/LoyalEnemies'' has an entire group of those, who decided to band together to be more effective. They are now called the Order of White Raven and their life mission is to defend people, whatever race they might belong to.
118	* ''VideoGame/MechWarrior'': The first novel in the ''Dark Age'' series centers around a Knight Errant. He is essentially a Mech Warrior who had the job of traveling to trouble spots around the galaxy and basically lying low to gather information and take action in case something came up, although this was not apparent for the first several chapters.
119	* ''Literature/MothAndCobweb'': In ''Green Knight's Squire'', Gil explicitly tells Ruff he's this when they are searching for a job.
120	* Creator/PatriciaAMcKillip: In "The Kelpie", NiceGuy Ned is suggested for this in a painting; he wishes he could be evil for once, and is asked if he can settle for triumphant.
121	%%* ''Literature/TheProphecyOfTheStones'' seems to have a whole class of Knight Errants. Not all of them are admirable, however.
122	* ''VideoGame/MadouMonogatari'': ''Shin Madou Monogatari Gaiden'', a connected light novel series , depicts Ragnus Bisashi as one. He has the knightly, heroic disposition, but because of his monster slaying reputation, the people he saves end up fearing his might, causing a disconnect between him and the town folk he helps out. As a result, he comes in, does his heroics, then books it as quietly as possible.
123	* ''Literature/TheSaint'': Simon Templar, more commonly known as the titular Saint, is this in many of creator Leslie Charteris's stories (one story collection was even titled ''Saint Errant'') and in some episodes of the TV series that starred Roger Moore. Not so much in the [[TheMovie Val Kilmer movie]].
124	* Myth/SaintGeorge: In the popular medieval legend of St. George and the Dragon, St. George liberates a town and saves a princess by killing a fearsome dragon. There is no explanation on what business brought St. George to the town, making St. George the TropeMaker of a travelling knight that helps out people he meets by accident along the road.
125	* ''Literature/SaintGeorgeAndTheDragon'' by Margaret Hodges, an adaptation of a part of ''Literature/TheFaerieQueene'', begins with the Red Cross Knight riding across a plain, bound on a great adventure, sent by the Queen of the Fairies to fight the dragon.
126	* ''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]] strong ChivalrousPervert tendencies, there's usually something in it for him...
127	-->'''Hogan:''' Myth/KingArthur, God rest his soul, would have loved you. He'd have had you rescuing every maiden in the land.
128	* ''Literature/SirNigel'' very much wants to be one, and even refuses to ask for his beloved's hand in marriage until he's accomplished three heroic feats. Unfortunately, as they're in the middle of a war with France, his commanders have to tell him to knock of the knight-errantry (which also involves things like picking a fight with ''every'' knight you encounter, righting every wrong you see, and allying with a Frenchman to take out a ChaoticEvil FeudalOverlord). Of course, he still ends up winning the day thanks to his romanticism, by beating an armed man in single combat, [[spoiler:taking a castle with barely a dozen men]], and [[spoiler:capturing the King of France in battle.]]
129	* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' typically subverts or deconstructs the entire concept. Sure, Westeros actually does have some songs and tales of the KnightInShiningArmor ideal that follow the romantic view of the wandering do-gooder, but these are usually set well, ''well'' back in prehistory, during the Dawn Age and/or the Age of Legend, well before anointed knights of the Faith were even a thing, and are as iffy as all get-out as a result -- including the slaying of dragons.
130	** Current masterless knights are called "hedge knights" and are generally seen as either one step above [[HiredGun common mercenaries]] and/or [[BountyHunter bounty hunters]] or more as something akin to wandering sports stars (these are basically tourney knights who move from competition to competition to make both a living and a retirement fund primarily out of their winnings from the jousting and/or the melee contests, rather than through seeking political favour, battle promotions or rent incomes). Further, then there are the knights who become rudderless thanks to losing their political position and/or sponsors thanks to the game of thrones shifting from under them, even if they prefer ''not'' to think of themselves as hedge knights, but as [[TheExile temporary exiles]] somewhat [[{{Ronin}} between masters]] at the moment, rather. Many of those will generally make it to Essos to find "honest", well-paying work with the [[PrivateMilitaryContractors mercenary companies]] over there. All Westerosi knights will at least have sufficient horsemanship that it makes it worthwhile to glance at the resume a second time, however humble their current circumstances and equipment may make them look.
131	** ''Literature/TalesOfDunkAndEgg'', a {{Prequel}} series to ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', [[PlayingWithATrope plays with]] this concept. Ser Duncan appears to embody a classic knight errant. He's (relatively) young and quite idealistic, believing in the code of honor that knights are supposed to follow. Indeed, he believes that "The Hedge Knight", i.e., the wanderer who sleeps in meadows and beneath trees, is closer to a "true knight" than the more political, class-conscious, power-playing knights he witnesses. After the first story, the pattern is established that he'll wander into a new area, encounter a problem, help solve it (though not in the way he originally intended) and then move on.
132	* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'': This is sometimes (ostensibly) the Jedi ideal, although they often act more or less as a branch of the Republic. In the Literature/NewJediOrder in particular, a few Jedi are known for avoiding the sometimes highly political Jedi Order and making their own way, such as Master Eelysa (and the Wild Knights, a band of Jedi she trained more or less on her own), Tyria Sarkin and her children, and, for a time, Corran Horn. Jolee Bindo from ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' did much the same thousands of years before. In the earlier period, "Gray Jedi" were those who voluntarily separated from the Order, often over philosophical issues, yet were acknowledged not to have fallen to the DarkSide. Additionally there were the Jedi Sentinels, who sought to serve the galactic citizenry directly by living among them as opposed to cloistering themselves in the Temple.
133	* ''Literature/StonesOfPower'': John Shannow, the Jerusalem Man, starts by wandering a post-Apocalyptic Earth in a vague search for Jerusalem, but is repeatedly distracted by evil.
134	* ''Literature/ThursdayNext'': Colonel Next is consistently described as a "time-travelling Knight Errant", usually turning up in the nick of time to save the world.
135	* ''Literature/TortallUniverse'': Alanna of Trebond starts out in ''[[Literature/SongOfTheLioness The Woman Who Rides Like a Man]]'' to escape court and find adventure. She is ''extremely'' successful. Lampshaded by Raoul of Goldenlake when training his BadassNormal squire, Keladry of Mindelan, who is highly gifted as a commander; while Alanna's achievements are deservedly legendary, a solid commander is often of more use to King and realm than a questing hero. (Alanna does do the realm plenty of good as the King's Champion, however.)
136	%%* ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'': Miles Vorkosigan has been diagnosed as having Knight Errant tendencies -- by his mother.
137	%%* ''Literature/WanderingDjinn'': Malik ibn Ibrahim seems to fall into this category constantly.
138	[[/folder]]
139
140	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
141	* ''Series/TheAdventuresOfBriscoCountyJr'': Brisco and Lord Bowler fit this perfectly. They are bounty hunters travelling the West looking for bad guys, and usually finding them.
142	%%* ''Series/TheATeam''
143	%%* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': Parodied when Wesley attempts to be this when first introduced.
144	* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Doctor often fits this trope, even if he's not actively seeking wrongs to right, he seldom hesitates to get involved when he runs into one. He's had many companions, but they act more like "squires" than true partners and none of them stay with him forever.[[labelnote:*]]Three of these "squires" have been officially knighted, each by a different sovereign of England: Ian by King Richard Lionheart, Rose by Queen Victoria, and the Brigadier by Queen Elizabeth II.[[/labelnote]] His [[TheNthDoctor sixth incarnation]] outright calls himself a Knight Errant at least once.
145	* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
146	** Brienne is heading progressively into BlackKnight territory (as in the RealLife masterless, landless black knights) after the deaths of Renly Baratheon and Catelyn Stark.
147	** Robert admits that he'd prefer the life of a travelling sellsword to being King, any day of the week.
148	%%* ''Series/HaveGunWillTravel'': Paladin, the protagonist.
149	%%* ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys''
150	* ''Series/HighwayToHeaven'': Jonathan Smith seeks out troubled people through the direction of God, expressed as intuition.
151	* ''Series/{{Kaamelott}}'': Lancelot is ''supposed'' to be this, but as Arthur's prime minister hasn't getten around to any errantry lately. He ends up going back to the lifestyle in later seasons (yet another thing for him and Arthur to disagree over), until he ends up rebelling in full.
152	%%* ''Series/KungFu1972'': Caine.
153	* ''Series/TheMaster'' is a show about an aging ninja master and [[McNinja his apprentice]], traveling in a van and righting wrongs.
154	%%* ''Series/Merlin2008'': Both Gwaine and Lancelot.
155	* ''Series/QuantumLeap'': Dr. Sam Beckett grows into a [[RecycledINSPACE time-traveling]] one of these who [[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong "strives to put right what once went wrong"]] one life at a time. The series begins with Beckett more properly a [[TheDrifter Drifter]] whose wish is to return home; he gradually asumes the role of a Knight Errant as he decides that Leaping is how he wants to live out his existence.
156	* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''
157	** Most Hunters in general are Knights Errant. They tend not to stay in fixed locations, since their work tends to leave suspicious messes behind and there are only so many monsters in one location. They work mainly on the small scale, tracking down individual monsters, and work out of concern for the mission rather than for compensation, since few of the people they help even know what they do much less are willing or able to pay for it. Finally, most work alone and have few friends except other scattered Hunters--many of them became Hunters ''because'' they lost their loved ones to monsters, and they are consequently wary of getting too attached to people who might be endangered by their work or used against them by their enemies.
158	** Sam and Dean are the main examples, especially the former. While they have other overarching goals each season, they always stop by in whatever wayward towns are being haunted, even if they don't have personal reasons to, and deal with the supernatural threats there. Although they ''are'' involved in criminal activity such as false credit cards and fake [=IDs=], this is done for sustenance and to further their mission.
159	** Sam and Dean's father, John Winchester, was another notable example, who trained his sons to follow in his footsteps. His journal detailing the monsters he hunted in various locations around the USA has played a major role in the series.
160	%%** Ellen & Jo Harvelle as of the Season Two finale.
161	[[/folder]]
162
163	[[folder:Music]]
164	* Music/ElectricLightOrchestra: "Wild West Hero" is very much an ode to TheWestern version of this hero.
165	[[/folder]]
166
167	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
168	* ''TabletopGame/AnimaBeyondFantasy'' has a twist on this in Khaine D'elacreu, a young ''female'' paladin who after the death of her father, member of a [[ChurchMilitant knight order]], in unknown circumstances took her lance and her shield to [[WalkingTheEarth walk Gaïa]] as in her country women were not expected to become that.
169	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
170	** In second edition, the Errant was a kit for the Paladin introduced in ''Complete Paladin's Handbook'', based around this. A roaming hero who goes where he's needed and picks up whatever cause he believes in as he comes across them. The main advantage of the kit was that it was not subject to the, at the time, every strict fealty restrictions normal Paladins had, at the cost of not having a real patron to turn towards.
171	** As later editions toned down the fealty aspect to a ruler or church of the Paladin class, one could argue that Knight Errant tend to be the default version of good aligned player characters Paladins in later editions (At least until they join a party where they tend to lose the loner status). Following the adventurer lifestyle, they easily slot into this trope: tend to still have some code, they often lack a proper base of operation, etc...
172	* ''TabletopGame/{{Ironclaw}}'': Knight Errant is one of the possible careers , though not all of the traits are necessary, many are essentially mercenaries of noble birth.
173	* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'': Bretonnia has a unit called Knights Errant, representing the young, impetuous knights whose courage sometimes outpaces their skill. Their special rules reflect these details. A better example of this trope, Questing Knights, are knights who have given up their feudal responsibilities to quest for the Grail and the Lady of the Lake; their oaths command them never to stay in one place for too long, and they keep righting wrongs until they die or drink from the Grail.
174	* In ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', the Legion of the Damned fit this trope to a T. Trapped in hyperspace for about a hundred years and cursed with some MaybeMagicMaybeMundane warp disease/curse, the last one hundred survivors wander the galaxy searching for other marines, coming to their aid in their hour of need, vanishing as mysteriously and silently as they came, never straying from their dedication to the Emperor even as their bodies and minds slowly break down.
175	** The fleet-based [[MeaningfulName Marines Errant]] were founded specifically to constantly travel the galaxy in small groups of companies, looking to assist other Imperial forces and attaching themselves to whatever Imperial crusade is going on at any given time.
176	** "The Knights Errant" is also the official name for the eight founding members of the [[DemonSlaying Grey Knights]].
177	** InUniverse, the term Knight Errant also refers to [[https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Knight_Errant a specific type]] of HumongousMecha used by the noble houses of the [[TheEmpire Imperium]], equipped with a [[RayGun Thermal Cannon]] and either a [[ChainsawGood Reaper Chainsword]] or [[PowerFist Thunderstrike Gauntlet]]. And due to the existence of [[https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Freeblade_Knight Freeblades]], there is nothing stopping them from being used by an actual knight errant.
178	[[/folder]]
179
180	[[folder:Video Games]]
181	* ''Franchise/AceAttorney'': The second case of the fangame ''VideoGame/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyConflictOfInterest'' features Sir Gallante, a [[VigilanteMan vigilante]] who fancies himself one of these crossed with a BlackKnight. He even has a simple "Slay the evil, [[NeverHurtAnInnocent protect the innocent]]" CodeOfHonor. In reality, he's more of a vicious serial murderer, the only justification for his gruesome attacks being that all his victims were involved with the local organized crime syndicate. Most of the case revolves around figuring out and proving his true identity. [[spoiler: The aforementioned code is ultimately what allows for his defeat. There's not enough evidence to convict him, but by reminding him of his principles, he realizes that evading the law any longer will result in someone else being convicted for his crimes, after which he confesses to everything.]]
182	* ''Franchise/DragonAge'':
183	** The Warden, who [[WalkingTheEarth goes where they must]] and where they are [[WeHelpTheHelpless most needed.]]
184	** The ''Witch Hunt'' DLC for ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' can end with the Warden (the Knight Errant) and Morrigan (the DamselErrant) stepping through the Eluvian, beyond the Fade and into the unknown.
185	%%** Hawke in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', part of the reason why they came to be ''[[TheChampion Champion of Kirkwall]]''. Though unlike most examples, Hawke has a (very nice) home.
186	** Warden Blackwall in ''Videogame/DragonAgeInquisition''. He has spent years wandering Thedas protecting the innocent, "conscripting" villagers to train them to fight bandits, and of course fighting random darkspawn. [[spoiler:He's actually a wanted criminal impersonating the deceased Blackwall throwing himself into the Grey Wardens' ideal of heroism to atone for his past.]]
187	* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
188	** From the series' backstory, the ancient Yokudan ({{Precursors}} of the Redguards) hero Frandar Hunding was one in his youth. One of the legendary [[TheOrder Ansei]], or "Sword Saints", he traveled Yokuda slaying all manner of men and monsters, while [[BloodKnight testing his skills]] in 90 duels. He was never once defeated, leading him to believe that he was invincible, so he retired to Mount Hattu and wrote the Book of Circles to pass along his insights. (He would later be called back into service, proving to be an extremely competent FrontlineGeneral.)
189	** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'', after performing a service for the city of Leyawiin, you and a [[BoisterousBruiser jovial NPC]] receive this title.
190	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'': Solkzagyl used to be a member of the order in Ul'dah, a group of Paladins dedicated to the Sultana. He broke away from the order to wander throughout Eorzea and help people in need.
191	* Like many Jedi Knights throughout the ages, Jolee Bindo in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' acts this way, having left the Jedi Order following the Exar Kun War and spent the last 20 years on Kashyyyk helping the Wookiees before joining up with the PlayerCharacter.
192	** A Light Side PlayerCharacter in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'' can be this, as they visit various planets righting wrongs after [[TheExile being exiled from the Order]] following the Mandalorian Wars.
193	* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' gave us Sora, who constantly travels from world to world, never stopping or staying very long, righting whatever wrongs he happens to come across along the way, from finding lost dogs to toppling local tyrants. He might have a few too many friends to count as a truly classical example, but 90% of them are the "leave them behind when you leave town" variety. By VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance, it's earned him an [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever official knighting]] by then-Princess Minnie.
194	* ''VideoGame/{{Langrisser}}'': Erwin's personal theme is the titular Knight Errant, traveling through El Sallia in his quest (which depends on which story path he is following).
195	* ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'':
196	** Samara, an asari party member, is a Justicar, a sort of vigilante warrior monk. According to her "the closest human equivalent would be a knight errant, with perhaps a bit of samurai".
197	** Paragon Shepard can spend most of their time travelling the galaxy and selflessly going out of the way to put right any wrong they encounter.
198	%%* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'': Samus Aran is often seen as one.
199	* In the interactive romance novel ''VideoGame/{{Moonrise}}'', Ishara fulfills this trope to indulge her ChronicHeroSyndrome and her enjoyment of WalkingTheEarth.
200	* ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'': The supplementary comic "Dragon Slayer" states that, after the fall of Overwatch, Reinhardt became this, wandering Europe with his "squire" [[WrenchWench Brigette]] to fight evil and help the suffering.
201	* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'': Sanger Zonvolt, the Sword That Smites Evil who will show up whenever evil arises. And will do anything to protect his girl, namely Sophia Nate.
202	* ''VideoGame/UnicornOverlord'' has Laurent, who introduces himself as a knight errant and helps the party out with a few liberation missions throughout Cornia. [[spoiler:He's actually Renault, having taken on a secret identity to [[TheAtoner atone]] for the awful things he did for [[TheEmpire Zenoira]] while under MindControl. He eventually gives up the act and joins the party as himself.]]
203	* ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'': The [[PlayerCharacter Tenno]] themselves have many shades of this, as well as related tropes such as {{Ronin}}. They were originally the elite warrior caste of the Orokin Empire, but they often had no immediate masters and instead did whatever their honor demanded of them. By the time of the game, the Orokin Empire is long dead ([[spoiler:because [[TurnedAgainstTheirMasters the Tenno killed them all]] [[AbusivePrecursors for being evil bastards]]]]), so the Tenno and [[MissionControl the Lotus]] spend most of their time wandering the Origin System helping out the little people caught between the warring factions.
204	* ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt'': The ''Blood And Wine'' expansion features Knights-Errant in Toussaint, who wander the duchy taking on bandits and monsters for the duchess. Geralt himself can technically be considered one as well, especially if the player completes the "Knight For Hire" questline.
205	* In ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'', Perceval, an optional rare [[BondCreature Blade]], takes it upon himself to render justice unto those who abuse the innocent. His Driver and the rest of the party try to reign him in from working alone to this end, to limited success. [[spoiler:It's revealed [[ADayInTheLimelight in his personal sidequest]] that, under his previous Driver, he was a remorseless assassin known as [[RedBaron the Heartless Judge]]. Of course, given that [[LaserGuidedAmnesia Blades lose all memories of any of their previous incarnations upon resonating with a new Driver]], this isn't an indictment on who Perceval is now.]]
206	-->'''Perceval:''' ...There is evil in this world which the law is not equipped to deal with. Many shed tears and even blood suffering in its shadow. When a new lease on life was given to me... I felt a duty to use my power to help uplift the downtrodden. As if it were the reason for my existence: to punish all evil that lurks in this world.
207	* ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'': Adol Christin certainly fits the bill. He's a {{Master Swordsman}} 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 {{Ship Tease}} 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.
208	[[/folder]]
209
210	[[folder:Web Animation]]
211	* ''WebAnimation/KnightsOfAllRealms'': Although it breaks the "loner" rule, this trope is the premise the story, which follows a band of knights who serve no lord and help all peoples.
212	[[/folder]]
213
214	[[folder:Webcomics]]
215	* ''Webcomic/TheGreenKnight'': Richard fits every characteristic of the trope, wandering from village to village and helping people with their [[MonsterOfTheWeek fairy problem]], with his chivalrous code often gets him into trouble.
216	* ''Webcomic/{{Nwain}}'': Nwain rides her trusty [[MixAndMatchCritters wolf-antelope]] into [[AdventureTowns Darmok]] and solves the town's [[MonsterOfTheWeek monster problem]]. She leaves town and moves on to defeat a giant owl by [[GoForTheEye blinding it with her pants]].
217	* ''Webcomic/{{Roza}}'' refers to the concept as [[http://www.junglestudio.com/roza/?date=2009-07-13 sparrow knights]]. They are knights without masters who travel around small villages solving disputes and dealing with bandits, named for their former custom of feeding themselves with grain left in the fields after harvest.
218	[[/folder]]
219
220	[[folder:Western Animation]]
221	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': [[Characters/AdventureTimeFinn 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.
222	* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'': The [[Characters/SamuraiJackJack titular hero]] is an homage to this trope, as throughout his journey to [[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong 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.
223	[[/folder]]

Context Main / KnightErrant