History Main / KnightErrant

* ''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. His [[TheNthDoctor sixth incarnation]] outright calls himself a Knight Errant at least once.

** 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. Now she's trying to take the fight to Phyrexia, and the outlook is very bad.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse'': Amnesty, the AnthropomorphicPersonification of mercy and compassion, acts like this. She shows up at a place where human beings are suffering, stops the suffering, and then moves on to the next place of suffering.

[[/folder]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'': The [[ProtagonistTitle titular hero]] is an homage to this trope, as throughout the {{Ronin}}'s journey to [[SettingRightWhatOnceWentWrong prevent]] the BadFuture, he [[WeHelpTheHelpless helps the weak and the innocent]] and brings justice against evil-doers.

* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'': The [[{{Ronin}} titular hero]] is an homage to this trope, as throughout his journey, he [[WeHelpTheHelpless helps the weak and the innocent]], along with bringing justice against evil-doers while [[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong finding a way to turn back time]] and defeat the nefarious [[BigBad Aku]] to prevent the BadFuture from happening again.

* "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.

* ''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 & 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.

** ''ComicBook/KnightErrant'' 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.
** In ''Republic 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.

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

%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.

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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]], 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.

* 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.]]

%%* Ash Ketchum from ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}''.

%%* Kenshiro of ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' is definitely one of these.
%%* As were Goku and his TrueCompanions during the early parts of ''Manga/DragonBall''.
%%* The entire premise of Manga/GoldenBoy.
%%* Tenma in ''Anime/{{Monster}}'', especially as he decides to join the MSF.
%%* ''Anime/PorcoRosso'''s lead character does this for a living in his crimson seaplane.

* Jin of ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo'', 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.
* The Elric brothers seem like this at the beginning of ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', 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.
* Parn from ''Anime/RecordOfLodossWar''. He is known as the Free Knight because he officially holds loyalty to no kingdom and helps anyone in need, no matter their allegiance or nationality.
* ''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.
* This initially seems to be the life of magical girls in ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''--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.]]
* In the ''Anime/{{K}}'' series, 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.
* Tends to come with the territory with ''Anime/{{Mushishi}}''. Having the skills to deal with ''mushi'' usually comes because they're a WeirdnessMagnet for ''mushi''; so once they finish, they usually leave before ''more'' of them are drawn in.
* Before he became a member of God's Right Seat, Acqua of the Back[[spoiler:/William Orwell]] from ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'' 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]].

%%* Miyamoto Usagi from ''ComicBook/UsagiYojimbo''.
* The titular character of ''ComicBook/LuckyLuke'' 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.''
* Dark Horse and ''Franchise/StarWars'' are coming out with a comic book series called Knight Errant. What's known is that it will have 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. The lone Jedi will be going around to planets in the Sith zone and fighting the good fight.
* DCU's ''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 & 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.
* Invoked by Gilbert in ''ComicBook/TheSandman'', who insists upon being Rose Walker's "Knight Errant" in her search for her brother.
%%* The Comicbook/GhostRider 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.]]

[[folder:Film]]
* ''Film/SevenSamurai'' are organized by a Knight Errant, and have a very Knight Errant-y M.O. despite their team size.
* ''Film/TheMagnificentSeven1960'' is a Western adaptation of ''Film/TheSevenSamurai''.
* The Jedi from ''Franchise/StarWars'' 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.
* ''Film/{{Shane}}'' may be the UrExample of cowboys as Knights Errant.
%%* ''Every'' SpaghettiWestern.
* The Man With No Name from the Film/DollarsTrilogy 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.
** [[NoNameGiven Harmonica]] from ''Film/OnceUponATimeInTheWest'', who was originally going to be The Man With No Name until Clint Eastwood was unavailable for the part.
%%* ''Film/SukiyakiWesternDjango''

%%* ''Film/TheBookOfEli''

* [[KingArthur 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".

* {{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.
* The protagonist of ''Literature/KnightAndRogueSeries'' 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.

* ''Franchise/TheDarkTower'': Roland Deschain is a Gunslinger from another dimension who is descended from [[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''.
* Colonel Next from ''Literature/ThursdayNext'' is consistently described as a "time-travelling Knight Errant", usually turning up in the nick of time to save the world.
* Malik ibn Ibrahim from the ebook anthology ''Literature/WanderingDjinn'' seems to fall into this category constantly.
* The Knights of the Cross in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' 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 [[FallenAngels Denarians]]. The doing random good seems to only be their secondary function.

* Alana from the ''Literature/TortallUniverse'' starts out in ''The Woman Who Rides Like a Man'' to escape court and find adventure.
%%* ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'': Miles Vorkosigan has been diagnosed as having Knight Errant tendencies - by his mother.
* Simon Templar, more commonly known as Literature/TheSaint, 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]].
* Keith Laumer's Literature/{{Bolo}} series 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.
* A very [[TheFairFolk tiny]] knight errant is the subject of a poem by [[Creator/JRRTolkien Tolkien]], aptly titled "Errantry." 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]]".

* ''Literature/{{Sharpe}}'': A rare anti-heroic version appears in the form of Richard Sharpe. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by [[TheChessmaster Major Hogan]] in ''Sharpe's Havoc'':
--->'''Hogan:''' KingArthur, God rest his soul, would have loved you. He'd have had you rescuing every maiden in the land.
** Given Sharpe's [[ReallyGetsAround fairly]] [[AnythingThatMoves strong]] ChivalrousPervert tendencies, there's usually something in it for him...
* John Shannow, the Jerusalem Man, in Creator/DavidGemmell's ''Literature/StonesOfPower'' series, starts by wandering a post-Apocalyptic Earth in a vague search for Jerusalem, but is repeatedly distracted by evil.
* The first novel in the ''VideoGame/MechWarrior: 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.
%%* SolomonKane.
* In Creator/PatriciaAMcKillip's "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.
* The Justicar, hero of Paul Kidd's trilogy of Greyhawk novels ''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).
%%* The main protagonist of ''The Dragon'' by E. Schwartz. He is also called [[MeaningfulName Lancelot]].
* ''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, and are as iffy as all get-out as a result -- including the slaying of dragons. That setting is well before anointed knights of the Faith were even a thing, sooooooo, yeah? 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). And, 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.
* 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.
%%* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': Aragorn in his backstory.
* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'': as mentioned above under "Film", 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.
* In the popular medieval legend of [[Myth/SaintGeorge 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.
* ''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.
* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/MothAndCobweb Green Knight's Squire]]'', Gil explicitly tells Ruff he's this when they are searching for a job.
* ''Shin Madou Monogatari Gaiden'', a light novel series that is connected to ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo'', 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.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* In ''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. His [[TheNthDoctor sixth incarnation]] outright calls himself a Knight Errant at least once.

* Dr. Sam Beckett from ''Series/QuantumLeap'' 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.
%%* Paladin, the protagonist of ''Series/HaveGunWillTravel''.
* In ''Series/TheAdventuresOfBriscoCountyJr'', Brisco and Lord Bowler fit this perfectly. They are bounty hunters travelling the West looking for bad guys, and usually finding them.
* Jonathan Smith from ''Series/HighwayToHeaven'', who seeks out troubled people through the direction of God, expressed as intuition.
%%* Both Gwaine and Lancelot at times in BBC's ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}''.
* In ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''
** 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.
** 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.
** 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.
%%** Ellen & Jo Harvelle as of the Season Two finale.
* ''Series/TheMaster'' is a show about an aging ninja master and [[McNinja his apprentice]], traveling in a van and righting wrongs.
%%* Caine from ''Series/KungFu''.

* The Music/ElectricLightOrchestra song "Wild West Hero" is very much an ode to TheWestern version of this hero.

* RPG adventuring parties 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 not uncommon however.
* Bretonnia, one of the factions in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} Fantasy Battles'', has a unit type 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.
* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'', 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.
** "The Knights Errant" is also the official name for the 8 founding members of the Grey Knights.
* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' has Gideon Jura. Elspeth Tirel as well, 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 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. Now she's trying to take the fight to Phyrexia, and the outlook is very bad.
** And then of course there is the vanilla card from even further back, [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=13099 Knight Errant]].
* Knight Errant is one of the possible careers in ''TabletopGame/{{Ironclaw}}'', though not all of the traits are necessary, many are essentially mercenaries of noble birth.

* Many open-world [=RPGs=] 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.
* Samara, an asari party member in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' 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".
** 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.
* Sanger Zonvolt from the ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' series, the Sword That Smites Evil who will show up whenever evil arises. And will do anything to protect his girl, namely Sophia Nate.
* Erwin's, the hero of [[{{VideoGame/Langrisser}} DerLangrisser]] personal theme is the titular Knight Errant, traveling through El Sallia in his quest (which depends on which story path he is following).
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls''
** 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.)
** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'', after performing a service for the city of Leyawiin, you and a [[BoisterousBruiser jovial NPC]] receive this title.
* The Warden from ''Franchise/DragonAge'', who [[WalkingTheEarth goes where they must]] and where they are [[WeHelpTheHelpless most needed.]]

%%* [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus]] is often seen as one.
* Adol Christin of ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'' decided when he was a kid that he'd travel the world, righting wrongs and nailing chicks. Well, the second part's mostly inferred.

* In ''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.
* The second case of the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' fangame [[VideoGame/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyConflictOfInterest Conflict of Interest]] 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.]]
* The ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' supplementary comic "Dragon Slayer" states that, after the fall of Overwatch, Reinhardt became this, wandering Europe with his "squire" [[WrenchWench Brigette]].
* ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt'''s ''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.

* Although it breaks the "loner" rule, this trope is the premise of ''WebAnimation/KnightsOfAllRealms'', a band of knights who serve no lord and help all peoples.

* Nwain in ''[[{{Webcomic/Nwain}} Nwain: The Knight Who Wandered Dream]]''. She 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]].
* Richard in ''[[{{Webcomic/The Green Knight}} The Green Knight]]''. 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.

* Amnesty, the AnthropomorphicPersonification of mercy and compassion in the ''Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse'', acts like this. She shows up at a place where human beings are suffering, stops the suffering, and then moves on to the next place of suffering.
%%* From Wiki/TheWorldbuildProject: Travelling about and righting wrongs? Sounds like a classic scenario for a [[MagicKnight Rohomajeshi Justicar]].

* The [[{{Ronin}} titular hero]] of ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' is an homage to this trope, as throughout his journey, he [[WeHelpTheHelpless helps the weak and the innocent]], along with bringing justice against evil-doers while [[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong finding a way to turn back time]] and defeat the nefarious [[BigBad Aku]] to prevent the BadFuture from happening again.
* Finn and Jake, the heroes of ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'', 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.

* John Rumford in ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'' is a downplayed example early on when he drifts around after being discharged from the Marine Corps, unsure about the direction of his life but still idealistic, and very happy to jump in and help Gunny Matthews and the others in their battles with the gangsters. Then, he joins the Christian Marines vigilante group and becomes one of the TrueCompanions instead.

** Hawke in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', part of the reason why they came to be ''[[TheChampion Champion of Kirkwall]]''.

* The second case of the ''VideoGame/AceAttorney'' fangame [[VideoGame/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyConflictOfInterest Conflict of Interest]] 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.]]

* ''VideoGame/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.

* The [[{{Ronin}} titular hero]] of ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' is an homage to this trope, as throughout his journey, he [[WeHelpTheHelpless helps the weak and the innocent]], along with bringing justice against evil-doers while finding a way to turn back time and defeat the nefarious [[BigBad Aku]] to prevent the BadFuture from happening again.

%%* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' is an homage to this trope, among many others.

%%* [[Literature/LordOfTheRings Aragorn]] in his backstory

* ''{{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.

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.

Historically a knight errant would refer to a landless knight who would travel with his lord in service and hope of earning his own land. If he is traveling because he was sent by someone it might be a case of MyMasterRightOrWrong.

* ''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 are as iffy as all get-out as a result -- including the slaying of dragons. That setting is well before anointed knights of the Faith were even a thing, sooooooo, yeah? Current masterless knights are called "hedge knights" and are generally seen as either one step above common mercenaries or as something akin to wandering sports stars (they're 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). And, 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 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.

* ''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 are as iffy as all get-out as a result -- including the slaying of dragons. That setting is well before anointed knights of the Faith were even a thing, sooooooo, yeah? Current masterless knights are called "hedge knights" and are generally seen as either one step above common mercenaries or as something akin to wandering sports stars (they're basically tourney knights who move from competition to competition to make a living and retirement fund primarily from the prizes offered from the jousting or the melee contests, rather than seeking warfare or masters). And, 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 have horsemanship skills that are at least worth at a second glance at the resume, however humble their current circumstances and equipment look.

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' typically subverts or deconstructs the entire concept. Sure, Westeros actually does have some 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 are as iffy as all get-out as a result. Not least because that setting is well before anointed knights of the Faith were even a thing. Current masterless knights are called "hedge knights" and are generally seen as either one step above common mercenaries or as something akin to wandering sports stars (they're basically tourney knights who move from competition to competition to make a living and retirement fund primarily from the prizes offered from the jousting or the melee contests, rather than seeking warfare or masters). And, then there are the knights that become rudderless thanks to losing their political position or sponsors, even if they prefer ''not'' to think of themselves as hedge knights, but as [[TheExile exiles]] somewhat[[{{Ronin}} between masters]] at the moment, rather.

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' typically subverts or deconstructs the concept. Masterless knights are called hedge knights and are generally seen as one step above common mercenaries. And, then there are the knights that become rudderless thanks to losing their position or sponsors, even if they prefer ''not'' to think of themselves as hedge knights, but [[TheExile exiles]] [[{{Ronin}} between masters]], rather.

** 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 BadassGrandpa FrontlineGeneral.)

* A rare anti-heroic version appears in the form of Richard {{Sharpe}}. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by [[TheChessmaster Major Hogan]] in ''Sharpe's Havoc'':