The Red Knight prominently appears in the tales of the heroPerceval as his early enemy.
InChrétien de Troyes'Perceval, the Story of the Grail, theRed Knight of the Forest of Quinqeroi steals a cup fromKing Arthur. He is killed by Perceval, who wears his armour and comes to be known as the Red Knight himself.[1] In the Third (Manessier's) Continuation, Perceval also kills the Lord of the Red Tower.[2]
InWolfram von Eschenbach'sParzival, a retelling of Chrétien's story, the Red Knight is identified asSir Ither, the Red Knight of Kukumerlant, a cousin to both Arthur and Perceval. He too is killed by Perceval, who then puts on his armour.[3]
InPerlesvaus, Gawain defeatsCahot the Red (Cahot li Roux), a brother of theKnight of the Red Shield killed by him years earlier, retaking his mother's stolen castle.[4]
InSir Perceval of Galles, Perceval kills the Red Knight, thus avenging his own father, and takes his armour. Wearing the armour, Perceval later finds the Red Knight's witch mother, deceives her into believing him to be her son, and burns her.[5][6]
Lancelot is briefly called by this name (along that of theBlack Knight) in the VulgateLancelot during his battles againstGalehaut's forces.[7]
In the VulgateSuite de Merlin, two enemies of Arthur's are the lords of the castle Estremores,Roalais andSir Belias of Estremores, who both called theRed Knights of Estremores.[8]
In theLivre d'Artus, the Red Knight is a heathen prince namedOriols (Oriolz), son of Saxon king Aminaduc (a nephew ofHengist) and the unnamed Queen of Denmark (Danemarche). He dwells with his mother and others (including a trio of cannibal giants) in the cursed castle (later known as theCastle of Maidens) where they work to conquerLogres, until they are overthrown byGawain andSagramore and flee. He also appears in the VulgateMerlin (and in its English adaptationOf Arthour and of Merlin) under variants of this name (Oriel, Oriens, Oriol, Oriolt, etc.), but not as the Red Knight. It is possible that he is related to the legend ofOgier the Dane.[9]
The first of them is namedSir Perimones and is also known as "ThePuce Knight", who, like his three brothers the Black Knight, Sir Partolope the "Green Knight" (distinct from the character inSir Gawain and the Green Knight), and Sir Persant of Inde "The Blue Knight", is bested by the young Gareth.
After these initial trials, Gareth must face theRed Knight of the Red Launds, whose real identity isSir Ironside. Ironside has the strength of seven men and has trapped the princess ofLyonesse in a tower from which Gareth must save her. Though he had demonstrated a cruel and sadistic nature, Ironside is brought to Arthur's court and even made a Knight of theRound Table.
In Chrétien's storyYvain, the Knight of the Lion,Esclados the Red (Old French:li Ros) is the guardian of anotherworldly fountain in the enchanted forest ofBrocéliande. He appears as spouse of the ladyLaudine (usually known as "the Lady of the Fountain") prior to SirYvain. He was slain by Yvain for attacking the latter's cousin, SirCalogrenant, in defence of the magic fountain (or well, or spring).
Gawain is known as the Red Knight for a brief time inPerlesvaus. In the same story, Percival also kills a pet lion of theRed Knight of the Deep Forest.
In the Irish folklore tale Eachtra an Amadán Mor, the Red Knight is one of the knights defeated by Arthur's nephew known as the Great Fool.
In the 1991 filmThe Fisher King, the Red Knight is a central character. He symbolises the fear, loss, and grief experienced by Parry, a mentally ill homeless man portrayed byRobin Williams.
In the 1998 animated filmQuest for Camelot, the Red Knight is given the name Sir Ruber (voiced byGary Oldman), and is portrayed as a power-hungry villain attempting to claimExcalibur for himself.
An episode ofMy Knight and Me features the Knight of Red or the Red Knight for short, who is depicted as a stereotypical gym teacher.
In the 2019 young adult novelRWBY: After the Fall, the main antagonist, Carmine Esclados, is based on the Red Knight.
In the Belgian comic book seriesDe Rode Ridder, the main character, Johan, is named the Red Knight because of his red clothing.
InFour Knights of the Apocalypse, a manga series based on Arthurian legend, the Red Knight is named Ironside and depicted as the father and personal nemesis ofPercival.
