# Rocinante — Don Quixote character guide > Rocinante in Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Babieca, Rocinante Babieca **First appearance:** 0007-part-i-i ## Snapshot A bony, aging nag whose master insists on seeing him as a peerless warhorse, and whose misadventures with mares and muleteers repeatedly puncture that illusion. ## Who they are Rocinante is the four-legged partner of Don Quixote's knight-errantry, a tired workhorse elevated by his rider's imagination into a steed of legend. His wandering lust and frailty get the pair beaten by Yanguesan carriers, exposing the gap between chivalric fantasy and barnyard reality. He matters because his comic mishaps keep grounding the novel's loftiest ideals in the mud, hay, and bruises of the road. ## Relationships ### [Don Quixote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/don_quixote) _friendship_ Don Quixote loves his bony horse Rocinante as a faithful companion in all his adventures. ### [Sancho Panza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/sancho_panza) _friendship_ Sancho cares for Rocinante as a fellow long-suffering companion on their journeys. ### [Don Quixote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/don_quixote) _friendship_ Don Quixote loves his bony horse Rocinante as a faithful companion in all his adventures. ### [Sancho Panza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/sancho_panza) _friendship_ Sancho cares for Rocinante as a fellow long-suffering companion on their journeys. ### [Don Quixote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/don_quixote) _friendship_ Don Quixote loves his bony horse Rocinante as a faithful companion in all his adventures. ## In the story ### [Some Commendatory Verses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-some-commendatory-verses) Engages in a dialogue with Babieca, complaining about being underfed and overworked, and humorously critiquing his master. ### [Chapter II: Which treats of the first sally the ingenious Don Quixote made from home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-ii) Don Quixote's horse, described as the best bit of flesh that ever ate bread, though the innkeeper finds him less impressive. ### [Of what happened to our knight when he left the inn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-iv) Don Quixote's horse, who eagerly heads toward home after the knight decides to return for supplies. ### [Chapter VIII: Of the good success which the valorous Don Quixote had in the most terrifying and never-to-be-imagined adventure of the windmills, with other events worthy of happy memory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-viii) Don Quixote's horse, used in the charge against the friar. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-ix) Portrayed in the illustrations as long, thin, and lean, with a label at his feet reading 'Don Quixote'. ### [Of the pleasant discourse that passed between Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-x) Don Quixote mounts Rocinante after the battle; the horse steps out briskly, leaving Sancho behind. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-xi) Put up by Sancho along with the ass. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-xii) Mentioned as Sancho Panza settles between him and the ass for sleep. ### [Chapter XV: The Unfortunate Adventure with the Yanguesans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-xv) Provokes the attack by attempting to mate with the Yanguesans' ponies; is severely beaten and left saddleness. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-xviii) Carries Don Quixote during the charge against the sheep. ### [Of the unexampled and unheard-of adventure which was achieved by the valiant Don Quixote of La Mancha with less peril than any ever achieved by any famous knight in the world](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-xx) Takes fright at the noise of water and blows, but is calmed by Don Quixote. ### [Of what befell Don Quixote in the Sierra Morena, which was one of the rarest adventures related in this veracious history](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-xxiii) Don Quixote's horse, left untouched by Ginés as it was not worth pawning or selling. ### [Which treats of the strange things that happened to the stout knight of La Mancha in the Sierra Morena, and of his imitation of the penance of Beltenebros](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-xxv) Don Quixote mounts Rocinante as they proceed into the mountains. ### [Of the delectable discussion between Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, his squire, together with other incidents.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-xxxi) Mentioned by Sancho as going 'like a gipsy's ass with quicksilver in his ears.' ### [Chapter XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-xliii) Stands motionless under Don Quixote, supporting him during the trick. ### [XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-xlix) Described by Sancho as melancholy and dejected, seemingly enchanted like his master. ### [Wherein is related what befell Don Quixote on his way to see his lady Dulcinea del Toboso](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-viii) Neighs as a good omen at the start of the journey. ### [Wherein is related the crafty device Sancho adopted to enchant the lady Dulcinea, and other incidents as ludicrous as they are true](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-x) Don Quixote's horse, mentioned as the mount he spurs to go see Dulcinea. ### [Of the strange adventure which the valiant Don Quixote had with the car or cart of the Cortes of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xi) Don Quixote's horse, which he lets wander while lost in thought. ### [Wherein is shown the furthest and highest point which the unexampled courage of Don Quixote reached or could reach; together with the happily achieved adventure of the lions.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xvii) Mentioned as Don Quixote's horse, though not directly involved in the action. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxi) Don Quixote dismounts from him to aid Basilio. ### [Wherein it is shown who Master Pedro and his ape were, together with the mishap Don Quixote had in the braying adventure, which he did not conclude as he would have liked or as he had expected.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvii) Don Quixote's horse, which he spurs to ascend the hill to investigate the noise. ### [Chapter XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxviii) Don Quixote's horse, which he rides and at whose feet Sancho drops after joining him. ### [Of the famous adventure of the enchanted bark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxix) Tied to a tree on the bank, struggles to get loose as Don Quixote and Sancho depart. ### [Of Don Quixote’s adventure with a fair huntress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxx) Don Quixote's horse; its saddle comes loose during the dismounting mishap. ### [Which tells how adventures came crowding on Don Quixote in such numbers that they gave one another no breathing-time.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lviii) Trampled by the bulls along with Don Quixote and Sancho. ### [Of what happened Don Quixote on entering Barcelona, together with other matters that partake of the true rather than of the ingenious](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxi) Has furze placed under its tail by boys, causing it to buck and throw Don Quixote. ### [Which treats of what he who reads will see, or what he who has it read to him will hear](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxvi) Mentioned as having feeble strength that contributed to Don Quixote's defeat. ### [Of the bristly adventure that befell Don Quixote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxviii) Swept off his feet by the stampeding pigs. ### [Of what passed between Don Quixote and his squire Sancho on the way to their village](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxxi) Mentioned as having its saddle vacated when they stop in the grove. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/rocinante - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters