Henchman

"Robin Shoots with Sir Guy" by Louis Rhead. Illustration to Bold Robin Hood and His Outlaw Band: Their Famous Exploits in Sherwood Forest: Guy of Gisbourne acts as the Sheriff of Nottingham's henchman

Henchman referred originally to one who attended on a horse for his employer, that is, a horse groom. Hence, like constable and marshal, also originally stable staff, henchman became the title of a subordinate official in a royal court or noble household. It is now used to generally describe any person with subordinate status derisively, while most often used specifically to a hired guard or minion of a villain or master criminal.

Etymology

The first part of the word, which is recorded in English since 1360, comes from the Old English hengest, meaning "horse", notably stallion, cognates of which also occur in many Germanic languages, such as Old Frisian, German and Dutch hengst. The word appears in the name of Hengest, the Saxon chieftain, and still survives in English in placenames and other names beginning with Hingst- or Hinx-. It was often rendered as Henxman in medieval English.

Young henchmen, in fact pages of honour or squires, rode or walked at the side of their master in processions and the like, and appear in the English royal household from the 14th century until Tudor Queen Elizabeth I abolished the royal henchmen, known also as the children of honour.

The word became obsolete for grooms in English from the middle of the 17th century, but was retained in Scots as "personal attendant of a Highland chief". It was revived in English by way of the novelist Sir Walter Scott, who took the word and its derivation, according to the New English Dictionary, from Edward Burt's Letters from a Gentleman in the North of Scotland, together with its erroneous derivation from haunch. The word is, in this sense, synonymous with gillie, the faithful personal follower of a Highland chieftain, the man who stands at his master's haunch, ready for any emergency.

The modern sense of "obedient or unscrupulous follower" is first recorded 1839, probably based on a misunderstanding of the word as used by Scott, and is often used to describe an out-and-out adherent or partisan, ready to do anything.

In popular culture

Henchmen (occasionally henchlings) are common in mystery, fantasy, adventure comic books, and adventure novels and movies. They are the expendable adherents of the main villain, always there to do the master's bidding, to kill or be killed, kidnap, or threaten, as needed. Often, they are killed by the hero before the master villain is reached, by the hero's sidekick in a dramatic battle, or even by the master villain as punishment for failure to comply with orders. They also may switch sides during the course of the story to ally with the hero. Alternatively, they may be forgotten in the heat of the climax when the master villain is defeated, then killed when they reappear in the denouement for one last scare or even promoted to master villain for a sequel.

Henchmen are often abused and insulted by the villain for their incompetence, or for his pleasure; indeed, some abused henchmen take revenge after the villain's final defeat at the hero's hands, so that the henchman rather than the hero actually kills the villain. Henchmen in this sense are also sometimes called lackeys, toadies, or mooks (with the latter term more often used for lesser minions of the villain).

Not all henchmen are dimwitted, expendable employees of a villain. Sometimes, they may be of an equal social standing or at least have a high intelligence or social standing of their own, thus being valued more like a right hand man. In such cases, they may command groups of more expendable thugs. This is common in ensemble casts where often the leading villain remains behind the scenes. Being granted a large amount of autonomy, intelligent henchmen often have their own agendas and may also covet the leading villain's position, and they often attempt to betray the villain in order to obtain it.

While the term is masculine, female henchmen are not unheard of. However, many of them typically serve only as the male villain's lover, rather than actively take part in the schemes. Usually, there is, instead, an additional male accomplice for the purpose of criminal business. A female accomplice is more often called a "moll."

In 2011, a parody website for the International Brotherhood of Minions & Henchpeople: Benevolent & Evil was launched.

A henchman might also be the non-player character follower of a player character in role-playing games. This henchman will follow the player around and assist in various manners.

In fiction, such heroic supporting characters are normally portrayed in a more positive light, tied to the hero by bonds of friendship and loyalty and are usually called sidekicks; the villain's supporters are called henchmen or minions because of their evil nature, which implies that such personal bonds are difficult to establish. However, some darkly comedic heroes have sidekicks of a more subservient nature; though these relationships are often a form of "tough love" or even just a condescending affection, the henchman is in this case usually known as a minion.

Henchman	Villain	Source
Allan	Rastapopoulos	The Adventures of Tintin
Grem And Acer	Professor Z	Cars 2
Meowlody and Purrsephone	Toralei Stripe	Monster High
Wolf Boss	Lord Shen	Kung Fu Panda 2
Spike and Whitey	The Toad	Flushed Away
Killer Kane	Princess Ardala	Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (role reversal from the original 1930s Buck Rogers serials)
Ardala Valdemar (reimagined as Princess Ardala for the 1979 Buck Rogers TV series)	Killer Kane	original Buck Rogers serials
General Klytus	Ming the Merciless	Flash Gordon (1980)
Lucifer	Count Baltar	Battlestar Galactica
Captain Ginyu	Frieza	Dragon Ball Z
Marmosets	Nigel	Rio (film)
Jasper and Horace	Cruella De Vil	101 Dalmatians
Roberto	Johan Liebert	Monster
Piter De Vries	Vladimir Harkonnen	Dune
Evil lyn, TrapJaw, Tri-clops, Beast Man, Mer Man	Skeletor	Masters of the Universe
Grover Dill	Scut Farkus	A Christmas Story
Allen O'Niel	General Morden	Metal Slug series
Bebop and Rocksteady	The Shredder	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series
Scratch, Grounder, Coconuts, Sleet, Dingo, Decoe, Bocoe, Cubot and Orbot	Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik	Sonic the Hedgehog series
Bob the Goon and Goons	The Joker	Batman
Kroenen and Ilsa Haupstein	Rasputin	Hellboy
Buzz, Delete and Digit Note: Digit was a henchman until he escaped from his boss, The Hacker.	The Hacker	Cyberchase
Chewy and Gooey	Stickybeard	Codename: Kids Next Door
Bitzy and Snitzy	Allegra the Crocodile	Episodes that feature Allegra in Animalia
Goblins	Jareth the Goblin King	Labyrinth (film)
Unnamed and Charlie	Dr. Two-Brains	WordGirl series
Doctor N. Gin	Doctor Neo Cortex	Crash Bandicoot series
Flying Monkeys and Winkie Guards	Wicked Witch of the West	The Wizard of Oz
Megavolt, Bushroot, Liquidator, and Quackerjack	Negaduck	Darkwing Duck
The four Crows, the Peddler, the Subway's monsters, Poppy-Girls and the Winged Monkeys	Evillene	The Wiz
The dogs	Napoleon	Animal Farm
Norm	Dr. Heinz Doofenschmirtz	Phineas and Ferb
Excel, Hyatt and Elgala	Il Palazzo	Excel Saga
Karl and Theo	Hans Gruber	Die Hard
Iago	Jafar	Aladdin
Amanda Young and Mark Hoffman	Jigsaw Killer	Saw franchise
Harley Quinn	The Joker	Batman: The Animated Series
Bane	Poison Ivy	Batman & Robin
Mystique	Magneto	X-men films
Shenzi, Banzai and Ed	Scar	The Lion King
Karen	Sheldon J. Plankton	SpongeBob SquarePants
Sykes and Kramer	Dr. Claw	Inspector Gadget (1999 film)
RandomTask, Mini-Me, Frau Farbissina, Number 2, Scott Evil, Fat Bastard, GoldMember	Dr. Evil	Austin Powers series
Possum Gator	Pack Bat	Sylvanian Families
Kronk Pepikrankenitz	Yzma	The Emperor's New Groove
Lickboot the Lawyer, Ferdinard the Dogskate. Capt, Kiddie, Prof. Applecheek, Squawk	Aunt Figg	Tom and Jerry: The Movie
Card Soldiers and King of Hearts	Queen of Hearts	Alice in Wonderland
Lawrence and Voodoo Masks	Dr. Facilier	The Princess and the Frog
Muttley	Dick Dastardly	Wacky Races and Dastardly and Muttley in their Flying Machines
Devi Devi	Piyoko/Pyocola Analogue	Panyo Panyo Di Gi Charat
Chi-Chi	Tony Montana	Scarface
Luca Brasi	Vito Corleone	The Godfather
Nazgûl	Sauron	The Lord of the Rings
Sauron	Morgoth	The Silmarillion
Escargoon	King DeDeDe	Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
Oddjob	Auric Goldfinger	Goldfinger
Pain and Panic	Hades	Hercules (1997 film) and Hercules: The Animated Series
The Venom army	Andross	Star Fox 64
Otis	Lex Luthor	Superman: The Movie
Fidget	Professor Ratigan	The Great Mouse Detective
Rey Za Burrel	Gilbert Durandal	Gundam SEED Destiny
Shego	Doctor Drakken	Kim Possible
Mr. Smee and the Pirate crew	Captain Hook	Peter Pan
Waylon Smithers, Joey Crusher and Lowblow	Montgomery Burns	The Simpsons
Cecil and the Terwiliger family	Sideshow Bob	The Simpsons
Kodos	Kang	The Simpsons
Killer Dolphins	King Snorky	The Simpsons
President Schwarznegger	Russ Cargill	The Simpsons Movie
Spicer Lovejoy	Caledon Hockley	Titanic (1997 film)
Squatt and Baboo, Goldar, Finster, Scorpina, and the Putty Patrol	Rita Repulsa	Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Jara, Noxic, and Typhus	Vexor	Big Bad Beetleborgs
Travis	Servalan	Blake's 7
Twinrova	Ganondorf	The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Skull Kid	Majora's Mask	The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Zant and King Bulblin	Ganondorf	The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Mr. Chun and Mrs. Chun	Captain Bill Fawcett	The Pacifier
Shtarker	Siegfried	Get Smart
Armand and Mr. Richards	B.J. Wert	Mannequin
Weyoun	Female Changeling	Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
The Wickersham Brothers and Vlad Vladikof	Sour Kangaroo	Horton Hears a Who!
Directive A-113 and GO-4	AUTO	WALL-E
Sugar and Spice	Two-Face	Batman Forever
Karen and Gretchen	Regina George	Mean Girls
Xerxes the Eel	Mozenrath	Aladdin
Zarbon and Dodoria	Freeza	Dragon Ball Z
Henchman #21 and Henchman #24	The Monarch	The Venture Bros.
Tyrone	Pablo	The Backyardigans (Race to the Tower of Power/Garbage Trek/Break Out)
Stinkbert	Strut	Turbo Dogs
Toon Patrol	Judge Doom	Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Kamek, The Koopalings, Bowser Jr.	Bowser	Mario series
Xigbar, Xaldin, Saix, Demyx, Luxord	Xemnas	Kingdom Hearts II
Staff Officer Black, General Blue, General White, General Copper	Commander Red	Dragon Ball
Alistair Smythe	The Kingpin	Spider-Man: The Animated Series
Kagura, Kanna, Hakudoshi	Naraku	Inuyasha
GIR	Zim	Invader Zim
Mr. Willard Tweedy and the dogs	Mrs. Melisha Tweedy	Chicken Run
Pinky	Brain	Pinky & the Brain
General Klump & Krusha	King K Rool	Donkey Kong Country
Max	The Grinch	How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Lock, Shock and Barrel	Oogie Boogie	The Nightmare Before Christmas
No-Neck and Zitzy	Ken	Urban Vermin
Ivan the Terrible, Napoleon Bonaparte, Al Capone	Kamunrah	Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian
Reccoa Londe & Sarah Zabiarov	Paptimus Scirocco	Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Killer	Carface	All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series
The Crocodile bandits (mentioned in the video game)	Tai Lung	Kung Fu Panda
Mini Audrey II Pod Offspring Plants	Audrey II	Little Shop of Horrors in the song "Mean Green Mother From Outer Space"
The Ruffians	Professor Pester	Viva Pinata
The guards & staff of JETT Records and the people who live in Ian's mansion	Ian Hawke	Alvin and the Chipmunks and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Klutzy the Crab	Herbert P. Bear	Club Penguin Missions
Starscream and other Decepticons	Megatron	Transformers
Starscream, Soundwave, Shockwave and other Decepticons	Megatron	The Transformers (TV series)
Megatron	The Fallen	Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Destro, The Baroness, Tomax and Xamot, Storm Shadow, Major Bludd, Zartan, Dreadnoks, Doctor Mindbender, Scrap-Iron, Firefly	Cobra Commander	G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
Wart, Mole, Mepps & Snout	Fat Cat	Chip & Dale's Rescue Rangers
Butters Stotch	Eric Cartman	South Park
Samy Garvin	Lucius Henouis the VII	Jimmy Two-Shoes
Wendell	Happy Chapman	Garfield (film)
Mary & the ACME Co-Workers	Mr. Chairman	Looney Tunes: Back in Action
Darth Maul	Palpatine	Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Jango Fett	Count Dooku	Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
General Grievous	Count Dooku	Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Grand Moff Tarkin	Darth Vader	Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Boba Fett	Darth Vader	Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Jessie, James, Meowth, Wobbuffet, Butch, Cassidy, Professor Namba, Tyson, Domino, Team Rocket Grunt Troopers	Giovanni	Pokémon
Boskov Bear, Major Dr. Ghastly and General Skarr	Hector Con Carne	Evil Con Carne
Walt, Larry, and Igner	Mom	Futurama
Bubba	Dr. Wasabi	Chop Socky Chooks
The Stabbington Brothers	Mother Gothel	Tangled (2010 film)
Prince Lotor (Prince Sincline)	King Zarkon (Emperor Daibazaal)	Voltron: Defender of the Universe (Golion)
Alpha, Beta, and Gamma	Charles F. Muntz	Up
Pinter	Dorkus	Planet Sheen
Private Public, Angry Scientist, and Plot Device	General Specific	Sheep in the Big City
Walter Boggis, Nathan Bunce, Mrs. Bean, and Rat	Franklin Bean	Fantastic Mr. Fox
Doktor Frogg, Red Menace, Doomageddon and Henchbots	Voltar	League of Super Evil
Skullmandos	Skullossus	League of Super Evil
The Pigs	Cyril Sneer	The Raccoons
Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane, Enos Strate and Cletus Hogg	Boss Hogg	The Dukes of Hazzard
Brain Freezer, Zizrar the Mole King, Mr. Mittens and Albert	Wacko	Johnny Test
Cody and Harold	Heather	Total Drama World Tour
Slinkman	Scoutmaster Lumpus	Camp Lazlo
Chip and Skip	Edward Platypus	Camp Lazlo
Hugo	Victor	Victor and Huge Bunglers In Crime
Ducks	Mother Goose	Pet Squad
Leopold	Scary Gary	Scary Gary (comic strip)

Modern examples

The phrase henchman is also used as a pejorative for any sort of political underling or to present others as such. Thus it was is used for associates of President George W. Bush, e.g. by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. Likewise, it was also used against associates of the former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Rebekah Brooks has been described as the henchwoman of Rupert Murdoch.

Members of the SS, or any of Adolf Hitler's staff, are often called "Hitler's Henchmen", a phrase used as the title of a book by Guido Knopp and a television documentary.

Popular Culture

International Union of Minions and Henchpeople: Benevolent and Evil

The lore of the henchman (or henchperson, as today's political correctness has named them) has been embraced by a variety of organizations. In particular, The International Union of Minions and Henchpeople: Benevolent and Evil allows self-proclaimed "henchpeople" to join and share in the fun.

See also

• Igor (fictional character)
• Sidekick
• Nodwick
• Minion (disambiguation)

Sources

• EtymologyOnLine
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.