Who is Erec from Arthurian Romances and what is their importance?

Erec is the hero and central character in the story, Erec and Enide. He is the son of Lac, and he joins King Arthur's hunt for the white stag unarmed in order to keep Queen Guinevere company. Intrigued by the knight, she sends her maiden to inquire who he is. When the knight's dwarf whips both the maiden and Erec, Erec is ashamed and vows to follow the knight until he can borrow armor to avenge himself and the Queen. Eventually they travel to a town where Erec meets a vavasour and his beautiful daughter. The vavasour lends Erec armor, and he challenges the knight and wins, after which, he reminds the knight of his former insult to Queen Guinevere and demands the knight apologize and offer his services to her.

Erec then travels to King Arthur's land where Queen Guinevere dresses Enide and King Arthur awards Enide a kiss as the honor of the white stag for the most beautiful maiden in the kingdom. Erec and Enide wed, and he goes onto participate in many tournaments before requesting permission to return to his own land.