The Man, the Myth, the Never-Ending Legend

You’ve seen the movies. You’ve undoubtedly heard the story. He’s an incredible ranger dedicated to vigilante justice and giving money to the poor—if he even existed. Let’s dive into the lore of history’s untouchable hero. 

Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). on Wikimedia

1. He’s a Man Shrouded in Mystery

For such a legendary character, the biggest thing historians know about him is…that they actually don’t know very much about him. Popular ballads and poems have sung his praises for years, but his real name, location, and associates remain shrouded in mystery. 

John Severin on Wikimedia

2. He First (Allegedly) Appeared in the 1300s

The poem Piers Plowman, written in the 1370s, is widely considered the first clear reference to the legendary huntsman. Interestingly, sleuths discovered Robin Hood’s alleged birth in the Sloane manuscripts, a collection of manuscripts from Sir Hans Sloane in the British Library. It alleged that Hood was born in 1160, but those specific pages are considered a poorly translated collection of ballads and plays.

N. C. Wyeth on Wikimedia

3. We Found More Historical References

Though the first accounts were a little spotty, additional historical references popped up throughout the 14th and 15th centuries. Statements in the Scotichronicon (published in the late 1300s) mentioned Hood directly while a monk in 1460 wrote about “a certain outlaw named Robin Hood” in the Polychronicon. 

Arcaion on Pixabay

4. He’s Associated with Green

Fictionalized versions often depict Robin Hood in green, but there might be some merit to that. A 1510 poem called A Lytell Geste of Robyn Hode first mentioned the folk hero in “Lincoln green,” and it’s one of the earliest surviving texts we have on his life.

Richard Dadd on Wikimedia

5. He Had a Loyal Band of Merry Men

“Oh, merry men!” Hood’s loyal band of followers is as old as him, appearing in some of the first ballads ever written. Though he probably didn’t have as many followers as some claim, he definitely had a few key players like Little John, Will Stutely, and Maid Marian. 

British Library on Wikimedia

6. He’s Often Depicted as a Man of the People

We don’t know much about Robin Hood’s actual life, but we can say for certainty how he’s depicted. Widely considered a beloved hero, Hood is often seen as an “eat the rich” type, selflessly robbing the affluent to better those in need. 

Louis Rhead on Wikimedia

7. Ballads Are Our Only Real “Proof”

Not to disappoint those who love a good story, but our only real proof of Robin Hood’s existence is ancient ballads and poems. Sure, he’s popped up throughout history but the jury’s still out on who was even documented or whether “Robin Hood” himself was one man or just a monicker. 

Thomas Bewick on Wikimedia

8. Little John Has His Own Grave

Not so fast, though. History may be shoddy on Robin Hood’s whereabouts, but Little John has his own headstone. A popular member of Hood’s “merry men,” he’s reportedly buried at Saint Michael’s in Hathersage, Derbyshire. The epitaph reads he’s “the friend and lieutenant of Robin Hood.”

Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). on Wikimedia

9. Hood’s Legend Lives On

Regardless of what we believe, Robin Hood’s story will likely never fade. He already made quite a name for himself in the 14th and 15th centuries, but current-day adaptations feature him in movies, TV shows, plays, books, and video games.

Designer unknown, produced for United Artists on Wikimedia

10. He’s a Tourist Attraction

The biggest oak tree in Britain boasts another impressive title—Robin Hood’s famous (and alleged) hiding spot! Those interested in Hood’s lore can pop over to the famous oak for a guided Robin Hood-themed tour, and a good day in nature.

Graham Hogg  on Wikimedia

Now that we’ve explored what we know, let’s dive into the stuff people often get wrong. 

1. He Existed

We hate to admit it, but there’s no definitive proof Robin Hood actually existed. Though folklore and Russell Crowe movies say otherwise, this legendary folk hero could just be a hammed-up story; while no one’s said for certain, the “evidence” doesn’t always stack up. 

Hans on Pixabay

2. “Robin Hood” Was One of a Kind

In today’s world, it’s easy to assume “Robin Hood” is a unique name. However, Robert and the surname Hood were fairly common back in the day. Even in documents, the names are spelled “Robyne,”  “Hode,” or “Robyn Hude.” It’s also possible that “Robin Hood” was a monicker given to outlaws at the time. 

Unknown author on Wikimedia

3. He Was a Nobleman Gone Bad

Some ballads classify Hood as a rogue nobleman—the ultimate good guy gone quasi-bad as he robbed his own people and dove into a life of crime. However, Robin Hood was likely a yeoman—a status confirmed in some of the earliest ballads.

Walter Crane on Wikimedia

4. Maid Marian Was His Wife

We all love a good romance but Hood’s affair with Maid Marian didn’t come until after the earliest depictions. She didn’t make her first appearance until the 16th century during the May Day festivities. 

John Sutton  on Wikimedia

5. Friar Tuck Ran With His Crew

Friar Tuck wasn’t actually mentioned as one of Hood’s original “merry men.” In the beginning, there were only three of them, and Tuck didn’t officially show up until later stories sometime in the 15th century. 

CBS Television on Wikimedia

6. The Major Oak Was His Hideout

If you ever plan a trip to Sherwood Forest, you’ll step foot on the same grounds Robin Hood allegedly hid out from foes. His most trusty solace was the Major Oak, a hiding spot first mentioned in the 1400s. However, some dendrologists ruled out the theory; their calculations estimate the tree is approximately 800 years old, meaning it wouldn’t have been that size when Hood roamed the forest. 

Luke Galloway on Unsplash

7. Richard the Lionheart Was His Friend

Some claim Richard I (also known as Richard the Lionheart) befriended Robin Hood. Others say they were enemies. But Hood wasn’t officially depicted as one of Richard’s followers until 1521, but that was enough to keep the story well into modern adaptations. 

Adam Bishop on Wikimedia

8. He Had a Lot of Followers

If the lore about Robin Hood is this fuzzy, imagine how clunky it is about his followers. What we know for sure is that most adaptations show Hood with a small gaggle of friends—some variations claim more than 100 men followed him (upwards of 300), but that wasn’t until later.

Eirian Evans  on Wikimedia

9. He Fought With the Sheriff of Nottingham

Nottingham’s first appointed sheriff was in 1449, long after Hood’s story began. With the earliest depictions shown in the 1300s, these two likely wouldn’t have met, let alone been enemies. 

Willednic at English Wikipedia on Wikimedia

10. He (Kind of) Has a Headstone 

It makes sense that a figure like Robin Hood has an equally mysterious gravesite. Tucked away in a little spot of West Yorkshire lies Robin Hood's Grave, the name given to his monument. Though it’s officially branded as such, the burial spot is only alleged to be his final resting place. Historians have even called out the inaccuracies in his epitaph. 

Nigel Homer on Wikimedia