Several historical candidates have been proposed as the "seed" of the legend:
While early ballads placed him in the 14th century during the reign of "King Edward," later history moved him back to the 12th-century reign of to heighten the drama of his conflict with Prince John. The Culture: An Outlaw for Every Age Robin Hood : myth, history and culture
The "steal from the rich and give to the poor" mantra wasn't even part of his earliest stories; instead, he was simply a champion of the common folk who stood against corrupt authority. Over centuries, the legend softened: Several historical candidates have been proposed as the
Works like Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe and Howard Pyle's children's stories finalized the image of the selfless philanthropist we know today. The History: Searching for the "Real" Robin The History: Searching for the "Real" Robin The
The "original" Robin Hood would be nearly unrecognizable today. In the earliest 15th-century ballads like Robin Hood and the Monk , he was a rough-edged "yeoman"—a commoner, not a lord—who was often violent and quick-tempered.
Historians have combed through medieval records for centuries, but a single "true" Robin Hood remains elusive. The name was so popular that "Robinhood" or "Robehod" became a common or nickname for outlaws in the 13th and 14th centuries.
A fugitive from Yorkshire whose property was seized by the Sheriff.