Robin Hood, Fact or Fiction?
Fact or fiction? The thrilling adventures of Robin Hood have survived nearly 800 years. Never ceasing to amaze the reader. Many have spent their days wondering if this English hero was actually more than just a legend. Robin achieved great things in his life, although too great, it seems, for a real man. It is thought that these tales could have been based on the life of one man, exaggerated, but real nonetheless. A man would have to be a true hero of the people to have stories told about him more than 800 years after his death. This man was a true legend; he achieved more than almost any other man in his lifetime. This man’s name was Sir William Wallace of Scotland, or more commonly known as ‘Braveheart’.
William …show more content…
The only remaining seal of Wallace was attached to the Lubeck Letter. William spent much of his younger life in Selkirk forest, outlawed, wrongly accused of being a poacher. He was a gamekeeper, equipped with a bow and arrow. Here is the reason for the bow on his seal. Is it purely coincidence that Robin was famous for his use of the bow? William’s wife was called Mirren; this is Scots for Marion, the name of Robin Hood’s love. No evidence suggests that Robin ever lived in Sherwood. There was no actual ‘Robin Hood’ but is it possible that he could have existed as William Wallace. Robin was famous for stopping tax carriages and giving the money to the poor. Robin did not do this by force; he used tactics and strategy. Much like William Wallace did in his battles. William lead commoners to battle not trained soldiers. He used strategy to win his battles, yet another connection between Robin and William. All evidence suggests that Robin lived in the 13th century. It is of little surprise then that this was the time of William …show more content…
William seems like the obvious option, although there are many cases where outlaws have gone under the alias ‘Robin Hood’ or variations of this name. It seems that Robin’s name became associated with criminal activity. “They were Robin Hood actions”, became an excuse in a final attempt to escape punishment. In 1498 Roger Marshall was the leader of a 100 person uprising. He claimed he should not be punished because they were “typical Robin Hood actions”. Society in the 13th century was very violent and confined. Robin would either live as a peasant or risk living as an outlaw. The judicial system of that time was very corrupt. It was far better to live as an outlaw than a peasant. For Robin to live in the forest would make it easy for him to ambush the King. Sherwood was a royal forest and therefore the King travelled through it regularly. It was even used as a hunting ground for the King. Outlaws appeared far and wide with variations of the alias ‘Robin Hood’. Robert Hod appeared in 1226 and as ‘Hobbehob’ in 1227. A prize of 32 shillings and 6 pence was offered for the capture of this man. He escaped and lived on. Could he have been the catalyst to start the fables? Evading the law as a criminal. Stories could have been exaggerated and emerged as the tales of Robin Hood. He could have been a simple spark for the legend, if each person who told them exaggerated the stories, they could have
Fact or fiction? The thrilling adventures of Robin Hood have survived nearly 800 years. Never ceasing to amaze the reader. Many have spent their days wondering if this English hero was actually more than just a legend. Robin achieved great things in his life, although too great, it seems, for a real man. It is thought that these tales could have been based on the life of one man, exaggerated, but real nonetheless. A man would have to be a true hero of the people to have stories told about him more than 800 years after his death. This man was a true legend; he achieved more than almost any other man in his lifetime. This man’s name was Sir William Wallace of Scotland, or more commonly known as ‘Braveheart’.
William …show more content…
The only remaining seal of Wallace was attached to the Lubeck Letter. William spent much of his younger life in Selkirk forest, outlawed, wrongly accused of being a poacher. He was a gamekeeper, equipped with a bow and arrow. Here is the reason for the bow on his seal. Is it purely coincidence that Robin was famous for his use of the bow? William’s wife was called Mirren; this is Scots for Marion, the name of Robin Hood’s love. No evidence suggests that Robin ever lived in Sherwood. There was no actual ‘Robin Hood’ but is it possible that he could have existed as William Wallace. Robin was famous for stopping tax carriages and giving the money to the poor. Robin did not do this by force; he used tactics and strategy. Much like William Wallace did in his battles. William lead commoners to battle not trained soldiers. He used strategy to win his battles, yet another connection between Robin and William. All evidence suggests that Robin lived in the 13th century. It is of little surprise then that this was the time of William …show more content…
William seems like the obvious option, although there are many cases where outlaws have gone under the alias ‘Robin Hood’ or variations of this name. It seems that Robin’s name became associated with criminal activity. “They were Robin Hood actions”, became an excuse in a final attempt to escape punishment. In 1498 Roger Marshall was the leader of a 100 person uprising. He claimed he should not be punished because they were “typical Robin Hood actions”. Society in the 13th century was very violent and confined. Robin would either live as a peasant or risk living as an outlaw. The judicial system of that time was very corrupt. It was far better to live as an outlaw than a peasant. For Robin to live in the forest would make it easy for him to ambush the King. Sherwood was a royal forest and therefore the King travelled through it regularly. It was even used as a hunting ground for the King. Outlaws appeared far and wide with variations of the alias ‘Robin Hood’. Robert Hod appeared in 1226 and as ‘Hobbehob’ in 1227. A prize of 32 shillings and 6 pence was offered for the capture of this man. He escaped and lived on. Could he have been the catalyst to start the fables? Evading the law as a criminal. Stories could have been exaggerated and emerged as the tales of Robin Hood. He could have been a simple spark for the legend, if each person who told them exaggerated the stories, they could have