So if Robin Hood probably didn’t steal from the rich to give to the poor, why did he become so popular, especially among the peasants and lower strata of Medieval society? Probably because of his resistance to the Sheriff of Nottingham. Everyone hated him, and anyone who was willing to face him would have indeed become a hero to anyone living under his oppression.
If there were a real Robin Hood, he probably would not have been an even-tempered knightly figure. Instead, he probably would have been someone who went around looking for trouble and always trying to start a fight. He probably fought as many innocent people as “bad guys.” Their level of personal virtue wouldn’t have mattered if they were crossing his turf. In other words, he was like a Medieval gang member.
For some, trying to find the historical Robin Hood is about identifying a particular person about whom the earliest legends tell stories. However, the bigger picture of looking for the real Robin Hood is about understanding the drudgery of Medieval life at the bottom of the hierarchical ladder, for people who were poor and oppressed by heavy taxation, and who needed a hero.
Along with the likes of King Arthur and the wizard Merlin, Robin Hood continues to be celebrated in England today. His celebrity is particularly prominent in Nottingham, which has a festival in his honor every year. In Sherwood Forest, the oak where he is believed to have called his Merry Men is protected as a historical site. There are even markers for his and Little John’s supposed graves.
Hollywood has taken the legends of Robin Hood and outfitted them for a contemporary audience. In all likelihood, the stories will continue to entertain children and adults for the foreseeable future. They may keep growing and evolving, so much so that 200 years from now, the stories scarcely recognize those that we know today.
Where Did We Find This Stuff? Here Are Our Sources:
“History’s Mysteries – The True Story of Robin Hood” (Documentary).