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The Origins |
Date |
Robin Hood Anthology Event |
| The earliest ballads relating Robin's adventures were being sung by as early as the 14th. Century. There is a great deal of evidence to suggest that if Robin really did exist, it was sometime in the 13th. Century. For example, the York assizes of 1225 refer to a "Robert Hod" - fugitive who was a tenant of the Archbishop of York. In 1227 he appears again as "Hobbehod". Another interesting reference came to light in the 1850's with the discovery of a historic document giving details of a forester, Robert Hood, the son of Adam Hood. He was born in 1280 and lived with his wife Matilda in Wakefield, Yorkshire. Could Robert and Matilda have moved to Sherwood and become known as Robin and Marion? In 1261, records show a William de Fevre was made an outlaw and one year later in 1262, a royal official renamed him on case records to "William Robehood" or "Robinhood". The significance of this is that as early as 1262, Robin Hood had achieved such fame throughout the region that other outlaws were starting to be named after him. Thus, Robinhood was becoming a generic nickname for outlaws of the time. There are at least 8 people before 1300 who were given the "Robinhood" nickname, at least 5 of whom were outlaws or people accused of criminal activity. One could speculate that this was a period of time where the activities of the real Robin Hood were well known. A major development in Robin's story came in 1510 with the publication of a poem entitled "a Lytell Gest of Robin Hood". This document gives any researcher seeking the identity of Robin a wealth of clues and information with its references to Nottingham, Barnsdale, Sherwood and the Sheriff of Nottingham. If Robin was alive in the 13th. Century, he would have been a product of a violent and repressed society. Most people lived the life of peasants and corruption and exploitation by those charged with upholding the law was rife. Thus, for the likes of Robin and his men, it was better to risk life as an outlaw than face a justice system open to bribery and intimidation. As an outlaw of the most "most wanted" variety, Robin would know that a Royal Pardon represented his only real chance of redress. Given the plight of most people in 13th. Century England, it is not in the least surprising that a people's hero who spurned authority and Noble rule would become a figure of folk-lore to be celebrated and held up as a champion of the poor. |
1226 |
Robert Hod appears in court records |
| 1227 |
Robert Hod becomes "Hobbehod" in the records |
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| 1262 |
Royal records show William Robehod's name changed to the nickname "Robinhood" |
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| 1266 |
William de Grey - Sheriff of Nottingham, in conflict with outlaws in Sherwood Forest |
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| 1304 |
Robin Hood named in folio 103 of registrum premonstratense |
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| 1316 |
Marriage of Matilda Hood to Robin Hood mentioned in the Wakefield Court Rolls |
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| 1323 |
Robyn Hood mentioned as a porter to "jornal ole la Chambre" of King Edward the second |
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| 1341 |
John Fordun, the canon of Aberdeen, in the Scottish chronicles, dates Robin Hood & Little John to 1266 |
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| 1377 |
Piers the plowman published |
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| 1376 |
John Gower has the characters of Robin and Marian in his poem. |
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| 1420 |
Original chronicle of Scotland by Andrew Wynton dates Robin Hood and Little John in Sherwood in the year 1283 |
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| c1450 |
Robin Hood and the Monk published |
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| 1475 |
Robin Hood and the Sheriff Published |
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| 1500 |
Robin Hood and the Potter Published |
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| 1508, 1548 and 1594 |
The little geste of Robin Hood and his meyne, and the proud Sheriff of Nottingham by Wynken de Worde published; based upon four separate oral ballads |
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| 1521 |
John Major's History of Great Britain places Robin Hood in the time of Richard the Lionheart |
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| 1598 |
A play makes Robin a nobleman, the Earl of Huntingdon 16th century Maid Marian is May Queen in the May games.16th century Evidence that Robin was born at Loxley |
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| 1822 |
Robin is found as a character in "Ivanhoe" by Scott |
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| 1938 |
Release of the famous film "The Adventures of Robin Hood" starring Errol Flynn |
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| 1980 |
Release of tv series "Robin of Sherwood" |
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| 1991 |
Release of "Robin Prince of Thieves" starring Kevin Costner |
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