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:

Robin gained his iconic companions, Maid Marian and Friar Tuck , likely through festive May Day plays where he was crowned the "King of May". Robin Hood : myth, history and culture

A fugitive from Yorkshire whose property was seized by the Sheriff. The "steal from the rich and give to

Several historical candidates have been proposed as the "seed" of the legend: Several historical candidates have been proposed as the

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 contemporary of Simon de Montfort who led a band of outlaws in Sherwood and was hunted by the Sheriff of Nottingham.

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.