Who Was The Real Robin Hood - Robert of Wetherby, Yorkshire?

The story is a classic, isn't it? A hero with a bow and arrow, living in the woods, standing up to a greedy boss-man, and helping out those who are struggling. For centuries, the legend of Robin Hood, the ultimate benevolent outlaw who steals from the rich to give to the poor, has captured imaginations all over England and beyond.

Now, a brand-new TV series is bringing the tale to life again, with Sean Bean taking on the role of the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham. The new Robin Hood series, starring Australian actor Jack Patten as the main hero, is hitting the UK streaming platform MGM+. But with this new adaptation on our screens, it begs the question: was there ever a real Robin Hood?

A hero's tale begins

Let's be honest, finding solid proof of a historical Robin Hood is a bit of a tricky business. The first little whispers of him appear in medieval times. The famous poet Geoffrey Chaucer gave a nod to a 'joly Robyn' playing in the woods, but that's about it from him. For a long time, there was hardly any mention of the hero we know today in official records.

No tax returns, no arrest warrants for a chap in green tights pinching gold from the Sheriff. It's a bit strange for such a famous English outlaw. The story really took off around the year 1500 with a printed poem, or a ballad, called A Geste of Robyne Hood and his Meiny. This was like the blockbuster film of its day.

It was packed with tales of adventure featuring Robin, Little John, and of course, the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham. At the end of this eight-part series of stories, the King himself pops up in Sherwood Forest, and our hero gets a royal pardon. But one tiny line in the ballad changed everything: 'He did pore men much good'. And just like that, the idea of Robin Hood as a champion for the poor was born. A few years later, a Scottish historian wrote about 'Those most famous robbers Robert Hood and Little John, who lay in wait in the woods, but spoiled of their goods only those who were wealthy.' The legend of the benevolent outlaw was growing.

Searching for the real man behind the myth

So, if the legend isn't quite true, could it have been inspired by a real person? Historians have a few suspects lined up. Let's look at the evidence.

• A Servant from Cirencester: There was a man named Robin Hood recorded in the 13th century. He worked for an Abbot and apparently killed someone in 1216. The only problem? He was from Gloucestershire, not Nottingham.
• Robert of Wetherby: Now this chap sounds more like it. He was described in 1225 as an 'outlaw and evil-doer of our land' and was chased by the Sheriff of Yorkshire. But his story ends with him being hanged, which doesn't fit the happy-ending tales of Robin Hood.
• Fulk FitzWarin: An outlaw who got into a scrap with King John over an inheritance. Fulk FitzWarin ended up being one of the powerful barons who forced the unpopular King to sign the Magna Carta in 1215 - a document that limited the King's power. A real-life hero standing up to a bad ruler.
• Eustace the Monk: This guy was another enemy of King John. Eustace the Monk hid out in a forest and even wore disguises, just like Robin. He had a rule: if travellers he stopped were honest about how much money they had, he'd let them go. A man of principle!
• Roger Godberd: In 2010, author David Baldwin suggested this outlaw was the closest match. In the late 13th century, Godberd led a gang that caused chaos in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. A warrant for his arrest said he committed 'so many and great homicides and robberies'. He did get a royal pardon, but the timeline is off.

The Robin Hood tales are usually set during the time of King Richard and King John, over 50 years earlier. The truth is, the real Robin Hood was probably a mix of all these different people and stories, blended together over hundreds of years to create the ultimate hero. And while his true identity is a mystery, you can visit a monument in Yorkshire at Kirklees Priory that rather cheekily claims to be his final resting place.

From a ballad to the big screen

Whatever his origins, the story of Robin Hood has proven to be timeless. It's been told again and again, especially in film and on TV. Each adaptation brings something new to the legend. One of the most famous is the 1938 classic The Adventures of Robin Hood, starring Errol Flynn. It's a swashbuckling adventure that many still see as the best version. Fast forward to 1991, and you've got Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. This adaptation gave us Morgan Freeman's fantastic character, Azeem, and became a massive box office hit. It was also famous for featuring the Sycamore Gap tree, which was sadly vandalised in 2023.

Then in 2010, Russell Crowe put on the green tights for Ridley Scott's film, though some people weren't too keen on his wobbly English accent. On the small screen, there have been plenty of brilliant portrayals too. The 1950s TV series with Richard Greene was a huge hit. And now, the legend continues with the brand-new MGM+ series. With Sean Bean as the villainous Sheriff, it's set to be another exciting chapter in the long history of our favourite outlaw. Whether he was a real man or just a collection of tales, the hero of Nottingham lives on.