Here are some facts about Robin Hood.
- Robin Hood was an outlaw who, according to legend, lived in Sherwood Forest, near Nottingham. He regularly fought against his enemy, the Sheriff of Nottingham.
- Robin is known for dressing in green, for being a skillful archer and for robbing the rich to give to the poor. His band of Merry Men included Friar Tuck, Little John and Will Scarlet.
- He was probably based on a real person, although if that is so, nobody knows for sure who he was. He may have been a Yorkshireman called Robin of Loxley.
- Robin Hood has been portrayed in over 100 films and many books. He has been played by Errol Flynn, Kevin Costner and Sean Connery, and portrayed as a fox in the Disney cartoon version.
- Robin is usually said to have lived in the 11th or 12th centuries, although the earliest reference to him in a song was during the 14th century. He is described as a yeoman, or knight.
- Robin is said to have hidden from his enemies in the Major Oak tree in Sherwood Forest. The huge tree measures about 30 metres around and is almost 1,000 years old.
- During the 15th century, Robin Hood became associated with May Day celebrations in England. He also supposedly met Maid Marian at one of these fairs.
- In some versions of the Robin Hood legend, Richard the Lionheart is Robin’s friend; in others he is his enemy. Richard was unpopular with most of the people at the time. In some of the Robin hood stories, King John was Robin’s enemy.
- If Robin was a real person, there is a grave at Kirklees Priory in Yorkshire said to be his. Legend says that when he knew he was dying, Robin fired an arrow, asking to be buried where it landed.
- Nottinghamshire is promoted as ‘Robin Hood County’, and there are hundreds of places named after the outlaw.
