A Real Robin Hood?

Tales of Wild Kynaston and his Satanic Steed, Beelzebub

back through the ages with Robin Hood: poster for Disney’s 1973 animated feature, Douglas Fairbanks in the 1922 United Artists film, and woodcut illustration from a minstrels’ broadside printed in the 1600s [view license 1 and 2 and 3 ] *

Many believe the legend of Robin Hood to be part-inspired by some of the age-old tales told about King Arthur, combined with the life story of Sir Fulk FitzWarin, of Whittington Castle, Shropshire. Both these mythical and historical sources have informed our modern interpretations of the legends across media since Hollywood’s Silent Age but the character was created long before, by a lineage of balladeers and storytellers who continually tweaked their tales to suit their era, audience, and location.

Sir Fulk was also known by the monikers of Fouke le Fitz Waryn and Foulk Fitzwarren, and there is also some confusion over whether the Fulk in question was the second or third. According to the tale, as a young boy, Fulk was sent to the court of King Henry II, where he grew up with the future King John. Initially they were friends, but that turned sour after a childhood quarrel over chess — apparently, Fulk had the audacity to win a game he played with John, who sure knew how to bear a grudge. So, as an adult, Fulk was stripped of his family’s holdings. Around the year 1200, he stirred rebellion against King John, and had to flee into the woods where he survived as an outlaw. Later he went to war and eventually, having proved himself worthy in battle, had his family seat restored by the king.