Apr 24, 2019 Roger Godberd is one of the people thought to be the inspiration behind the Robin Hood legend. In some ways, he certainly fits the bill, operating as an outlaw around Sherwood Forest and being caught and imprisoned by the Sheriff of Nottingham. In many ways, however, he is very unlike the Robin Hood of myth. Roger seems to have run into some legal trouble during his time at Nottingham as a record included in The Sherwood Forest Book (a collection of legal documents from various sources) tells of an episode in 1264 where Roger and several companions are accused of poaching deer in Sherwood Forest (2). First off, let’s set some context: There are multiple real men on historical record that the legends of Robin Hood could’ve possibly been based on: Robert Hode, Robert Deyville, Robyn Hode of Wakefield, and Roger Godberd.

We all think we know Robin Hood — that benevolent renegade who roamed Sherwood Forest, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, hanging out with Friar Tuck and eventually being portrayed by Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

But that characterization may be even more inaccurate than we think: one historian now argues that the fabled woodsman may in fact have been modeled on a medieval guerrilla fighter who terrorized the French forces that occupied southern England in 1216.

The character of Robin Hood is generally acknowledged to be a fictional one, based on one or several of the numerous well-known outlaws of the early 13th century — such as Roger Godberd, a robber who is said to have evaded the authorities in Sherwood Forest for four years, with 100 men under his command.

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But writing in the magazine History Today, British historian Sean McGlynn suggests that the real inspiration for Robin Hood may have been William of Kensham, whose band of archers attacked the occupying French forces of Prince Louis in the forests of Kent, some 180 miles south of Sherwood Forest during the First Baron’s War. Other supposed inspirations for the character, such as Godberd, were around at the wrong time, and lacked Robin’s “hero” status, said McGlynn, according to the Daily Mail.

Robin Hood is known as both a criminal and a man of the people — and William fits the bill better than any other, wrote McGlynn.

“It’s hard to find another contender for the Robin Hood story from this age or afterwards who is both a hero and an outlaw. In William we have both: a feted resistance fighter, loyally protecting the crown, but also, from Louis’ perspective, an egregious outlaw defying the righteous rule of the imposed new regime.”

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But McGlynn admits that the Robin Hood myth is most likely a mix of various stories.

“The most probable truth behind the Robin Hood legend is that over time storytellers incorporated and conflated various characters from a range of stories and settled on the instantly recognizable name of Robin Hood as the woodsman,” he wrote.

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Robin Hood is a heroic outlaw and skilled archer in English folklore, known for the phrase 'robbing from the rich and giving to the poor'. While he is a completely fictional character, he is one of the most powerful, enduring legends of England.

Each generation grows up with their own imagery of Robin Hood, his followers and enemies, and what they stood for. His stories have inspired at least 12 novels, 8 stage adaptations, 7 TV series, 8 films plus 8 cartoon and 9 feature-length spoofs and 7 musicals – and probably more of each since this list was compiled. Up to a million people visit Sherwood Forest each year, and it seems safe to say that very few of them come primarily to see some ancient vegetation.

Understand[edit]

There are multiple theories about Robin Hood’s origins, which is another way of saying that no theory, and no historical figure, is convincing. The legend usually places him around the turn of the 12th / 13th Centuries, when King Richard I (Richard the Lionheart) was away fighting the crusades, and his younger brother Prince John had only unofficial power as heir presumptive. The Prince became King John in 1199 and in 1215 he signed Magna Carta to head off a revolt by his Barons – so the Robin Hood legend plays into the story of the foundations of English liberty. King John died at nearby Newark in 1216 and was succeeded by his son Henry III.

From 1261 onwards, magistrates began describing villains as “Robinhood” and suchlike. In 1265 Roger Godberd rebelled against King Henry III, was outlawed and fled to Sherwood Forest with his band of followers, and battled with the sheriff. So he’s a good candidate to be Robin Hood, but the name and legends may pre-date him. Ballads of the time recounted Robin’s valorous deeds, the first written throwaway mention being in Piers Plowman in 1377. Over the next 200-300 years the legend expanded to absorb other Robins (eg Robin of Wakefield) and other characters who now became his companions. Maid Marian, for instance, appears circa 1500 as a Shepherdess May Queen, with Robin morphing into her King of May Day Festivities. The legend was effectively re-launched in 1820 by Sir Walter Scott’s novel Ivanhoe, which introduced Robin of Locksley.

The Sheriff of Nottingham is a real official, but in that era his correct title (as you’d do well to remember if you were at his mercy) was the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the Royal Forests. His chief duties were to ensure law and order and to collect taxes. The post was traditionally shared by two men, and held for one year only, but from 1208 to 1221 it was often held solely by Philip Marc. He was deeply unpopular – “collecting taxes” may for him have meant extorting protection money, and Item 50 of Magna Carta specifically called for his removal. (Like every other Item, once the deal was signed, this was roundly ignored by all sides.) So Marc fits well as a model for the villain of legend, but there’s no evidence he was much troubled by forest outlaws, unlike his successors of the 1260s.

From 1449 the duties were divided so the City of Nottingham thereafter had its own sheriff, again as a shared annual post, and from 1568 there were separate High Sheriffs for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. In the 19th C most of the sheriffs’ duties passed to the local authority, police etc, and in other cities the post was abolished, but Nottingham has kept it on for ceremonial and tourist purposes.

Historic locations[edit]

There are a number of locations associated with the legend in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.

• 1Sherwood Forest. Sherwood Forest was a mediaeval hunting forest that stretched from Nottingham to York. Now it is reduced to an area of woodland in north Nottinghamshire, around Edwinstowe, that plays host to a number of leisure facilities.
• 2The Major Oak, near Edwinstowe. the legendary tree that sheltered Robin Hood and his band of outlaws.
• Nottingham
  • 3Nottingham Castle. (Warning: it is not a castle, but a small stately home with only the original gatehouse remaining from the castle.) Museum is a must-see and provides a fascinating insight into the history of Nottingham. The fine mansion also houses the country's first municipal art gallery and the beautifully maintained gardens are ideal for a lazy summer's day stroll. The walls around the 'castle' also offer spectacular views over the Trent valley. The famous Robin Hood statue is located just outside the castle walls.
  • Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Inn. Off Maid Marian Way - One of various pubs claiming to be the oldest pub in Britain, the 'Trip' traces its existence back over 800 years. Built into the sandstone caves under the castle, it is charming and well worth a visit if you happen to be in the city. It is located at the Brewhouse Yard, home to the Museum of Nottingham Life which shows the social change in Nottingham that has occurred over the last 300 years. Dates do not quite match for the legend but as close as you will get to a tavern of the era.
  • Robin Hood Statue (below the castle).
• 4Robin Hood's Grave, Kirklees Park Estate.
• 5Little John's Grave, St Michael and All Angels' Church (Hathersage).
• 6Loxley, South Yorkshire. a village and a suburb of the city of Sheffield, England, one of the locations claimed as the birthplace of Robin Hood
• 1Barnsdale (between Pontefract and Doncaster).
  • 7Robin Hood's Well.
  • 8Wentbridge. claim to be the original home of Robin Hood

Movies and TV locations[edit]

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves[edit]

Sherwood Forest Roger Godberd Attorney

Sherwood Forest Roger Godberd King Of

The 1991 film starting Kevin Costner has a rather improbable journey to Loxley, crossing the English Channel in a rowing boat to Dover and walking in one day via a convoluted route that takes in the Seven Sister, Stonehenge and Hadrian's Wall.

Locations and attractions named after the legend[edit]

Sherwood Forest Roger Godberd Funeral Home

• 1Doncaster Sheffield Airport (Robin Hood Airport), Doncaster.
• 2Robin Hood Bay. small fishing village and a bay
• 3Robin Hood village. village in West Yorkshire, South Leeds
• 1Robin Hood Hills, Nottinghamshire. steep sided range of sandstone hills forming a natural amphitheatre surrounding the villages of Annesley and Newstead, near Kirkby-in-Ashfield
• Robin Hood Line. railway line running from Nottingham to Worksop
• Robin Hood (train). flagship named passenger train operated by East Midlands Trains.
• 1Robin Hood (roller coaster), Dronten. Wooden roller coaster at Walibi Holland

Sherwood Forest Roger Godberd Md

Sherwood Forest Roger Godberd Jr