This edition of my genealogy blog is a tangle of history and legend. The story of Robin Hood is well known through dozens of books, movies and TV productions. Although fictional, his character is based on well-documented history occurring during the 13^th century. I've been on the “trail” of this Robin Hood character for many years, and here is what I think I know about how my genealogy relates.

One tradition of the real life person on whom the legend of “Robin Hood” was most likely based, was a 13^th century English family named Fulk FitzWarin, I, II and III, but this is primarily about Fulk III. 

"Fulk FitzWarin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulk FitzWarin (also called Fulke or Fouke FitzWaryn or FitzWarren, or FitzWalter) was a medieval landed gentleman (Baron) from Whittington Castle in the English county of Shropshire. As a young boy, Fulk III was sent to the court of King Henry II, where he grew up with the future King John. John became his enemy after a childhood quarrel. As an adult, Fulk was stripped of his family's holdings, and took to the woods as an outlaw. One traditional account of his life survives in a French prose manuscript "ancestral romance" containing English, French and Latin texts. A 16th century Middle English version also exists. In any event, the tale of Fulk FitzWarin III has been noted for its parallels to the Robin Hood legend. The Fulk III story has all the right ingredients. It’s a good story, and I’m claiming it.

Now here are the intriguing family connections. Baron Fulk FitzWarin, III, through my mother’s maternal line, turns out to be my 25X ggf. Fulks III’s wife, (a.k.a, Maid Marian) was Maud le Vavasour, Baroness Butler. Butler (Botiller) was a significant family in Ireland and English history. Turns out that through a branch on my father’s paternal side, Maud was my 24 ggm. Anyway, the story of Maud and Fulk is a well-documented, convoluted, involved tale of romance and intrigue through several noble families of Ireland, England and France. And, adding another twist to the story, King John, youngest son of Henry II, and Fulk’s nemeses, is my 25X ggf (through my father’s maternal side).  Other aspects of the story include the Barons’ role in forcing King John to sign the Magna Carta at Runnymede, England, in 1215, subsequent Barons’ wars including the Fitswarin family, and a French invasion of England. William’s genealogy, through his mother’s line, is involved as well, including ties to Maud (er, Maid Marian) through Irish nobility, but that needs to be another story.

So there you have it. Both William and I have genealogical ties to the history involving the legend of Robin Hood. I have included a few links if your interest in history has peaked, including the above story and remains to the Fitswarin Castle at Strobshire.