A Working Chronology for The Life & Times of the Real Robyn Hoode

"I kan noght parfitly my Paternoster as the preest it syngeth, But I kan rymes of Robyn hood and Randolf Erl of Chestre."

"I do not know my paternoster (prayers) perfectly as the priest sings it, But I know rhymes of Robin Hood and Ranulf, Earl of Chester."

Piers Plowman (spoken by 'Sloth'), William Langland C1362.

The following book represents a reconstruction of a time-line for the life and times of the real Robyn Hoode based on actual known historical events and the associations given to them by the early tales of Robyn Hoode. To this has been added a measure of geographic knowledge to create a realistic life story, with many additional elements from the earliest surviving literature about him, and archaeological notes where relevant. Attention has also been given to the development of relevant early Medieval 'orders' such as Hospitallers, Templars, Crusaders, Foresters, Yeomen, Monastic Orders, etc. and to those noble families and Northern Barons with known associations to the early tales.

My apologies if the time-line format or 'diary style' approach to organizing Robyn's life does not appeal to every reader, however there is simply so much material involved that a chronological approach, in the style of such earlier Victorian publications, is felt to be the only practical way to organize Robyn's life-story, and it should enable any future researchers to find a place in which to insert any new discoveries, or expand on their own particular area of interest.

I have chosen in preparing this chronology of the life and times of the real Robyn Hoode, not to use any sources that can not be academically traced or authenticated to before 1650 unless it is the only material available. Any later surviving sources are given less credence and prominence and are subject to even greater critical scrutiny.

The Reign Of King William II (1087-1100)

Early Medieval times could be summarized as various attempts to put stability into a highly unstable European almost 'posttribal' society. The Crusades began this trend when a 'bored' Norman aristocracy had simply to find something to do, something worthwhile they could focus on, and they chose what they were best at – conquest! The result was the establishment of a number of Religious and Civil institutions unique to that age and ultimately of importance to the seeker of Robyn Hoode, his men, and his various opponents.

Britain was certainly not immune to these trends. King William I had not entirely succeeded in conquering every corner of a realm containing Saxons, Vikings, Danes, Picts, Scots, Irish, and Welsh, and he had particular difficulties throughout his reign with 'The North' which began in the lands above the river Trent and became established and 'hard core' north of the river Mersey. This was land formerly held by tribes like the Brigantees and Setanti who withstood the in-flux of the Roman Empire and attempts at invasion by Norwegian Vikings from the West and Danes from the east.

However, the 11th Century closed after the battle of Hastings in 1066 with the early establishment of all things traditionally 'Medieval' and with William The Conqueror attacking Chester and the north in the winter of 1072, the famous 'Harrying Of The North', during which Viking and Danish settlers were spared, Saxons were slaughtered and dispossessed, and any supporters of King Harold permanently removed (a process most graphically shown by the names and value of lands held in the 'Domesday Survey').

A fairly reliable story places King Harold at St John's Church in Chester having escaped Hastings and living as a hermit with an injured left leg (an injury shown on the Bayeux Tapestry). He is said to have lived there till around 1069 and died there in 1072 upon his return from a three year pilgrimage to the Holy Land-even though he probably didn't make it into the Holy City itself due to political changes:

1056-1074:The Muslim rulers of Jerusalem forbid Christian pilgrims to enter the city and a massacre of unarmed Christian Pilgrims takes place there in 1064 followed by an appeal by the Byzantine Emperor to the Pope for help in 1074.

1095:In November Pope Urban II calls for a Crusade at the Council of Clermont in the same year that the Byzantine Empire in Eastern Europe calls on the rest of Europe for military aid against the Turks.

1099:The 1st Crusade reaches Jerusalem in the summer of 1099.

1099:15th July, Godfrey of Bouillon, Duke of Lower Loraine, forms the Knights Of St John when Jerusalem is taken, they lay down their swords, take monastic vows, and attend to injured knights, taking over the existing hospital in Jerusalem first established by the merchants of Amalfi in the Tenth Century.

1100:The Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem is organized as a feudal state with the Al-Aqsa mosque becoming the Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1104.

The Reign Of King Henry I (1100-1135)

1113-1118:The 'Independent Order of the Hospital of St John in Jerusalem' (Knights Hospitaller) is confirmed by Pope Paschal II & runs under Augustinian Monastic rule to care for all injured Crusader knights in conflicts across the Medieval world. In 1114 the Bishop of Chartres? refers in his records to a forming military order called the 'Militia Of Christ' who, it is thought, emerge in 1118 as 'The Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon' (Knights Templar) formed by Hugh de Payens & Godfrey de St Omer essentially to protect pilgrims on the road from Jaffa to Jerusalem. It is of little doubt that they had other agendas to pursue as the order became very wealthy and famous in a relatively short period of time.

1120: The back-story to Robyn Hoode really begins when King Henry I's only legitimate son and heir, William Adelin, dies on the 25 November 1120 in the sinking of the 'Blanche-Nef' (White Ship) in the English Channel creating a struggle for succession that results in the conflict between King Stephen and Queen Matilda. Almost 300 lives perished in the sinking and only two survived to tell the tale. Contemporary historian William of Malmesbury also records the death of "Richard d'Avranches, second Earl of Chester, and his brother Otheur (Arthur), ... No ship ever brought so much misery to England." It is with the Earls of Chester that our story of Robyn Hoode begins.

The importance and position of Chester in the affairs of Medieval England has been severely under-played. The Palatine Counties (or 'self-governing') of Cheshire and Lancashire, and the Baronial holdings of northern lands, held its own court at Chester equal in powers to any held in...