Introduction
Was the legend of Robin Hood based on a noble bloodline buried in medieval politics? A deeper look at an overlooked genealogical chart reveals surprising links between royal Scottish lineage, Norman nobility, and the de Vere family--guardians of law, rebellion, and legacy. This exploration traces the thread that binds myth and monarchy through the House of Huntingdon.
At the heart of the chart lies David I, King of Scots, and his English wife Maud, daughter of Waltheof, Earl of Northumberland. Their son, Henry, continued the dual inheritance of both Scottish and English titles, including Earl of Huntingdon and Northumberland. From him descended Malcolm IV, who briefly held the English Earldom of Northumberland while serving as King of Scots.
This dual rule created a powerful cross-border dynasty that connected Scottish royalty with English territorial influence. The continuation through William Earl of Huntingdon and Simon of St. Liz III set the stage for one of the most debated heirs: John, surnamed Scot, Earl of Angus and Huntingdon (d. 1237).
Beneath the noble branches, a shadowy figure emerges: Robert Fitzooth, labeled in the chart as the man “commonly called Robin Hood.” This entry claims he pretended to the Earldom of Huntingdon, dying in 1274.
While many historians dismiss the idea of Robin Hood as a historical personage, this chart suggests that a real individual named Robert Fitzooth existed, likely of noble descent, possibly disinherited or removed from power. This would explain the legend of a noble outlaw resisting corrupt authority--a symbolic, romanticized form of real aristocratic dispossession.
Another path from the same lineage leads to Roisia de Vere, tied through William FitzOoth. The de Veres, Earls of Oxford, were one of the oldest noble families in England, deeply entwined in royal service and rebellion alike.
The reference to Robert, Earl of Oxford, as guardian to a FitzOoth daughter, suggests that the de Vere family may have had guardianship or direct ties to individuals caught up in the Robin Hood legacy. This is particularly intriguing given the de Veres’ long association with the crown--and occasional opposition to it.
In the High Middle Ages, it was not uncommon for illegitimate or politically inconvenient heirs to vanish from official records--only to resurface in folklore. The legend of Robin Hood as a noble turned outlaw aligns with the idea of a dispossessed nobleman, fighting injustice, not for coin but for the restoration of true order.
This may explain why Robert Fitzooth was later remembered in tales as a heroic bandit. If his claim to the Earldom of Huntingdon had been suppressed by the crown or competing families, myth would be the only medium by which he could survive.
This narrative holds rich thematic value for exploration:
Is it possible that Robin Hood’s arrows were aimed not just at greedy sheriffs, but at a system that erased his place in the noble order? The genealogical chart suggests that beneath the forest canopy of legend lies a very real tree of lineage--rooted in the royal House of Huntingdon, its branches brushing against the de Veres and the politics of dispossession.
“What if Robin Hood was more than just a myth? Explore the tangled roots of power, rebellion, and hidden bloodlines at DeepDive.org.au--where history meets mystery.”