This is part three in a (probably five-part) series covering my research into the identity of the real Robin Hood. In Part One I looked at location, and Part Two I listed the main contenders. Today I’m going to briefly mention a nearly man. One more strong contender. Someone who cropped up fresh (to me) in the last few weeks, and appears to fit many of the criteria, but remains ruled out for one specific reason.

Right Name/Wrong Name.

A Yorkshire Knight by the name of Robert de Twenge/Thweng rebelled against the authorities in 1232. He raised a dispute with the Prior of Gisborough (sounds pretty close to Gisburne/Gisbourne, right?) which seems to have revolved around the Prior muscling in on the territory of the parish at Kirkleathem (sounds a lot like Kirklees, where Robin was said to have died) while Robert’s father-in-law was ill.

Robert’s wife, but the way? Named Matilda. One of the names usually linked to the proto-Marian.

The dispute grew larger, with it being said that Robert took issue with the local parishes being controlled by foreign figures sent by the Pope. He began raiding churches that were held by these foreign clergymen, and is said to have distributed the proceeds to the poor in nearby areas.

So far, so Robin Hood, right? Robin in all of the earliest stories appears to be devoutly religious, but also angered by the apparent corruptions of the clergy. His disputes seem to be just as much with abbots than with the sheriff, and ultimately he seems loyal to the crown.

Robert de Thweng was excommunicated for his rebellion, but King Henry supported his case in a letter to Pope Gregory IX, and the Knight was forgiven and returned to favour. Not much is known about the remaining years of his life, but he appears to have gone on crusade in 1240 (so after his ‘outlaw’ career rather than before it) and may have sided with the King during a later rebellion (of which I’ll be talking in more detail in a later blog.)

So, to recap: His name was Robert. He rebelled against the corruption of the church, but was ultimately a believer who sought forgiveness from the Pope. He was married to a woman named Matilda. He was pardoned by the King and returned to royal favour. And he was active in Yorkshire.

So….case closed?

At this point I say not. Although I think there’s a very strong case for him. Almost persuasive. In many ways, he ticks more boxes on his own than the man I’m going to name later. But…

Robert is known to have operated under an alias. His ‘criminal’ career was done under the name “William the Angry.” And since we know of Robert’s existence and activities, and know of the alias he used, I think that if he operated under the name Robin Hood we would already know it. The fact that we know so much about him, and yet never hear the name Robin Hood in his biography, seems to suggest to me that we need to rule him out.

In addition, I have yet to find any mentions linking him with either Nottingham or Sherwood, nor any suggestion that he was hunted by the Sheriff of Nottingham. If a strong link emerges to any of these elements, or to Barnsdale, then I think we need to reassess. But for now, this isn’t our man. He’s just a very tempting distraction. But if you were looking for a real-life contender to base your novel on, I think you could do a lot worse than use Robert de Thweng.

And to keep going my mini-tradition of idle speculation in these posts…could William the Angry be the origin of Will Scarlett, by way of anger being red?