Robert Fitzooth
Encyclopedia
Robert Fitzooth or Fitzooth, Earl of Huntingdon
(alleged dates: 1160–1247), is a fictitious identity for Robin Hood
. The name was first published in William Stukeley
's Paleographica Britannica in 1746. By then the association of Robin with the earldom of Huntingdon
had become conventional, thanks to Anthony Munday
's 1598 play The Downfall of Robert Earl of Huntingdon: it was also generally believed that he had flourished in the reign of Richard I of England
.
Unfortunately, David of Scotland was Earl of Huntingdon throughout Richard's reign, succeeded by his son John. David did have a son named Robert but he is believed to have died in infancy. Therefore the Earl could not have been "Robin Hood". Stukeley's genealogical "researches" then turned up a descendant of Earl Waltheof
, and therefore a rival claimant to the earldom, related to the lords of Kyme
, whom he named as Robert Fitzooth, born in 1160 and dying in 1247: and he claimed that "Ooth" or Odo had become corrupted into "Hood".
This has been a popular identification for later writers of fiction, including Disney's The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952), Roger Lancelyn Green's 1956 novel, and the BBC
's new series about Robin Hood. The story goes that the Earl of Huntingdon fell out with King John and was forced to flee north, taking refuge in Sherwood Forest where he spent the rest of his days. In the 1980s ITV
series Robin of Sherwood
, this Robert, made older than he would historically have been, is David's eldest son and survives to adulthood but is disinherited when outlawed.
The name "Fitzooth" was not applied to Robin Hood by anybody before Stukeley, nor is it otherwise known. It is now generally believed that Stukeley forged the Fitzooth family tree and that this Robert never existed. Medieval references to Robin Hood made him a yeoman, not a nobleman, although when the idea of a "noble" Robin first arose in the sixteenth century there was consensus that Huntingdon was his earldom.
Earl of Huntingdon
Earl of Huntingdon is a title which has been created several times in the Peerage of England. The title is associated with the ruling house of Scotland, and latterly with the Hastings family.-Early history:...
(alleged dates: 1160–1247), is a fictitious identity for Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
. The name was first published in William Stukeley
William Stukeley
William Stukeley FRS, FRCP, FSA was an English antiquarian who pioneered the archaeological investigation of the prehistoric monuments of Stonehenge and Avebury, work for which he has been remembered as "probably... the most important of the early forerunners of the discipline of archaeology"...
's Paleographica Britannica in 1746. By then the association of Robin with the earldom of Huntingdon
Huntingdon
Huntingdon is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was chartered by King John in 1205. It is the traditional county town of Huntingdonshire, and is currently the seat of the Huntingdonshire district council. It is known as the birthplace in 1599 of Oliver Cromwell.-History:Huntingdon...
had become conventional, thanks to Anthony Munday
Anthony Munday
Anthony Munday was an English dramatist and miscellaneous writer. The chief interest in Munday for the modern reader lies in his collaboration with Shakespeare and others on the play Sir Thomas More and his writings on Robin Hood.-Biography:He was once thought to have been born in 1553, because...
's 1598 play The Downfall of Robert Earl of Huntingdon: it was also generally believed that he had flourished in the reign of Richard I of England
Richard I of England
Richard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period...
.
Unfortunately, David of Scotland was Earl of Huntingdon throughout Richard's reign, succeeded by his son John. David did have a son named Robert but he is believed to have died in infancy. Therefore the Earl could not have been "Robin Hood". Stukeley's genealogical "researches" then turned up a descendant of Earl Waltheof
Waltheof
Waltheof was a 12th century English abbot and saint. He was the son of Simon I of St Liz, 1st Earl of Northampton and Maud, 2nd Countess of Huntingdon, thus stepson to David I of Scotland, and the grandson of Waltheof, Earl of Northampton.As a younger son in the world of Norman succession laws,...
, and therefore a rival claimant to the earldom, related to the lords of Kyme
Newton Kyme
Newton Kyme is a village and a civil parish near the River Wharfe, in the Selby District, in the English county of North Yorkshire. It is near the town of Tadcaster. For transport there is the A659 road nearby. Newton Kyme has a place of worship and a castle called Kyme Castle.- References...
, whom he named as Robert Fitzooth, born in 1160 and dying in 1247: and he claimed that "Ooth" or Odo had become corrupted into "Hood".
This has been a popular identification for later writers of fiction, including Disney's The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952), Roger Lancelyn Green's 1956 novel, and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's new series about Robin Hood. The story goes that the Earl of Huntingdon fell out with King John and was forced to flee north, taking refuge in Sherwood Forest where he spent the rest of his days. In the 1980s ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
series Robin of Sherwood
Robin of Sherwood
Robin of Sherwood , was a British television series, based on the legend of Robin Hood. Created by Richard Carpenter, it was produced by HTV in association with Goldcrest, and ran from 1984 to 1986 on the ITV network. In America it was retitled Robin Hood and shown on the premium cable TV channel...
, this Robert, made older than he would historically have been, is David's eldest son and survives to adulthood but is disinherited when outlawed.
The name "Fitzooth" was not applied to Robin Hood by anybody before Stukeley, nor is it otherwise known. It is now generally believed that Stukeley forged the Fitzooth family tree and that this Robert never existed. Medieval references to Robin Hood made him a yeoman, not a nobleman, although when the idea of a "noble" Robin first arose in the sixteenth century there was consensus that Huntingdon was his earldom.