The first mention of robin hood comes from the medieval poem piers plowman in the 1370s but mostly as a brief reference to the rhymes of robyn hood the ballads depicting his adventures dont appear until the 15th century well after the historical figure who may have inspired them existed historians believe that the earliest likely candidate for the real robin hood was a man named robert hod identified as an outlaw operating in yorkshire around 1225 1226 other scholars . Early robin hood history robin hood history begins 700 years ago many researchers believe that the 13th century criminals called robehods became the basis for many fictional heroes to many they represented rebellion from the wealth gaps in england at that time where the poor stayed poor through over taxation. The story of robin hood contains compelling narratives of crusades and outlaws and has become a symbol for justice in an unjust world robin hood became a hero over the centuries and has been immortalized in books art and movies as well as a figure of admiration stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Who was robin hood throughout history the figures of the hooded man of sherwood forest and his band of outlaws have transfixed readers and viewers but where does the myth come from the story