Many of us have seen movies about knights and nobles, outlaws and folk heroes that captured our imagination.
I personally loved the old adventures starring Errol Flynn, Robert Taylor, Basil Rathbone and the Divas of the silver screen.
I think that during childhood the most important thing to take away is the concept of right and wrong, standing up for a good cause, humble beginnings do not define you but your hard work and actions do..
Inspiration Hollywood..
As an adult the movies should inspire you to ask questions.
What are the historical facts?
the clothing and armour look so cool, how accurate is it?
Where does the historical origin stop and the audience pleasing screenwriting begin?
Most people in western countries know the story of Robin Hood.
Numerous films and series were made about the legend of Robin Hood, and many more were heavily inspired by it.
As for how real it is..
We know prince john existed, he signed the Magna Charta.
King Richard existed, he was the king of England at the time.
The plot says the King was held for ransom and the people heavily taxed to pay it, but prince John kept the money for himself.
facts are that between 1088 and 1330 the imperial castle Trifels was one of the most important centres of power in Europe. Here the Imperial regalia like the Crown, Scepter and Orb were kept. (replicas can be viewed in the wonderfully restored treasury)
The castle also served to house the most prestigious prisoners of the Holy Roman Emperor, like king Richard the Lionheart
(and for those serving in and around Ramstein it is a nice destination for a day trip)
things get more sketchy when it comes to Robin Hood and his merry men..
Contemporary sources do mention outlaws in the woods, and yes also in Sherwood forest.
but few outlaws would attack anyone escorted by heavily armed and armoured veteran soldiers.
and the romance between Robin and maid Marian, is fiction and exactly what Hollywood needs.
The story of Ivanhoe is another popular one, it takes place at roughly the same time and the hero is as dashing as Robin Hood. and everything revolves around the Anglo-Saxons being opressed and humiliated by the haughty Norman rulers.
facts are that after the Norman Conquest of 1066, In order to secure Norman loyalty during his conquest, William I rewarded his loyal followers by taking English land and redistributing it to his knights, officials, and the Norman aristocracy. many of the English nobles lost lands and titles. The lesser Thanes were dispossessed of lands and titles. A number of free men had their rights and freedom taken away, becoming serfs
the degree of subsequent Anglo-Norman conflict is a question much discussed by historians. Some residual ill-feeling mentioned by the contemporary Orderic Vitalis, who in Ecclesiastical Historii (1125) wrote in praise of native English resistance to “William the Bastard” (William I of England).
the English hated him, but the king retaliated ruthlessly with his military force to subdue the rebellions and discontentment.
Historical facts are often much more spectacular and crazy than any screenplay, and the powerplays in the middle ages are as brilliant, epic, cruel, murderous and brave as any game of thrones season. For many, literature and museums are not the first point of contact. Therefore interest in the middle ages comes from Inspiration Hollywood.