Sometimes she is even the brains behind the Merry Men. Recent writers have restored Marian to her rightful place in the band. Marian doesn't take crap from anyone, Robin included. I prefer a strong Marion who can beat Robin in a fight. Rubbish! There have always been strong women in history, and some of them were warriors. Yet another says Robin overcame her easily. In another book, her fight with Robin ends when she sees blood and faints. She gets one tiny mention in a classic children's book. Sadly, some writers at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of 20th century weakened Marian. The maid part of her name is dropped, or she is called Lady Marion instead. In these stories, she's usually just called Marion or Marian. Sometimes she lives as an outlaw with Robin and is as good an archer and swordsman as he is. She'll also speak her mind.Īnd in many stories, she's an even stronger character. And in a time when women were forced into unwanted marriages, Marian chose to love Robin. The sheriff only suspects her ties to Robin Hood. Even cloistered away in Nottingham, she acts as a spy, passing information to the rogues in Sherwood.

In some tales the happy couple refuse to marry until the Merry Men are pardoned, hence she is called 'Maid Marian'.īut Marian (or Marion, as her name is often spelled) is not always a weak character in need of rescuing. There are times when Maid Marian is merely the hero's girlfriend. Our hero will have to rescue her from these men. And her unwanted suitors include the sheriff, Guy of Gisborne and even Prince John. Other times she is the ward of the sheriff or Prince John. However, in other stories, she's a Saxon who's known Robin since they were children. She meets Robin when he ambushes a group of Norman knights. Sometimes she's a Norman noblewoman, daughter of Lord Fitzwalter or Sir Richard at the Lee, a knight who was helped by Robin Hood. True, she can be merely a damsel-in-distress. She has become a very important part of the legend.

Marian's a late-comer to the legend, and she doesn't appear in many of the traditional ballads. Click here to see a picture of the church. Mary's church in the village of Edwinstowe. Local legend says Robin and Marian were married in St.

She is Robin Hood's true love and truly a great woman. There's an old saying that behind every great man is a great woman.

The forestwife by theresa tomlinson