When you were young, you probably got bored in your history class. But the truth is that there are a lot of fascinating historical figures out there! In one way or another, they altered and disrupted the normal order of things. Recently, people have started to take a closer look at them. Experts have taken a close look at these important figures and expressed doubts about their stories’ veracity. It is not always easy to find evidence that the famous events happened. You will be surprised when you hear which claims are being disputed! Please keep reading to learn about the history they did not teach you in your high school days.
Find Out If Your Favorite Historical Figures Were Actually Fictional Characters
Mulan
The Disney movie of the same name made us all memorize the lyrics to “I’ll Make A Man Out Of You.” We all learned about Mulan from the animated film! But the truth is that she didn’t really fight in place of her father. You should check out “Chinese Shadow Theatre: History, Popular Religion, and Women Warriors,” which implies that the character was based on a female warrior called Wei Hua Hu. Even though their stories were similar, the movie did not tell a factual story.
Mulan
King Arthur
It is hard not to be familiar with King Arthur’s story with all the King Arthur remakes. Of course, how can we possibly forget about Monty Python and the Holy Grail? Historians want you to know that the movies are not factual for reasons you might not think. The story seemed to have been based on a Roman military commander called Lucius Artorious Castus. On the other hand, some experts think that the inspiration was Riothamus instead! He ruled Britain back in the fifth century.
King Arthur
William Shakespeare
You might be surprised to see this since William Shakespeare is one of the most influential writers in history. Can you believe that the Bard might not have been who we think he was? Some experts think that he had been using an alias. Meanwhile, others believe that he truly did not exist. J. Thomas Looney is the schoolteacher who proposed that he was actually Edward de Vere. The theory goes that his work was posthumously published under the name we all know – William Shakespeare.
William Shakespeare
Robin Hood
The tale of Robin Hood only became popular during the 13th and 14th centuries. Did you know that no one has been able to prove the legitimacy of the story? Back then, many English outlaws referred to themselves as “Robin Hood.” This was often done as a way to reference how sneaky they were. Some experts think that the story’s basis was a nobleman named Fulk Fitz Warin, whose story later came out in Fouke le Fitz Waryn. The similarities with the outlaw are outstanding.
Robin Hood
Confucius
When it comes to Chinese philosophy, there is one name that always comes up: Confucius. We totally see where you are coming from if you are shocked to find this name on the list. Lionel M. Jensen is the Chinese studies director at the University of Colorado at Denver. His theory is that Jesuit missionaries came up with the philosopher in the 16th century. It is certainly an interesting idea.
Confucius
William Tell
Back in the 14th century, a Swiss troublemaker by the name of William Tell became famous. Legends say that an Austrian official once left a hat on top of a pole in Altdoft, telling every passerby to remove their hats once they walk past it. Tell refused to follow the order and was punished by shooting an apple placed on top of his son’s head. He had to do it from 12 paces away or be executed. Luckily for him, he did so successfully. Interestingly, this story has plenty of things in common with a Viking folktale. That is the reason some people assume that the tale of William Tell was simply fictional.
William Tell
Sun Tzu
At some point, you probably tried to read Sun Tzu’s famous book: “The Art of War.” He was allegedly an ancient Chinese military leader. However, you might want to take the guidebook with a grain of salt. After all, it is hard to find evidence when it comes to its origins. One theory says that it was simply a collection of military lessons from many generations in the past.
Sun Tzu
Homer
“The Iliad” and “The Odyssey” would not be here today if it were not for Homer. But the rumors claim otherwise. They say that he was not the original author of the epics, that he just happened to be the first person to write about them. There is also a theory saying that he was a blind woman instead. Let us not forget about those who think that he was not only one person but an entire group of Greek scholars.
Homer
John Henry
Are you familiar with the Ballad of John Henry? If so, you would know all about the ex-slave who was said to enter a race of sorts against a steam drill. They say that he worked quicker than the machine but ultimately died from exhaustion. There is no doubt that it was a great story, but it is possible that it did not happen. The folk song was popular among workers, who had been unhappy with the steam drill.
John Henry
Kunta Kinte
Many people learned Kunta Kinte’s story after reading the Pulitzer Prize winner “Roots” by Alex Haley. It received a TV adaptation in the form of a miniseries as well! The story became so popular that an island was even named after him. The slave’s story left a lasting impression on those who heard it, but certain details are thought to be fictional since Haley did not rely on wholly historical sources.
Kunta Kinte
Helen Of Troy
If you are even slightly interested in Greek mythology, you probably know who Helen of Troy is. You can say that she was the reason the Trojan War even happened. Married to Menelaus, she ran off with Paris the Apple of Discord fiasco. There is even a saying that talks about her as the face that launched a thousand ships. Some scholars think that she was entirely made up to add more drama to the story!
Helen Of Troy
Jesus
Do you believe in Jesus Christ? That is a totally different matter altogether and likely depends on the religion that you follow. Some historians think that he did exist, but others think that he was just a folkloric figure. Some folks refuse to believe in his existence, thanks to how vague the New Testament is. On top of that, there was no eyewitness account or other secular evidence of him either.
Jesus
King Solomon
In reality, there is not a lot of evidence that dates back to King Solomon’s time. It is perfectly understandable why a lot of people are skeptical of his existence. During his lifetime, he was dubbed the richest person in the world. If that was true, it is hard to believe that no one has found anything of his.
King Solomon
Midas
We are sure that you have heard about the story of the “Midas touch.” This goes back to a Greek king named Midas, who could allegedly turn objects to gold with physical contact. It is a common myth, but has there been any proof to support its veracity? Let us see. The truth is that historians uncovered an ornate burial site from those days! Sadly, they did not find evidence of his existence either.
Midas
Jack The Ripper
Do you know when Jack the Ripper wreaked havoc in London? The serial killer was the man responsible for the murders of prostitutes in the East End back in the 19th century. What made the story even more morbid would be that he would rip out their throats and stomachs. Sadly, no one has ever been convicted of crimes. People would confess to it, but journalists would later find out that these were simply hoaxes. The police had not figured out his true identity even to this day! It remains a mystery.
Jack The Ripper
Odysseus
Also called Ulysses, Odysseus is the hero of “The Odyssey.” He spent years on the sea in his attempt to go home after the end of the Trojan war. People have called into question the legitimacy of his stories, but archaeological proof might actually support that they happened. An archaeologist found the remains of a three-story building and a well that both date back to the 8th century BC. It aligns with what we know of those adventures, so it is possible that they really did happen.
Odysseus
Pythagoras
We are sure that you learned the theorem named for this guy back in geometry class. Who would have thought that the existence of Pythagoras would also be called into question? The truth is that historians have not found proof of his writings. That is why they do not think it is right to give him credit for the theory we talked about. On top of that, they have doubts because of the time period that he was alive in. In those days, there were very few people involved in celestial spheres.
Pythagoras
Moses
Save for the Bible, and you will not find much proof that Moses once roamed the planet. As a matter of fact, some historians say that there is far too much vagueness when it comes to the alleged timeframe. On the other hand, scientists have rational explanations for things that have been attributed to him. For example, there is a logical way to explain the story about the Red Sea parting.
Moses
Muhammad
In general, there are is less doubt about the existence of Muhammad. Did you know that he is often called the most successful among religious figures and prophets? Even so, it does not mean that every single person thinks that way. A lot of people want more hard proof before they believe in his existence.
Muhammad
Carolyn Keene
A lot of young girls grew up reading the Nancy Drew series and idolizing the main character. What they might not know, however, is that Carolyn Keene did not really write them. That was simply a pen name! Ghostwriters worked on the bulk of the books. Edward Stratemeyer paid these workers as some backup plan. They wrote the novels in case he was unable to finish them.
Carolyn Keene
Alan Smithee
We will be shocked if you tell us that you don’t know what Twilight Zone is. Alan Smithee was the one who served as the director of the show. In reality, it was just a pseudonym. A team of directors made the episodes, but they used an alias since they preferred not to use their real names.
Alan Smithee
Donald Kaufman
In Adaptation, Nicolas Cage played a man called Donald Kaufman. This guy was said to be the brother of a screenwriter called Charlie Kaufman. A lot of people who watched the movie assumed that it was based on facts. But the truth is that the character only came from the imagination of Charlie!
Donald Kaufman
Jim Crow
We are sure that this name sounds familiar to you. You might not know Jim Crow, the theatre character, but you have probably heard of the old segregation laws named after him. It is probably the most notorious instance of blackface ever. Mind you, and he was played by a Caucasian guy called Thomas D. Rice.
Jim Crow
John Doe And Jane Doe
In case you did not know, John Doe and Jane Doe are not immortals who keep dying repeatedly. No, criminal investigators use these names when they have yet to identify the bodies. You have probably already figured that John Doe is used for guys, while Jane Doe is used for women.
John Doe And Jane Doe
Betty Crocker
Are you shocked to see Betty Crocker on our list? This household name allows us to make great food in the comfort of our homes. She might be called the Queen of the Kitchen, but did you know that she was not a real person? Yup, the so-called “First Lady of the Kitchen” was just a fictional character. If you ask us, the most important thing is that she has served as the inspiration to so many home cooks out there.
Betty Crocker
Alfred Bulltop Stormalong
Do they say that Alfred Bull top Stormalong is a hero from Massachusetts, but is that true? In reality, this American legend is also a fictional character. According to legends, he could transform into a giant who stands at 19 feet tall. Not only that, but he was also a sailor who has been liked to various folktales.
Alfred Bull top Stormalong
James S.A. Corey
When you work on a project with someone else, it is important to get the credit for your efforts. If it is a collaborative effort, it might not be enough to enumerate the authors. That was the case for Ty Franck and Daniel Abraham. The two have written works like Star Wars: Honor Among Thieves and Leviathan Wakes together under a joined pseudonym: James S.A. Corey.
James S.A. Corey
Jack Dawson
We are not going to believe you if you say that you have never before watched Titanic. As we all know, the ship really did sink. But the movie is not wholly fictional. For one, Jack Dawson was just a fictional character. Still, you can bet that we won’t let go of his hand, unlike other people out there.
Jack Dawson
Sherlock Holmes
We just wanted to clarify this one in case you still think that Sherlock Holmes really existed. This is not the case, ladies and gentlemen. All right, the author did base him on a British surgeon by the name of Joseph Bell. Despite this, the detective has only ever existed on the pages of our books!
Sherlock Holmes
Zorro
How can you not be familiar with that famous swordsman with the black horse, black mask, and black cape? We are talking about none other than Zorro, of course. His story has been around for a pretty long time now. We are clear that he was nothing more than a legend invented by someone called Johnston McCulley. However, the character was inspired by a 19th-century thief called Joaquin Murrieta.
Zorro
Ichabod Crane
If you are familiar with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, then you must know Washington Irving. However, we are not going to blame you if you are more familiar with Ichabod Crane. The two of them can be deemed the stars of the short story. But the truth is that the two men were both fictional.
Ichabod Crane
Sybil Ludington
This is one name that might come up when talking about the American Revolution. We can see why – after all, she is a fascinating figure. At the age of 16, she played a huge part in the fight for independence. But the truth was that the stories did not actually happen. This was only revealed with the help of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Sybil Ludington
Ann Taylor
When a brand has a human-like name, you will think that it was named after the designer. This is not the case for Ann Taylor. The fashion house was created by a man called Richard Liebeskind, who also came up with the name! It does not change the fact that it offers decent clothes in the New England style.
Ann Taylor
Uncle Ben
It would be best to link the brand’s name to the person on the same vein’s packaging. When it comes to this brand, the man in the photo is not Uncle Ben. He was instead a rice grower, and restaurant manager called Frank Brown. Do you want to know how he became the face of the brand? Well, it is all about connections. He was friends with Gordon L. Harwell, the president of the company.
Uncle Ben
Juan Valdez
Let us now move onto Juan Valdez, another food brand. For those who are unfamiliar with it, this is a coffee brand! A lot of people think that the company was named after the owner and uses his face. This is a fair assumption, but the image was actually an illustration by Doyle Dane Bernbach. On top of that, the name is just a nod to the beans’ origin: Colombia.
Juan Valdez
Piotr Zak
For two decades, the BBC Third Programme was a popular channel people tuned into when they wanted to hear classical music pieces. Back then, listeners especially liked musical pieces by a Polish composer by the name of Piotr Zak. They found his tunes funny, but they had no idea that two producers actually made them of the network! Susan Bradshaw and Hans Keller composed them.
Piotr Zak
JT Leroy
If you have ever read “The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things,” you will know all about JT Leroy. Or you will at least think that you did. He was the alleged co-author of the semi-autobiography, together with Laura Albert. However, the truth is that she only invented him! The sister-in-law of the writer, Savannah Knoop, was the person who posed as JT Leroy.
JT Leroy
Mavis Beacon
You would not be familiar with this unless you were alive in the ‘80s. Back then, there was an educational resource for the development of typing skills. Mavis Beacon was the one who gave the voiceover for the program. Fun fact: she was just an artificial lecturer. Yep, she did not really exist outside of computers.
Mavis Beacon
Nat Tate
In 1998, William Boyd published a biography about someone known as Nat Tate. The Scottish writer detailed the artist’s life, everything from his struggles to his artworks to his death. During the book launch, a lot of celebrities were seen at the party that David Bowie hosted. The big reveal shocked everyone. They found out that the book was just an April Fool’s prank and a great one at that. Who would have thought that it was nothing more than an epic joke?
Nat Tate