Make no mistake - Maid Marian is much more than Robin Hood’s girlfriend or your first awkward animated crush. In fact, she’s a bit of a feminist icon. The origins of the character are uncertain, but it is believed that Maid Marian may have been based on a noblewoman from the 12th century named Matilda Fitzwalter (although some experts argue she’s a personification of the Virgin Mary.)

Although she didn’t appear in any of the early, medieval versions of the legend, Maid Marian emerges around the late 16th century as the May Queen, with Robin as her King. By the 1900s, her character had evolved into that of a fiercely independent woman who commanded high respect in Robin’s circle for her courage and loyalty. In some versions, she’s even a skilled archer.