A good story can captivate audiences with a riveting plot and relatable characters. Sometimes these stories can feel so real, resembling possible events or people. Yet, there are some historical figures you may have thought existed, but are actually the product of an active imagination. Here are 10 famous people you thought were real.
Mulan
Disney helped spread the tale of Mulan, a Chinese heroine who joined the military. Wanting to stand in for her aging father, she disguised herself as a man. Women were traditionally barred from battle, but this disguise allowed Mulan to prove that women can become great warriors, too. The story began as a ballad and became popular thanks to the animated movie. However, there is no historical evidence that proves the authenticity of the tale.
Paul Bunyan
Paul Bunyan and his blue ox may not be real, but they continue to live on through literature, folklore, and popular culture. American loggers from the early 20th century passed along the story of the mythical lumberjack who had superhuman strength. An image of Bunyan appeared in an advertising pamphlet for a lodging company, kind of like Betty Crocker. Since Bunyan’s inception among storytelling lumberjacks in the mid-19th century, the character has become a symbol of the North American wilderness.
William Tell
Classical music lovers might be familiar with William Tell, the legendary figure in Gioachino Rossini’s opera. The story, or libretto, centers around William Tell’s defiance of a tyrannical Austrian governor. The most famous portion of the tale is when Tell shoots an apple off his son’s head with a bow and arrow. While the events in the story seem probable, it is fictitious. However, the legend became a significant part of the Swiss origin story and is tied to the rebellion that led to Swiss independence.
QAnon
QAnon was a far-right political movement that emerged from internet forums, with its supporters believing that Donald Trump was waging a secret war with the “deep state,” a group of high-ranking officials part of a criminal syndicate that drank children’s blood to increase their life span. Q, a supposed deep state insider, posted mysterious messages warning followers about the “storm,” when the cabal would be uncovered and mass arrests made. Faithful followers and some government officials spread the conspiracy theory. It turns out that the insider, Q, was not a real person, and the stories about the deep state they shared were entirely fake.
Betty Crocker
In the 1940s, Betty Crocker was in just about every American kitchen. Homemakers relied on the brand for flour, recipes, and cake mixes—a novel product at the time. Although Betty Crocker, depicted with brown hair and blue eyes, graced every box, she has always been a fictional character. General Mills created the character to look like your typical suburban wife. Her face became a symbol of quality for many homemakers.
Robin Hood
The story of Robin Hood has been rewritten and adapted countless times, but the premise has always stayed the same: a charitable thief steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Robin Hood first appeared in English ballads and songs, accompanied by a group of loyal companions called the Merry Men, including Little John and Friar Tuck. Though his vigilante actions are inspiring, no historical evidence supports that Robin Hood was actually a real person.
John Henry
The story of John Henry has become the basis of countless songs and stories since it appeared as a ballad in the late 19th century. The folklore tells the tale of John Henry, a freedman railroad worker with incredible strength, and his remarkable feat against industrialization. He challenges a steam-powered drilling machine in a rock drilling contest and, as he completes the winning blow, he tragically dies. Although the character and story are fictitious, the myth has given many a source of resilience and perseverance.
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam, pointing at the viewer and saying “We want you,” effectively recruited soldiers during World War I. The posters turned America into a character with white hair, a beard, and patriotic couture, asking citizens to join the fight. While the familiar image of Uncle Sam is fictitious, the name Uncle Sam is based on a real person. Its origin came when a meat packer named Samuel Wilson supplied beef to the soldiers, with barrels stamped with “U.S.” The well-fed soldiers joked that the meat was from “Uncle Sam,” hence the character.
King Arthur
Many are familiar with the tale of King Arthur, the chosen one who pulled the magical sword Excalibur from a mystical stone. The act affirmed his right to rule Camelot and lead the Knights of the Round Table, with his magical advisor Merlin at his side. Arthur’s quest for the Holy Grail continues to capture people’s imagination. While the story seems realistic, it was created by Thomas Malory, an English writer from the 15th century.
Kunta Kinte
Arthur Hailey, in his book Roots: The Saga of an American Family, claimed that Kunta Kinte, an African man sold into slavery, was his ancestor. The incredible story was adapted for TV and was highly successful; however, Hailey may have stretched the truth. Researchers have not found conclusive evidence that the person Hailey wrote about was real. Even so, the story and the fictional character became a symbol of resistance due to his many failed attempts to escape slavery.
