Thread:AngryLance/@comment-39280634-20200312193340/@comment-28358106-20200318232619

Nobles as highway robbers as we know them have their most modern roots in the early Middle Ages. Nobles had to pay knights for their upkeep (and a knight was HUGELY expensive to support, akin to buying a Ferrari a year) and during times of peace, many fell into deep debt to their respective Duke, Baron or King. Sometimes knights also fell into these hard times, so it wasn't uncommon for a noble and a few of his knights to pawn their possessions (armor, estates, etc.) and go on the take.

Complicating things was the fact that feudalism meant that everyone "belonged" to the estate that they were beholden to. If a man suddenly found himself landless and lordless (through war, politics, assassination, etc.) it was against the reeve law for him to be sheltered by anyone. Thus, these "outlaws" would live in the greenwood, poaching and robbing as they could.

Sorry, favorite subject here.