Everyone loves a good story about a hero, brave leader, mythological grandeur, and incredible wisdom. Folklore and history sometimes become inextricably connected, making a lot of figures a crucial part of our society. However, not all of these iconic figures may have actually existed. Plenty of historians have dedicated their careers to finding out the truth behind these larger than life heroes and whether or not they truly existed. Here are famous people you’ve definitely heard of, that may have never even existed at all.
Mulan
Most of us are familiar with Mulan from the animated Disney film as well as its live action remake, she was actually quite a legend already in China for many years. Scholars can’t come to an agreement whether she existed in real life, but the Ballad of Mulan first appeared in the Musical Records of Old and New in the 6th century during the Southern Chen dynasty.
Mulan
King Arthur
King Arthur has consistently been a popular figure in stories, books, and films, modern historians tend to agree that he never actually existed. The stories that involve King Arthur mostly come from English and Welsh folklore and also literary invention.
King Arthur