# Historical figures whose fictionalized versions have surpassed them in importance **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 3, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293 "2014-07-03T19:39:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/1 "2014-07-03T19:39:26Z")
I was thinking today about how some historical figures are the basis for a fictionalized account of their lives in television, theater, music, movies, etc. Then I was thinking, that sometimes, it seems, that the fictionalized versions of these historical characters become way more memorable, relevant, or otherwise more important than the actual people they were based on. One example may be Eva Peron. Now I’m not Argentinian so I speak as a fairly clueless American, but I don’t think that in the grand scheme of things, Eva was nearly as influential and historically as important as the play Evita is, based on the story of her life. Evita is one of the most successful plays in history, earning over 2 Billion dollars in revenue and countless productions and performances. I think that many people wouldn’t even be aware of Peron if it weren’t for the play, as her actual historical mark seems to have faded with time. Of course this is just opinion so I’m willing to be contradicted if you feel otherwise. But what about others? Are there any other historical figures who were overshadowed by their fictionalized versions? If we were holding a contest for such a thing, who do you think would win? ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/2 "2014-07-03T19:41:04Z")
Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/3 "2014-07-03T19:43:44Z")
Mary. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/4 "2014-07-03T19:48:44Z")
Joseph the carpenter! ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/5 "2014-07-03T19:49:51Z")
Davy Crockett. Daniel Boone. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/6 "2014-07-03T19:54:08Z")
Antonio Salieri - Largely forgotten in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Restored to prominence by being portrayed as Mozart’s murderer in the completely fictional play and film _Amadeus_. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/7 "2014-07-03T19:55:02Z")
King Arthur and Robin Hood were probably based on real people at some point. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/8 "2014-07-03T19:56:56Z")
Macbeth. Brutus of et tu fame. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/9 "2014-07-03T19:58:41Z")
Vlad the Impaler. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/10 "2014-07-03T19:59:32Z")
Mark Antony. Ask anyone about him and they’ll probably come back with the Shakespeare version. But it’s not as good an answer as Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/11 "2014-07-03T19:59:51Z")
Eleanor of Aquitaine Richard III whoever committed the “Jack the Ripper” crimes Anna “(fake) Anastasia” Anderson the Buddha Rasputin Nero Caligula Joseph (Elephant Man) Merrick Antonio Salieri ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/12 "2014-07-03T20:02:19Z")
d’Artagnon ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/13 "2014-07-03T20:05:12Z")
Nikolaos of Myra aka Saint Nicholas aka Sint Nicolaas aka Sinterklaas aka Santa Claus ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/14 "2014-07-03T20:19:32Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > One example may be Eva Peron. Now I’m not Argentinian so I speak as a fairly clueless American, but I don’t think that in the grand scheme of things, Eva was nearly as influential and historically as important as the play Evita is, based on the story of her life. Evita is one of the most successful plays in history, earning over 2 Billion dollars in revenue and countless productions and performances. I think that many people wouldn’t even be aware of Peron if it weren’t for the play, as her actual historical mark seems to have faded with time. Of course this is just opinion so I’m willing to be contradicted if you feel otherwise. Speaking as an Argentinian, I’ll say that inside the country she is far more influential and historically important than the play, if you say “Evita” here no one’s first thought would be the play. Outside Argentina you are correct. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/15 "2014-07-03T20:31:08Z")
I wasn’t thinking about him when I saw the thread, but I have to agree that the top of the list has to be Jeshua ben Joseph, aka The Christ, Jesus of Nazareth. A couple of others off the top of my head: Betsy Ross Paul Revere ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/16 "2014-07-03T20:31:19Z")
Spartacus ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/17 "2014-07-03T20:59:23Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > I wasn’t thinking about him when I saw the thread, but I have to agree that the top of the list has to be Jeshua ben Joseph, aka The Christ, Jesus of Nazareth. If you really want to get all ethnic, it’s Yeshua bar Yosef. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/18 "2014-07-03T21:32:01Z")
Will Adams (fictionalized as John Blackthorne in SHOGUN) Eliot Ness The Marquis de Sade (got a lot more freaky-deaky action in fiction than he probably ever got in life) Giacomo Casanova ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/19 "2014-07-03T21:39:43Z")
Maria von Trapp and family: she herself said of _The Sound of Music_ that it was a lovely story, just not her’s (though that didn’t stop her from trying to cash in). Lady Godiva (Godgifu) Lady Macbeth (Gruoch) ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293/20 "2014-07-03T21:41:24Z")
Look at the Old West, from Jesse James to Calamity Jane to Wild Bill Hickok… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-figures-whose-fictionalized-versions-have-surpassed-them-in-importance/692293.md?page=2)