Outlaw facts for kids

An outlaw or bandit is a person who is "outside the law". This usually means they have committed serious crimes. When someone is declared an outlaw, they lose the protection of the legal system. This means they cannot use the law to defend themselves if they are in trouble.

Famous Outlaws Through History

Throughout history, many people have been declared outlaws. Here are some well-known examples:

• The Emperor Nero was a powerful Roman leader. He was made an outlaw by the Roman Senate in 68 AD.
• Robin Hood is a famous English folk hero. He is known for stealing from the rich to give to the poor. His story is likely a mix of several real and legendary outlaws.
• Martin Luther was a religious leader. He was declared an outlaw in 1521 because of his beliefs.
• Carmine Crocco was a very famous Italian outlaw in the 1800s. He was an escaped prisoner who joined a revolution. When he did not get the forgiveness he was promised, he went back to being a bandit. He became the leader of 2,000 men, leading a strong peasant army in southern Italy.
• Ben Hall was an Australian bushranger. Bushrangers were like outlaws who lived in the Australian wilderness. In 1865, the government passed a law that made it legal for anyone to kill Ben Hall and his gang. There was no need to arrest them or have a trial.
• Ned Kelly was another famous Australian bushranger. On October 30, 1878, the government passed a law making the Kelly gang outlaws. This meant they no longer had any legal rights. Anyone could kill them.
• Jesse James (1847–1882) was an American outlaw from Missouri. He carried out many bank, stagecoach, and train robberies after the American Civil War.

Images for kids

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  Erik the Red was outlawed by the Icelandic Althing for three years. Around 982, he went viking and explored Greenland.

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  In 1878, Ned Kelly and his gang of bushrangers were outlawed by the Government of Victoria, Australia.