Myths are often greater than reality. Consider Napoleon Bonaparte, a French military and political leader during the early 1800s.
You likely believe that he was exceptionally short, and his stature has often been used as a pretext for his ferocity in battle.
There's even a theorized inferiority complex named after him. But Napoleon was around 5 feet 7 inches tall by many accounts, and certainly of at least average height for his time.
It was the British press, most notably its cartoonists, who portrayed him as a short, angry despot — and their caricatures have created a common misconception that remains stronger than any reality.