Martin Hyde was born in AD 977 in Wessex, England. He was installed thegn under King Aethelred the Unready, having built large holdings in western and southern England, much of which he used for hunting game. Whilst traveling in his lands in 1014, he encountered Danish raiders under the ultimate command of King Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark, and was killed, eventually reviving as an Immortal. The raiders were led by Kanwulf, also an Immortal, who became Hyde's teacher.

After leaving his teacher, Hyde became a headhunter, seeking out older, mature Immortals and taking their heads. One cunning way to accomplish this would involve fear -- using the younger Immortals, usually students of his targets, to lead them to their teachers, then Hyde would then take their heads -- and their powerful Quickenings.

In 1630, Hyde visited Scotland, and encountered Duncan MacLeod. Hyde tried to force Duncan into telling him where his teacher, Connor MacLeod was, so that he could take his head. Duncan decided to fight Hyde, but wasn't skilled enough then. Hyde refused to take Duncan's head and rode off, taunting him; he didn't take heads from younger Immortals, preferring to benefit from stronger Quickenings; waiting until the younger Immortals were older and more seasoned.