Robin Hood owes his name not to the English word "good", that is, "good", as Russian readers usually think. The most common opinion is that he got his nickname from "hood", that is, a hood or other headdress. Robin Hood - Hooded Robin.
Character of English folklore, a skilled archer and warrior from Sherwood Forest (Sherwood Forest), who robs the rich and distributes his booty to the poor. Curiously, this trait was not part of the original ballad character and only appeared in the 19th century. It is not known whether the legend of the noble robber had a real prototype or only medieval ballads and legends served as the basis for it, but over the past centuries Robin Hood has become one of the most popular elements of English culture, and the story about him feels great in the age of cinema and television.
Robin Hood owes his name not to the English word "good", that is, "good", as Russian readers usually think. The most common opinion is that he got his nickname from "hood", that is, a hood or other headdress. Robin Hood - Hooded Robin. Attempts to connect this name with a really existing person have led nowhere, in particular because Robert (Robert) has been one of the most popular names in England over the past ten centuries, and Robin is perhaps the most popular diminutive version of it. . It is not surprising that there were many people named Robert or Robin Hood in medieval records, and some of them were indeed criminals - but not so famous and significant as to contribute to the birth of a legend.
Robin Hood is accompanied by a detachment of faithful companions, all together they live in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire (Nottinghamshire), where the action of the first ballads about Robin and modern films and television films mainly takes place. In the earliest sources, he was a yeoman who had gone into the woods, a free peasant, but later he was often portrayed as an exiled aristocrat, unjustly deprived of his possessions due to the machinations of an unscrupulous sheriff. The wood archer is often referred to as Robin of Loxley - believed to have been born in this village near Sheffield - but this version dates from the late 16th century, while there are earlier versions of his birthplace, such as the village of Skelow in South Yorkshire (Skellow, South Yorkshire), which has been associated with the name of Robin Hood since 1422.
The first reference to poems about Robin Hood dates back to the end of the 14th century, but the ballads themselves were recorded only in the 15th and 16th centuries, and already in them Robin Hood has all his main features - he comes from commoners, worships the Virgin, enjoys increased attention from women, he is a skilled archer, hates churchmen and is at enmity with the Sheriff of Nottingham. Little John (Little John), Will Scarlet (Will Scarlet) and Much the Miller's Son have already appeared in Robin's squad, but there is still no mention of the Maid Marian (Maid Marian) and the cheerful monk brother Tuka (Friar Tuck) - they will appear a little later. In popular culture, Robin Hood is considered a contemporary and supporter of King Richard the Lionheart (Richard the Lionheart), that is, he lives in England (England) of the 12th century.
It is interesting that the first ballads give readers a few details to determine the time of the action, such as King Edward, for example, but the ballads cannot of course be considered a reliable historical source in such matters. Moreover, there were several kings with that name - King Edward I came to the throne in 1272, and Edward III died in 1377. From the 16th century, Robin Hood "becomes" a nobleman, usually considered the Earl of Huntingdon (Earl of Huntingdon), and this version is still very popular.
In any case, Robin Hood is a model for any noble robber. He collects tribute from rich merchants, knights or high-ranking churchmen who were not lucky enough to meet him in Sherwood Forest, offering them to dine on succulent venison, obtained, of course, by poaching. True, the payment for such a dinner is usually the purse of the "guest". There are exceptions to the rule - in one of the ballads, Robin Hood invites a knight to dinner, intending to rob him to the skin, but after learning that the knight is about to lose his land, which the greedy abbot has his eye on, he gives him enough money to pay debt to the abbot.
Robin Hood is young, tall, handsome and very clever, despite his simple origin. He and his men are usually dressed in green, which helps them to hide in dense forest thickets. He has a sharp tongue, loves to joke, and can be short-tempered and quick to kill. It is very interesting that in the ballads Robin keeps his people in strict obedience, and, recognizing his supremacy, they kneel before him as before their lord - in medieval tales there is not even a hint of modern ideals of equality and brotherhood. Historians argue that the legend of Robin Hood was cultivated mainly among the gentry, the petty nobility, and it would be a mistake to see him as the embodiment of a peasant uprising. He does not so much rebel against the social standards of the Middle Ages as he embodies them - generous, moderately pious and courtly, despising greedy, pampered and impolite enemies. Although there are more than a hundred people in his detachment of "merry men" ("Merry Men"), only four or five of them are regularly described in ballads, Robin's closest friends and associates.
At the latest by the beginning of the 15th century, Robin Hood became associated with the May holidays, and around the same time, Robin Hood's romantic attachment to the maiden Marian (or Marion), who eventually becomes his life mate, appeared in the sources. Marian is also portrayed as a commoner and heiress of a noble family, and in modern culture it is believed that, in the end, Robin and Marian marry and leave the forest, returning to a rich and civilized life.
The Victorian era created its own Robin Hood - it was during this period that he became a philanthropist who robs the rich to give to the poor - and the 20th century brought its own changes: from book to book, from film to film, Robin Hood turned from a cheerful robber into a national a hero of epic proportions, who not only takes care of the weak, but also bravely defends the English throne from unworthy and corrupt lords.
For almost 700 years, there has been a legend about a noble robber. He robbed the rich and gave what he had taken from them to the poor. This man led a gang of "knife and ax workers" numbering over a hundred people. Desperate people lived in Sherwood Forest (Nottinghamshire) and brought a lot of trouble to dishonest, greedy and greedy citizens.
Robin Hood - that was the name of the legendary hero who cares about the welfare of ordinary and honest people. So many laudatory ballads have been written about him that you involuntarily begin to believe in the reality of this person. But did the noble robber really live, or are the legends about him a beautiful myth that has nothing to do with real life?
In the second half of the 15th century, an unknown author wrote 4 ballads dedicated to the brave leader of the forest robbers. In the first ballad tells of how Robin helps a poor knight ruined by a greedy abbot. The poor fellow is borrowed a large amount of money, and the faithful squire of the noble leader of the robbers, Little Joe, is given to help. It was a huge kid, endowed with immeasurable strength. Naturally, the knight takes revenge on the greedy abbot, and good triumphs.
Second ballad is dedicated to the conflict between the sheriff from Nottingham and the noble robber. "Romantics from the high road" staged a deer hunt in the lands of the sheriff, and then, with the help of cunning, they invited the most formidable law enforcement officer to the feast.
Third ballad tells of Robin's meeting with King Edward. He secretly comes to Nottingham to incognito investigate violations of the law by local authorities. The defender of the poor and the storm of the rich enters the service of the king and swears allegiance to him.
Fourth ballad the saddest. It tells about the death of a noble robber. He again begins to engage in dangerous fishing, but catches a cold and goes to Kirklayskoe Abbey to undergo a course of treatment. However, the insidious abbess treats him with leeches. Those suck blood, the noble robber is weakening day by day and, in the end, dies.
This, in brief, is the essence of the legends about a courageous man who faithfully served the common people. A great many such ballads were written. Robin is presented as a proud and independent person who opposes the rich who oppress the people. At the same time, the noble robber was loyal to the king and revered the church. Near him all the time was a cheerful and kind monk named Tak.
As for the origin of the glorious hero, some consider him a free peasant, others believe that he was a petty nobleman. The wife's name was Marian, however, she could not have been a wife, but simply a fighting girlfriend.
Experts studied the census registries of England in the period from 1228 to 1230. In these lists was found a man named Robin Hood, who was on the wanted list for crimes. This time is notable for popular unrest. They were headed by a certain Robert Twing. Under his leadership, the rebels plundered monasteries, and the seized grain was distributed to poor peasants.
Some historians are inclined to believe that the legendary robber was Robert Fitzug. He was born around 1170 and died around 1246. This man was the now wealthy Earl of Huntington. In fact, he was a rebellious aristocrat, but for some reason did not oppose the king, but only opposed noble nobles.
This is how Robin Hood is portrayed in Hollywood
Who sat on the royal throne during the activities of the noble robber? If you rely on ballads and legends, you can find the names of several crowned persons. In particular, this is Henry III (1207-1272). During his reign, civil war broke out in 1261. The rebels were led by Count Simon de Montfort (1208-1265).
At first, the rebels were victorious with the establishment of the dictatorship of the rebellious count, but then Henry III managed to regain power in 1265. However, some of the rebels did not bow their heads before the king. The nobles went into the forests and became robbers. Among them was our glorious hero. The king took everything from him, but he could not take the noble heart. Some researchers believe that that courageous nobleman from the 13th century became the hero of ballads and legends.
Robin Hood is also associated with Count Thomas Plantagenet Lancaster (1278-1322). He opposed King Edward II (1284-1327) and led the baronial opposition. The reason for the hostility was that the count was not appointed chief adviser at the court. In 1322 there was a rebellion. He was brutally suppressed, and Lancaster himself was beheaded.
Some of the rebels were pardoned by the king. One of them was a man with a legendary name. He was taken into service at court and given the rank of valet. During the year, this gentleman was carefully paid a salary. Then the newly-made valet disappeared, and what happened to him next is unknown. It is possible that for a number of reasons he became a noble robber.
If we consider Edward II as the main royal figure, then we can assume that "the romantic and unmercenary from the high road" did good deeds in the period from 1320 to 1330. However, the famous writer and historian Walter Scott (1771-1832) portrayed the image of a noble robber in his novel Richard the Lionheart. This English king lived from 1157 to 1199. And this indicates an earlier period for the existence of Robin Hood, or rather, at the end of the 12th century.
Nowadays, many researchers believe that a bright and mysterious personality is a composite image. That is, there was no specific person, but there was only a people's dream of a just and honest hero-robber. This is a purely folk creation, born among ordinary people. Since the image was unusually interesting and romantic, it became popular among poets and novelists. Creative nature turned it into a kind of symbol of the eternal struggle between good and evil. That is why it remains not only popular, but also relevant for several centuries..
The troops of King Richard of England are on the threshold of departure for the next Crusade. But in order for the kingdom to remain secure, it is necessary to leave a replacement on the throne, so that the appointment of a person manages affairs and protects the people from all kinds of problems from enemies. King Richard leaves a young prince named John on the throne. But he approaches government orders in a very peculiar way, literally only when he feels the power.
Being a very harsh tyrant, instead of protecting the people of England, he only begins to bring trouble and disappointment to civilians. King Richard is already in France at this point, but thanks to Lady Marian, he still learns about the harsh reality. She is writing a letter for her lover, who is the Duke of Huntingdon. It is he who accompanies King Richard on a military campaign. Even though Huntingdon has been very busy, he still returns to his native land to fix everything. But at home, he, along with all the arrivals, is the enemy of the new king. The story of the legendary Robin Hood begins with this.
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Traditions that have come down to our days said that once the brave King of England, Richard, went on a crusade to distant lands. He was remembered by his people as a good ruler. But leaving his kingdom, he was replaced by Prince Jonathan, who easily seized the throne. Unlike Richard, John was a real test for ordinary people, because he was driven only by greed and the desire for easy money. That is why he began to collect money from the general population of the kingdom. One of the ruined people was Senor Robin Loxley.
He fled to Sherwood Forest. It was there that he proclaimed himself Robin Hood, and also gathered a whole group of volunteers. The task of this company was to declare war on all the people of the new king. First, they needed to defeat Guy of Gisburne, as well as the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham. But on the love front, Robin Hood will have a hard time in order to win the favor of the beautiful Marianne.
Rogue and Queen (1946)
The legendary hero Robin Hood called all his brave fighters to Sherwood Forest. He had to comb through all the expanses of this wonderful place in order to gather everyone together. The leader of the resistance explains to the free shooters that England and her freedom are once again in great danger.
The insidious tyrant wants to get the throne, immediately after the sudden death of King John. This time, William of Wembrud, better known as Lord Regen, claims the throne. It was he who once created the royal council. His tasks included the goal of canceling the ill-fated Liberty Charter, once invented by Robin Hood and his faithful assistants. Robert - the young son of Robin Hood now lead the forest brotherhood of archers to give the enemy a due rebuff.
Robin Hood's Revenge (1950)
1214 year. Great England experienced a lot of negative things during this period. The ruler's brother, the new king, John the First, entered the throne. Direct relative of Richard, the good ruler. John has one favorite hobby - jousting. And this time Baldrick is fighting, who is the absolute champion, as well as the Earl of Huntington - Robin, the offspring of the legendary Robin Hood from Sherwood Forests.
John wishes a speedy death to the son of someone who once managed to avoid royal taxes. But having persuaded Baldrick to commit a crime, he still does not know what awaits him. Robin has inherited his father's courage, so he copes with his enemy. The king is very angry, so he poisons his troops in Huntington to collect all the debts from the past few years.
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952)
The good-natured King Richard is once again embarking on a dangerous crusade. In order for the kingdom not to be left without a leader, he sends his brother to the throne. Now Prince John is the rightful king of these lands. But unlike his kind brother Richard, John immediately establishes very harsh laws.
Now all residents, including the complete poor, must pay a large tax. But most people don't have any money at all. Fortunately, there are heroes who are ready to resist the new orders. Robin Fitsus, the brave son of a huntsman in the kingdom, secretly gathers archers and brave fighters in Sherwood Forest. Calling himself Robin Hood, he goes to the aid of all people in need.
Ivanhoe (1952)
Wilfred is a legendary knight of Saxony. In 1190, he returns in secret from the Third Crusade. While in England, he needs to collect gold in order to try to ransom the captive king. Richard the Lionheart is imprisoned by the enemy - the Austrian troops. Ivanhoe suddenly learns about the affairs of brother Richard.
John, who came to power in connection with such a situation, makes many wrong decisions. He wants to overthrow the former government. But to avoid this, Ivanhoe participates in a knightly battle. If he wins, then there will be enough money to return England to its former king.
People from Sherwood Forest (1954)
The English kingdom on the threshold of 1194 experienced not the best of times. King Richard was taken prisoner while on the Third Crusade. All this time, his brother, Prince John ruled the state. But now that Richard the Lionheart has returned to his palace, Jon is secretly plotting. He does not want to lose the power to which he is so accustomed. Even though he is related to Richard by blood, he organizes the assassination of the real king. But Richard's faithful henchmen find out about this and, gaining time, try to ask for help from the brave forest warrior - Robin Hood, who saved the situation more than once.
Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960)
There are many legends about the legendary fighter for the justice of the people of England - the brave and brave Robin Hood. being a noble robber, he often saved ordinary people from arbitrariness and injustice. As the leader of the resistance against the new order of the greedy king, he went ahead and always achieved his goals.
So this time he is faced with the impudent sheriff of Nottingham. Robin Hood will not allow a corrupt policeman to grab a family mansion from the heirs of the famous Lord Borty, a hero who bravely died in the fighting of the Third Crusade under the leadership of King Richard the First, better known as the Lionheart.
The Legend of Robin Hood (1970)
In order to return their king, England had to collect a serious ransom. Thanks to his henchmen, it still managed to be realized. King Richard was in captivity after a clash with Austrian forces. But the king's brother Lionheart - John, the young prince, who got the throne at this difficult moment for England, wants to take the entire ransom collected for himself.
Having felt the taste of power, the prince does not want to give it back, but wants to manage the whole era himself. But these plans are not destined to come true when the legendary band of forest robbers enters the confrontation path, led by the legendary Robin Roode himself - the king of Sherwood Forests.
Arrows of Robin Hood (1975)
Medieval English folk tales were replete with ballads about the legendary forest bandit Robin Hood. It was he who hurried to help those in need and always punished those responsible for injustice. Acting together with his gang, he was strong enough to have any enemies. For Robin Hood and the forest archers, it didn’t matter who was in front of them - a priest or a feudal lord. If this person brought only troubles and problems for civilians, then the gang severely punished the culprit. When they faced arbitrariness in relation to ordinary people, you can be sure that the villain will be punished.
Robin and Marian (1976)
King Richard died suddenly. Now Robin Hood, along with his best friend little John, have returned from the Crusades. Upon arrival in England, in the local Sherwood, Robin immediately runs into his longtime lover Marian. But the old enemies also did not leave these places, for example, the corrupt local sheriff. On this basis, the old enmity re-emerges. But for Robin, who is no longer so young, there is one desire - to live peacefully with his beloved in the forests. However, the new king gives the order to destroy all forest rebels.
The Sherwood Forest Artist (1980)
Soviet TV show.
Robin Hood is back on the warpath. But this time, not only old heroes are waiting for him, but also completely new faces. The daughter of the sheriff, with whom Robin had fought for so long, entered his heart. Maria is incredibly beautiful. Even though the forest archer has a beautiful lover, Marian, he couldn't resist Maria's charms. Being between two fires, Robin will have to face the next outbursts of injustice. But thanks to true friends, he will again rebuff those who decided to commit injustice.
Ivanhoe (1982)
Ivanhoe is an Englishman, a legendary knight who, due to the tricks of his enemies, loses his name. He is deprived of everything, even his inheritance and possessions. He no longer has the opportunity to be with his beloved. The only thing he has is his honor, which he will not give up for anything. Now the enemies will have to pay for all the suffering. Now, wielding your sword, and also enlist the support of your true friends in the person of the robber Robin Hood, together with the mighty Black Knight, he will give a due rebuff to all the villains who caused him such pain. Their enemy Brian de Boisguillebert, along with his henchmen, does not yet know what awaits him.
Ballad of the Valiant Knight Ivanhoe (1982)
One of the most legendary stories about the adventures of the valiant knight Ivanhoe. A brave warrior returns from a long crusade. Now he wants to return his good name, merit, inheritance, and also to win the favor of his beautiful beloved. Ivanhoe appears in royal England at the very moment when a real war for the throne is unfolding. Prince John, who felt the power, does not want to return it to the hands of his brother, King Richard the Lionheart.
Robin Hood (1991)
Far from all the soldiers managed to return from the bloody Crusade against Austria. Robin is trying to avoid death, being imprisoned by traitors, so he uses the help of prisoners. One of them is a Muslim student, but religious enemies have already rallied in order to get out of a difficult situation. The English throne has already been seized. An impostor sat on the throne, who pursues only selfish goals. The fellow believers remained devoted to the new king, who decided to use power only for his own personal benefit.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
Few returned from the Crusade. Robin of Loxley, in order to avoid death in captivity among the infidels, had to use the help of one of the Muslim prisoners: religious enemies were united by a common misfortune. But the biggest threats await the hero from fellow believers: the English throne has been seized by an impostor! Only a green forest, only friends who have lost everything, and friends ready for anything, only faith in their rightness will help Robin survive in an unequal struggle. And his enemies will be made to shudder from the ominous whistle of well-aimed arrows flying from nowhere.
Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
The film is a parody of Robin Hood.
Robin Hood, along with a company of his friends - forest archers, tear off everything, even their tights, in order to once again confront the next villain. Prince John entered the throne of the kingdom absolutely illegally. He framed his own brother Richard, whom the townspeople loved so much. Now Robin needs to help King Lionheart regain power, and also pick up the key to the heart of his beloved, named Marian. But he still does not even suspect that the keys need to be picked up to the chastity belt of this beauty.
Robin Hood's Daughter: Princess of Thieves (2001)
Robin Hood faithfully and nobly serves the British throne. He already had a daughter, who, fortunately or unfortunately, took after her father. Young Gwyn does not want to stay at home all the time. Her father did not have time to notice how she learned to master archery. Also a secret from her dad, Gwyn is quite confident in her saddle and rides. Very soon, the acquired skills will be useful to her. Richard the Lionheart dies suddenly, and his own brother, Prince John, comes to the throne. According to his decree, Robin Hood should be imprisoned, and the heir to the throne, Philip, should be killed. But Gwin, having learned about this, is already in a hurry to help her father.
Sherwood Forest (2009)
Robin Hood is a legendary fighter for justice. Thanks to his activities, many people were saved from injustice. The leader of a whole army of robbers of Sherwood Forest understands that the number of his followers is only growing every day. Twenty years ago, it was in these forests that his father was killed. Now hard times are coming when the insidious Sheriff of Nottingham goes on the trail of Robin Hood in order to destroy him and all his minions. For this difficult task, the sheriff uses a mysterious monster that takes the form of a girl at night.
Robin Hood (2010)
He is the one who was an ordinary archer in the army of the good King Richard. He is the legendary Robin Hood, who again went on the warpath in order to take revenge on the Norman invaders. After the death of his king Lionheart, Robin, along with like-minded people, intends to put an end to injustice in his native lands and put an end to endless sacrifices. He is ruled by the desire for revenge, justice, as well as the irresistible force that gives him the faith in him of ordinary people who are faced with inhuman injustice at the hands of the new king who has ascended the throne.
Robin Hood: The Ghosts of Sherwood (2012)
The legendary archer, king of thieves and forest hero named Robin Hood is selling his soul. The witch was not honest with him, and he dies in another battle. Faithful friend of Robin Hood - Little John and beloved Marian are saddened by such grief, but do not intend to put up with it. Once again entering into a deal with the dark forces, with the help of an enchanted potion, they are trying to revive the dead warrior. But not quite the Robin they knew returns to them, as a result they get a living dead.
Robin Hood: The Beginning (2018)
Robin Hood returns to humiliate the villains once again and help those in need. There are many legends about this hero, a storm of injustice, but now we will talk about his origin. Why did he become a hero and what motivated him at the time of the creation of the most famous band of forest robbers. What had to be lost in order to gain the strength to resist such strong enemies. Being an ordinary person, faced with the arbitrariness and arrogance of the new king, he had the strength of mind, which allowed him to give a significant rebuff. His imitators flooded the Sherwood Forests, which gave even more headaches for Prince John, who illegitimately came to the throne.
Who really was Robin Hood?
A romantic hero who robbed the rich to help the poor, or a bloodthirsty bandit who was idealized by later generations? What is the true face of a daring daredevil named Robin Hood?
In the historical chronicles of six hundred years ago, it is possible to find only a brief mention of the rogue of the same name, who hunted in the forests of Central England.
However, it is unlikely that the petty villain would have been awarded the attention of chroniclers if his deeds did not stand out in any way from a number of other events of those troubled times. And yet, when wars, plague and famine were commonplace, the historiography of that time gives him a few lines. The rest was taken care of by popular rumor.
Through the depths of time, numerous legends about a romantic robber have come down to our days, whose name, oddly enough, is now more widely known than during his lifetime. That name is Robin Hood.
Truth and fiction
1988, March - Nottingham city council, in the east-central part of the UK, released a report on the most famous citizen of the city. Because over the years the council has received thousands of inquiries about Robin Hood and his brave squad, the council decided to make a definite statement on this matter.
Despite the fact that the legends about Robin Hood have a long history, the members of the city council took it upon themselves to question the veracity of the legend of the elusive Robin and find out who Robin Hood was.
After a thorough study of the distant past of Nottingham, the researchers came to the conclusion that the brave hero, who robbed the rich to help the poor, did not even know the maiden Marian - according to legend, Robin Hood's beloved. Monk Tuk, they believe, is a completely fictional person. Little John was a vicious and grumpy man who had nothing in common with a carefree character from folklore. This interpretation was obtained by the results of the research.
Having debunked the legend, the members of the council hoped by this to gain fame for themselves as discoverers. However, they were only the latest in a series of skeptics. Because when studying the history of Robin Hood, it is almost impossible to separate fact from fiction. And before them, many undertook to explore this exciting story, but the image of Robin did not fade from this at all.
So, who is Robin Hood, where is the truth, and where is the fiction about a man whose exploits still excite readers, cinema and TV viewers? Some tend to take for granted what serious investigators have uncovered: Robin robbed passers-by on the Great North Road near Barnsdale in South Yorkshire and looted with his gang of outlaws in Sherwood Forest 30 miles from Nottingham. Others are more attracted by the romantic version of the legend that this handsome hero actually robbed, but only the rich, in order to give the stolen goods to the poor.
Facts in history
The first reports that Robin Hood was in charge in the forests and wastelands of England date back to 1261. However, in written sources, he was first mentioned only a hundred years later. This was done by the Scottish historian Fordun, who died in 1386.
The following information about Robin Hood in the chronicles refers to the 16th century.
According to the chronicler John Stowe, it was a robber during the reign of Richard I. He was the leader of a gang, which included a hundred brave outcasts. They were all excellent archers. Although they traded in robbery, yet Robin Hood “did not allow oppression or other violence against women. He did not touch the poor, distributing to them everything that he took away from the saints and noble rich.
We will consider this story from the most benevolent positions. Let's start with the fact that the existence of Robin Hood is documented. He lived in Wakefield, Yorkshire, in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
The documents record that the legendary robber was born in 1290 and was named Robert Hood. In the old registers, three spellings of the surname are given: God, Goad and Good. But no one disputes the origin of Robin: he was a servant of the Earl of Warren.
How did the peasant son get on the path of robbers?
1322 - Robin passed into the service of a new master, Sir Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. When the earl led a rebellion against King Edward II, Robin, like the other servants of the earl, had no choice but to obey his master and take up arms. However, the uprising was crushed, Lancaster was captured and beheaded for treason. His possessions were confiscated by the king, and the count's people who took part in the rebellion were outlawed.
Robin has found the perfect hideout in the wilderness of Sherwood Forest, in Yorkshire.
Sherwood Forest covered an area of 25 square miles and adjoined Yorkshire. Through the Sherwood and Barnsdale woodlands, the Great North Road, laid out by the Romans, passed through, on which there was heavy traffic. This attracted the attention of outcast robbers.
So there was a legend about Robin Hood, a man in green clothes, the color of the forest.
New stories
The legends about Robin abound with many funny stories about his daring adventures and antics. One of them tells how the swaggering and narrow-minded Bishop of Hertsford, on his way to York, met with Robin and his people, who were roasting venison, obtained in the royal hunting forests.
Mistaking Robin's men for simple peasants, the bishop ordered those who killed the deer to be seized. The robbers calmly refused: the deer can no longer be resurrected, and everyone is terribly hungry. Then, at the sign of the bishop, those around the fire were surrounded by his servants. The robbers, laughing, began to beg for mercy, but the bishop was adamant. Robin eventually got fed up with the bickering. He gave a signal, and the rest of the gang arrived from the forest. The dumbfounded bishop was taken prisoner and demanded a ransom.
Wanting to teach his hapless hostage a lesson, Robin made him dance a jig around a huge oak tree. To this day, that place in the forest is called the "bishop's oak."
It is also said that one day Robin, accompanied by his best friend Little John, paid a visit to Whitby Priory. The abbot asked them to show their vaunted skill in archery. It was necessary to shoot from the monastery roof. Robin and Baby John gladly granted his request. They did not shame their glory.
Passed from mouth to mouth, one of the most beloved stories about how Robin met Edward II has been preserved in the people's memory. According to legend: the king, worried that his deer population was melting before his eyes, disappearing into the insatiable wombs of robbers, wanted to clear his forest of poachers once and for all.
The king and his knights, disguised as monks, went to Sherwood Forest, knowing that Robin Hood and a gang were waiting for unlucky travelers there. And they were not wrong. The robbers stopped them and demanded money.
The disguised king declared that he had only 40 pounds (a rather insignificant amount for that time). Robin took 20 pounds for his men and returned the rest to the king.
Then Edward told the leader that he was called to Nottingham to meet with the king. Robin and his men fell to their knees and swore their love and devotion to Edward, then invited the "monks" to dine with them - to taste the king's own venison!
In the end, Edward realized that Robin was simply mocking him. Then he revealed himself to the robbers and forgave them on the condition that they all come to the court for service as soon as he called them.
This story, of course, seems implausible, created by the imagination of fans of Robin Hood. But in the end, maybe not everything in it is fiction.
The fact is that this case is described in Robin Hood's Little Feat, published in 1459. It is known for certain that the king visited Nottingham in 1332. We also know that a few months after this, the name of Robin Hood is mentioned in reports of Edward's court.
However, he soon suddenly disappeared from the royal court, only to reappear in the forest and in popular rumor.
So, let's continue the story of the daring adventures of Robin Hood. He appeared at the church of St. Mary in Nottingham, where a monk recognized the robber and informed the sheriff. Robin was captured only after he single-handedly killed 12 soldiers with his sword. Even being imprisoned, the fearless leader had no doubt that his true friends would not leave him. Shortly before Robin was due to stand trial, Little John organized a daring attack and returned their leader to the bandit brethren. For complete justice, the robbers tracked down and killed the monk who betrayed Robin.
forest brotherhood
It is impossible to talk about Robin Hood without paying tribute to his cheerful gang and legendary girlfriend, Maid Marian.
Robin's closest assistant was Little John, presumably not a merry fellow at all, but a gloomy and very vulnerable guy. Most likely, he was called the Kid as a joke, since he was quite tall. This was discovered when, in 1784, his grave was opened at Hathersage and the bones of a rather tall man were found.
As for Brother Took, opinions differ about him. Some believe that this legendary character combines the features of two fat monks, others believe that there really was such a cheerful person who loved to have fun and dance in the company of forest brothers. Perhaps it was Robert Stafford, a priest from Sussex (early 15th century), who sometimes, under the pseudonym of Brother Took, participated in the adventures of a gay gang.
Maid Marian as a character also fits well with the theory that the image of Robin came from folk tales of traditional May festivities and games. Marian could simply be a girl chosen for her beauty as the "Queen of May".
The inconsistency of the image
The legendary adventures of Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest supposedly ended in 1346. It is believed that he died in Kirkless Monastery after a serious illness. The abbess treated Robin with copious bloodletting, as a result of which, weakened and exsanguinated, he never recovered from his illness.
Such is the romantic image of Robin Hood, a daredevil and benefactor. But the Anglo-Saxons have a strange tendency to denigrate their idols, and Robin suffered more than others from this.
Graham Black, director of the Nottanham Tales of Robin Hood exhibition, said: "We have come close to knowing the true identity of Robin Hood."
According to Black, the real story of Robin dates back to 1261, when William, son of Robert Smith, was outlawed in Berkshire. The law clerk who wrote the decree named him William Robinhood.
Other court documents survive that mention people named Robinhood, most of whom are criminals. Therefore, researchers believe that if Robin Hood actually existed, then he most likely acted before that time.
The most likely candidate for this dubious role, according to Graham Black, is Robert Hod, an inhabitant of the Archbishopric of York, who escaped justice in 1225. Two years later he is mentioned in written documents as Hobhod.
Where does the romantic version of the legend come from?
According to some versions, Robin was a nobleman. But this is an obvious invention of the playwright, who in 1597 wanted to attract the nobility to his theater. Previously, Robin was considered a vassal of the lord.
The glory of Robin Hood as the greatest archer comes from wandering storytellers who passed from mouth to mouth ballads about the legendary robber, recorded in the second half of the 15th century.
As for the girl Marian, it is believed that she was a beauty guarded by the treacherous Prince John. She first met Robin when she was ambushed by his men. However, scholars do not agree with this version, claiming that Marian appeared in a French poem of the 13th century as a shepherdess with her shepherd Robin. Only 200 years after the appearance of this poem, she finally entered the legend of Robin Hood. And the reputation of the immaculate virgin Marian gained much later under the influence of chaste Victorian morality.
According to legend, Brother Tuk was a merry glutton who amused the robbers with his funny antics and jokes. The monk was unsurpassed in stick fights. In fact, it turns out that Brother Tuk also existed. This name was given to the priest of Lindfield parish from Sussex, in fact a murderer and robber, when in 1417 a royal decree was issued for his arrest, the priest went on the run.
James Holt, Professor of Medieval History at the University of Cambridge and author of a book on Robin Hood, wrote: “Written evidence shows that Brother Took organized his band of robbers two hundred miles from Sherwood Forest, centuries after Robin Hood. In fact, Brother Tuk was quite far from harmless gaiety, for he ruined and burned the hearths of his enemies.
Little John, Robin's right hand, was capable of brutal murders. It was he who killed the monk, suspected of betraying Robin, then beheaded the young servant of the monk, a witness to the murder.
But Little John did a lot of brave things. One of them, which has already been mentioned, is the rescue of Robin Hood from a well-fortified prison guarded by the guards of the notorious Sheriff of Nottingham.
Regarding Robin Hood, Professor Holt wrote: “He was absolutely not the way he is described. He wore a cap like a monastic hood. There is absolutely no evidence that he robbed the rich to give money to the poor. The legend acquired these fabrications 200 or more years after his death. And during his lifetime he was known as a notorious marauder.
And yet, following the legends of hoary antiquity, we prefer to see in Robin Hood the protector of the oppressed and disenfranchised, the brave and cheerful chieftain, now and then wiping the nose of those in power.
And we want to believe that, ending his life path, full of various feats, our hero, on the verge of death, blew a horn with his last strength, as if sending news of himself to the future, and we still hear the echoes of this signal with our hearts.
Everyone knows the stories about Robin Hood. For some, this is a beautiful legend, for others - a real-life character. Stories about Robin Hood are covered with a touch of romance and legend.
However, it is safe to say that Robin Hood actually existed. He was first mentioned in 1377 in a ballad about a forest robber - an enemy of the rich and a defender of the oppressed. Around 1510, a pamphlet was published that told the story, and according to it, Robin Hood met the king. He pretended not to recognize his sovereign, and he invited the daredevil to serve the crown. Since then, more and more versions about the exploits of the public defender began to appear, and each of the authors put more and more data into their stories, not always taking into account the facts.
And Robin Hood in each new version raises his status in society - from a small-land peasant to the Earl of Huntington. However, all the legends agree on one thing - the noble robber launched an active activity when the central government fought for authority with the local one.
The name of the man who became the prototype for folk legends was Robert Hood. He was a native of Wakefield, Yorkshire, and was born around 1280. He had a wife Matilda, served in the royal army during the battles with the Scots and supported the Duke of Lancaster in his war with King Edward II.
After the general battle lost by his patron around 1322, the future hero of legends went into hiding. He created his own partisan detachment and continued the war with the royal power. And, of course, he fought with the Nottingham sheriff, while not sparing the clergy.
Both the sheriff and his sworn enemy were constantly captured by each other, but, oddly enough, they dispersed peacefully. It seems that both opponents agreed among themselves on the division of powers between the center and local authorities. Soon the king himself arrived at the head of Sherwood Forest for negotiations. And only after that, Robert Hood agreed to disband his troops, accepting the post of bed-keeper offered by his sovereign. This was a fairly high position, giving access directly to the king.
However, Goode soon left London and returned to his native forests. Punitive expeditions were constantly sent against him. He managed to defeat several detachments. One of these detachments was led by the Norman knight Sir Guy of Gisborne. After the victory, Robert Hood cut off this knight's head and impaled it on a stake. The same fate befell the Nottingham Sheriff.
After that, it was no longer possible to stay in England, and the forest robber tried to swim away. But he was not lucky - the storm brought him back to the shore. After that, Robin Hood sheltered in his castle alone and barons hostile to the king. However, he could not fight the state. After several defeats by government troops, the legendary partisan became seriously ill and went to the nunnery in Kirkless for treatment. The local abbess sheltered the fugitive and undertook to treat him. For medicinal purposes, she let her patient bleed, but forgot to stop it.
After that, the deceased robber was buried near the abbey. Rumor has it that in the nineteenth century, the tombstone from Good's grave was turned into rubble for the local railway.
Many researchers do not understand why Robin Hood is so popular. For example, the abuse of the Sheriff and Sir Gisborne does not look very attractive. In addition, his constant conflicts with the king look illogical, when Robin himself could become part of the government. There are even versions that he had a non-traditional sexual orientation, which caused conflicts with the church.
It is quite possible that such a tough position of Robin Hood is connected with the increased royal power. On the ground, this very power was represented by sheriffs. They headed county councils, disposed of royal property, collected taxes and led armies on campaigns. Of course, the sheriffs had conflicts with local lords and yeomen.
At the beginning of the thirteenth century, under pressure from the barons, one of the most unfortunate kings, John Landless, was forced to sign the Magna Carta. And it was called Great not only because of its historical significance, but also because of the scope of rights and freedoms that citizens were endowed with. According to one of the points, if the king violated the charter, the barons had the right to revolt, which should not have ended in the death of the king or members of his family.
However, almost immediately, John Landless began to break these promises, which led to a new uprising. Under Edward the First, amendments were made to the Magna Carta, which prohibited the central government from collecting taxes without the consent of the entire English community. Nevertheless, Edward II strengthened his power, limiting all the liberties of citizens. This led to unrest and forced Robert Hood to go into the forests.
Robin Hood was not the only one who demanded that the authorities fulfill these promises, but it was he who was remembered as the people's defender.
Video Robin Hood. Secrets of history
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