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 sudden death 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 During this period, I experienced a lot of negative things on myself. 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 good 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 valiant knight Ivanhoe. A brave warrior returns from a long crusade. Now he wants his back good name, merit, inheritance, as well as achieve the location of his beautiful beloved. Ivanhoe appears in royal england just at the moment when it unfolds real war for the throne. 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 the enemies of religion have already rallied in order to get out of 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 - 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 a desire for revenge, justice, as well as an irresistible force, which is given to him by 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. True friend 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 historical chronicles 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 centuries of history, 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 it 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 peasant son fell into the path of robbery?
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
Robin legends abound funny stories about his bold 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 to seize those who killed the deer. 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."
They also say that somehow Robin, accompanied by his best friend Little John paid a visit to the monastery of Whitby. 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 about traditional May holiday 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 tricks 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 University of Cambridge and the author of a book on Robin Hood, wrote: “Written records indicate that Brother Took organized his gang of robbers two hundred miles from Sherwood Forest, and centuries after Robin Hood. In fact, Brother Tuk was quite far from harmless gaiety, for he ruined and burned the hearths of his enemies.
baby john, right hand Robin, 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 life path, full of various feats, our hero is on the verge of death from last strength blew a horn, as if sending a message about himself to the future, and we still hear the echoes of this signal in our hearts.
As they said in the famous French comedy - "Even if Fantômas does not exist, invent it." It is still not known for certain whether the prototype of the most famous criminal in France, created on the pages of writers Pierre Souvestre and Marcel Alain, existed.
But this is not about him, but about the fact that people at all times believed that evil must be fought by a daredevil who is not afraid to challenge harsh reality and protect the poor and disadvantaged. Sometimes such heroes really existed, and sometimes someone, fearing to be caught, committed feats of arms against the state under the guise of someone else, invented to avert suspicion. Probably one of the biggest mysteries is in the UK. And her name is Robin Hood.
Robin Hood is one of the greatest legends this country. A fallen nobleman who was aided by a gang of outlaws who lived in Sherwood Forest and robbed the rich to give to the poor, while at the same time defying a corrupt sheriff and king who, in the opinion of many, had no right to rule England. But what do we know about him? And does it exist at all? Let's try to figure it out.
His legend has been alive for centuries because he is a timeless symbol of a noble, selfless man who brought his own concept justice for the people. In this case, Robin Hood represents the elimination of the imbalance between the haves and the have-nots (note that Nottingham only benefited from this - thousands of tourists come to this city every year to touch the legend).
Criminal or savior?
The legend of Robin Hood dates back to medieval times, with the oldest references being found not in historical chronicles, but simply as remarks and notes in various writings. Since the beginning of the 13th century, several English judges throughout the country have referred to the names "Robinhood", "Robehod" or "Rabunhod" in their written records. In this case, most likely, there is a place to be a generalized name for all fugitives and criminals. However, the first mention of the alleged historical robin Gude can be found in a chronicle written around 1420. It also mentions for the first time "Lytil John", who became known to everyone as Robin Hood's assistant - Little John.
An earlier (but therefore not entirely accurate) reference is found in the work of the Scottish chronicler John Fordun, written between 1377 and 1384. The source mentions the year 1266 - a year before that, a conflict occurred between King Henry II and the aristocrat Simon de Montfort, as a result of which the latter wanted to overthrow the king. It was then that the famous killer Robert Hood arose, as well as Little John, along with his accomplices from among the disinherited (for various reasons).
Over time, many ballads and stories about the character of Robin Hood have appeared, but none of them gives a single description of this man, what he actually did. Some of these ballads link Robin to the historical figure of Robert Hood of Wakefield who, as a Sherwood hero, may have been an agent of King Edward II. after the Lancaster rebellion of 1322. Other stories say that Robin Hood was actually Robin of Loxley, a Yorkshire nobleman who lost all his lands and wealth as a result of local government intrigues. However, the question is still open - when (at least theoretically) did Robin Hood exist? Under what king did he live and "work"?
The 16th century was marked by the fact that the legend of Robin Hood received a historical setting - the end of the 12th century, namely the 1190s, when the king left to fight in crusades. The stories were filled with new details, such as the short-sighted and pathetic new King John, who ruled England while Richard was away, and the evil Sheriff of Nottingham appears. Victorian era even made Robin a national figure, a Saxon leading his brethren against the Norman invaders.
Why Nottingham?
To this day, Nottingham - in particular Sherwood Forest - is the spiritual home of Robin Hood, but there is no real reason for this; although there are references to Nottingham and Sherwood in many ballads composed over the centuries. However real reasons we are unknown. But here interesting detail- There are two Loxleys in England - northwest of the city of Sheffield is a small village called Loxley, which has long been associated with the legends of Robin Hood and the Robin Hood Inn, built in 1799, being an attempt to exploit this glory.
There is also another Loxley in Warwickshire, near Stratford-upon-Avon, and here some historians have traced Robin Hood to an ancestor of one of the Norman invaders who came with William the Conqueror and settled there.
However, Nottingham will always be Robin Hood territory, and the city attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world each year to see, among other things, the famous 1000-year-old large oak tree, called the home of Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest.
Now, after so many centuries, it is difficult to say whether Robin Hood really existed, or was it a figment of the imagination of the oppressed people who wanted to believe in a miracle? An association different traditions, historical characters and romantic ideals came together in one picture called Robin Hood, the noble robber. And you can finish with a quote from the same famous French comedy: “- I would like him to really exist, and for you to meet him.
-Me too. Do you think I'm afraid of him? This man fascinates me."
Most of us know the legend about noble robber Robin Hood. He stole from the rich and gave to the poor, who were robbed by the rich. In any legend there is some truth and a lot of fiction. The legend of Robin Hood does not stand out in this sense. Scientists have long been trying to understand who was the prototype of this folk hero. Throughout the study this issue There are several popular versions. Let's figure it out.
Robin Good Small
Let's start a little outside the box and from afar, namely with the folklore of the Saxons and Scandinavians - more precisely, with the forest spirit Pak, or Pak, or Puk ( English Puck), who in England itself is called Hob ( English hob). The folklore of the Saxons is important here, since part of this ancient Germanic tribe participated in the formation ethnic composition population of the British Isles. The Scandinavians also took part, but later, starting from the era of the Norman conquest of England in 1066-1072.
Actually, Pak is a forest spirit that scares people and makes them wander through the thickets. And if in Scandinavian folklore Pak is a creature associated more with evil, then for the British it is a joker and a prankster, a trickster (it can both help and harm). Rudyard Kipling in Tales of Old England described him as an elf dressed in all green. In addition to the colors of the clothes (Robin Hood wore a green cloak / cape with a pointed hood) and dual behavior (a robber, but a good robber), there is also a similarity in the name, since the British call Pak, or Hob, also the name Robin Goodfellow - Robin Good Small . It can be assumed that at a certain stage, Hob "embodied" in the character of the legend of Robin Hood, but this is not entirely true.
Historical prototypes
The most common version of Robin Hood is the one in which the robber is a contemporary of King Richard I the Lionheart (second half of the 12th century). This is reported in the chronicle of the XVI century. But there is a nuance - the famous episode from the legend of Robin Hood, which describes his participation in archery competitions. The fact is that such competitions in England began to be held no earlier than the 13th century. However, nothing prevented this plot from being in the legend immediately.
Other information relating to 1261 tells us about a certain robber Robin, who was in charge in the forests of England at that time. There is also evidence that Robert Goad (Hood or Hod) was born in 1290, lived in the era of Edward II, at the age of 32 he was in the service of the Earl of Lancaster, who was defeated during his rebellion against the king, and his servants were declared outlaw. To avoid justice, Robert went to Sherwood Forest, where he gathered a gang of robbers in order to extort money from the rich. About the same Robert there is a record that he worked for several months at the court of Edward II - the legend beautifully beat this episode, building its own chronological sequence of events. Robert died in 1346 in the Kirkley monastery from a serious illness.
It turns out that the fact of the existence of the famous robber (or several) is documented and refers to the XIII-XIV centuries. But did he and his gang really live up to the image that popular rumor has created?
Daniel Maclise. Robin Hood and his men entertain Richard the Lionheart in Sherwood Forest
It doesn't seem to be, and probably not at all. Even if he helped the poor, this is not recorded in any document. With the girl Marian (the legendary beloved of Robin), he was not familiar. Marian fell into the legend of a noble robber from a 13th-century French poem, where she acts as the girlfriend of the shepherd Robin. Monk Tuk, a drinker, a merry fellow and an unsurpassed fighter of stick fights, or as a whole fictional character, or its prototype was a real priest of a local church, who in reality created his own band of robbers and lived in the XIV-XV centuries. Robin Hood's faithful friend Little John, whose grave was opened in 1784, was indeed a very tall. But he wasn't funny at all. On the contrary, he is stern, touchy and capable of brutal murders.
It turns out that real prototype, which formed the basis of the legend about the noble robber Robin Hood and his gang, still existed. But people in those harsh times wanted a “ray of light” so much that it collective image was completely unrecognizable...
Many poems, stories and ballads have been written about the noble robber Robin Hood. But was he a real person, or just a beautiful legend? There have been historical disputes about this for a long time.
Who was the inspiration for Robin Hood?
Probably the most early source, telling about the deeds of this hero, is the "Ballad of Robin Hood", written at the end of the XIV century. A proud, fearless robber from Sherwood Forest robs the rich, helps the poor, punishes the evil and greedy...
Later, the name of Robin Hood begins to appear in other sources. For example, in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, there is mention of "a thicket of hazel where the merry Robin walked."
Modern researchers believe that several historical figures could be the prototypes of Robin Hood at once.
So, in the census registers for 1228 and 1230, the name of Robert Hood, nicknamed Brownie, is found. According to sources, he came into conflict with the law. In addition, the emergence of an insurrectionary movement led by Sir Robert Twing dates back to approximately the same time. It is known that the rebels plundered the monasteries, took away grain supplies from there and distributed them to the poor.
Another candidate for the role of Robin Hood is Robert Fitzut. The legend says that Fitzut was born into an aristocratic family, lived from about 1160 to 1247 and staged rebellions in order to win the title of Earl of Huntington supposedly due to him. In any case, the dates of Fitzut's life coincide with the dates of the life of Robin Hood, as they are indicated in some sources. However, in official archives no mention of Robert Fitzut found. Robin Hood, however skeptics point out that contemporary records do not mention a rebellious nobleman named Robin Fitzut.
Who was the king of Robin Hood?
In addition to issues related to the time of origin of the stories about Robin Hood, various sources tell us about different kings. The first historian, Walter Bower, confidently placed Robin Hood in the 1265 rebellion against King Henry III, led by Simon de Montfort, the king's son-in-law. After his defeat at the Battle of Evesham, most of the rebels remained in the army and led a life similar to that described in the ballads of Robin Hood. “At that time,” wrote Walter Bower, “the famous robber Robin Hood stepped out among those who were disinherited and expelled for participating in the uprising. These people sang their exploits in romances, performances and passages. The main catch in Bower's reasoning is the presence of the bow, which is so common in the ballads about Robin Hood. It had not yet been invented at the time of the rebellion of Simon de Montfort.
A document dated 1322 speaks of a "Robin Hood stone" in Yorkshire. It is assumed that ballads - not human - were already well known by this time. Those who would place the real Robin Hood in this time period would suggest that Robin Hood, owner of Wakefield who took part in the rebellion of the Earl of Lancaster, was the prototype of the rebel hero. The following year, they point out, King Edward II visited Nottingham and took a certain Robin Hood into his service as court valet. He was paid his salary for the next 12 months or until he was fired "because he could no longer work." This evidence is beautifully presented in the third story of Robin Hood's Little Gesture.
The mention of King Edward II places the robber hero in the first quarter of the 14th century. But according to other versions, Robin Hood appears as a supporter of King Richard the Lionheart, who ruled in last decade 12th century, and an opponent of his brother Richard and his successor John Landless - as he was named for the territories lost in France.
Fictional stories.
What is most obvious about Robin Hood is the development of his legend. In the early ballads, there is no mention of Marian, the hero's girlfriend. It first appears at the end of the 15th century, when folk songs and dancing becomes popular during the May holidays. Huge baby John is with Robin Hood at the very beginning, but Father Took appears in the last ballad when he plunges Robin into the raging current. The real Robin Hood is a simple yeoman, later he turns into a rebellious nobleman.
There are so many controversial additions to the Robin Hood legend that it's unlikely that one will ever be found. real hero. Most scholars now agree that he represents a type - the rogue hero - that has been described in ballads passed down from generation to generation since the 1300s. Narrators weave a variety of conflicting stories into their stories and real people and turn it all into a story about a man who may never have existed. As one professor wrote: "Robin Hood is the product of a muse," the invention of unknown poets who wanted to glorify ordinary person who sought justice against the pressure of nobility and wealth. This is what glorified him and made him the hero of ballads:
He was a good robber
And did a lot of good to the poor
And for this the Lord spared his soul.
There is also a version that Robin Hood was one of the warriors of King Richard the Lionheart. He ruled England in the last decade of the twelfth century. However, the mentioned monarch almost never visited his state, spending time in foreign military campaigns. And the adventures of Robin Hood unfold in England.
A certain tenant from Wakefield, who in 1322 took part in the uprising of the Earl of Lancaster, could also become the prototype of Robin Hood. This version confirmed by documentary evidence that in 1323 English king Edward II, after visiting Nottingham, took a man named Robert Hood into his service as a valet. Similar facts are given in The Ballad of Robin Hood.
Historians believe that if Robin Hood really existed, then he performed his exploits in the first quarter of the 14th century. This just coincided with the era of the reign of Edward II.
hooded man
Most researchers still tend to believe that Good is a nickname, not a surname. Hood (Hood) translated from English means "hood". This is a traditional element of clothing of all medieval robbers. By the way, this word could mean several hats at once: a hood, a cap, a cap, a hood, a helmet - the main thing is that it protects the whole head ... And the term also has figurative meaning: "hide". Hence the expression "hoodlum" - "thug", "hooligan" (after all, honest people do not need to cover their faces and heads if they are not warriors). Thus, Robin Hood was understood as a secretive person with hooligan manners...
So, most likely, the image of Robin Hood is collective. Oppressed by the authorities and the rich, the poor dreamed of folk hero who would fight for justice, protecting the rights of the most disadvantaged.
Robber's grave
Oddly enough, at mythical character has its own grave, next to which there is even a monument to Robin Hood. It is located near Kirkless Abbey in West Yorkshire.
According to legend, the sick Robin Hood came to the abbess of the monastery, having heard that she was very knowledgeable in the medical craft. But she turned out to be loyal to the authorities persecuting the robber and decided, on the contrary, to hasten his death. The woman went to the trick: she made Robin lose too much blood, and so that the patient did not notice this, she passed the blood through a jug with a hole.
Realizing that the end was near, Robin Hood bequeathed to bury himself where the arrow he fired would fall. The arrow fell about 650 meters from the monastery gatehouse, where, according to legend, the robber was overtaken by death. There they set up a memorial.
Meanwhile, researcher Richard Rutherford-Moore doubts that Robin Hood could be buried in this place. After experimenting with a bow and arrows of a medieval type, he concluded that an arrow fired from the window of the gatehouse could fly off from him at most 5 meters. And the archives testify that in the 18th century, in the process of laying pipes next to the notorious gatehouse, the remains of an unknown man were discovered. Maybe these were the bones of Robin Hood? But where they are now - no one knows.
