Robin Hood owes his name not to the English word “good,” that is, “good,” as Russian readers usually believe. The most common belief is that he got his nickname from “hood,” that is, a hood or other headdress. Robin Hood - Robin in the hood.
A character from English folklore, a skilled archer and warrior from Sherwood Forest who robs the rich and distributes his loot to the poor. Interestingly, this trait was not part of the original ballad character and did not appear until the 19th century. It is unknown whether the legend of the noble robber had real prototype or whether it was based only on medieval ballads and tales, 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 believe. The most common belief is that he got his nickname from “hood,” that is, a hood or other headdress. Robin Hood - Robin in the hood. Attempts to connect this name with a real person have led nowhere, in particular because 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 in medieval records there were many people named Robert or Robin Hood, and some of them were indeed criminals - but not so famous or significant as to contribute to the birth of the legend.
Robin Hood is accompanied by a squad of loyal companions, all of whom live in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, where the action of the first Robin ballads and modern films and television films mainly takes place. In the earliest accounts he was a yeoman 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 Forest Archer is often called Robin of Loxley - he is 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 Skelough in South Yorkshire (Skellow, South Yorkshire), which has been associated with the name of Robin Hood since 1422.
The first reference to the poems about Robin Hood dates from the end of the 14th century, but the ballads themselves were written down only in the 15th and 16th centuries, and already in them Robin Hood has all his main features - he comes from the common people, worships the Virgin Mary, enjoys increased attention from women, he is a skilled archer, cannot stand clergymen and is at enmity with the Sheriff of Nottingham. Robin's squad has already appeared Little Joe n (Little John), Will Scarlet (Will Scarlet) and Much the Miller's Son, but there is still no mention of Maid Marian and the cheerful monk Brother Tuck (Friar Tuck) - they will appear a little later. In popular culture, Robin Hood is considered a contemporary and supporter of King Richard the Lionheart, that is, he lives in England in the 12th century.
Interestingly, the first ballads give readers a few details to determine the time of the action, such as King Edward, for example, but the ballads, of course, cannot be considered a reliable historical source in such matters. Moreover, there were several kings with that name - King Edward I ascended the throne in 1272, and Edward III died in 1377. Since the 16th century, Robin Hood "becomes" a nobleman, usually considered the Earl of Huntingdon, and this version is still very popular today.
In any case, Robin Hood is a model for any noble robber. He collects tribute from wealthy merchants, knights or high-ranking clerics who were not lucky enough to meet him in Sherwood Forest, offering them to dine on juicy venison, obtained, of course, by poaching. True, the payment for such a dinner is usually the “guest’s” wallet. There are exceptions to the rules - in one of the ballads, Robin Hood invites a knight to dinner, intending to rob him completely, but upon 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 intelligent, despite his simple origins. He and his men usually dress in green, which helps them hide in the dense forests. He has a sharp tongue, loves to joke, and can be quick-tempered and quick to kill. It is very interesting that in the ballads Robin holds his people in strict obedience, and, recognizing his supremacy, they kneel before him as before their lord - in medieval tales there is no hint of modern ideals of equality and brotherhood. Historians argue that the legend of Robin Hood was cultivated mainly among the gentry, the minor nobility, and it would be a mistake to see him as the embodiment of a peasant revolt. 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, effeminate and discourteous enemies. Although there are more than a hundred people in his squad of "Merry Men", only four or five of them, Robin's closest friends and associates, are regularly described in ballads.
At the latest, by the beginning of the 15th century, Robin Hood had become associated with the May holidays, and around the same time, Robin Hood's romantic attachment to Maid Marian (or Marion), who eventually became his lifelong friend, appeared in the sources. Marian is also portrayed either as a commoner or as an heir to a noble family, and in modern culture it is believed that eventually 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 robbed the rich in order to give gifts 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 to a national one. a hero of epic proportions who not only cares for the weak, but also bravely defends the English throne from unworthy and corrupt lords.
For almost 700 years there has been a legend telling about a noble robber. He robbed the rich, and distributed the goods taken from them to the poor. This man led a gang of “knife and ax workers” numbering more than a hundred people. Desperate people lived in Sherwood Forest (Nottinghamshire) and caused a lot of trouble to dishonest, greedy and greedy citizens.
Robin Hood was the name of the legendary hero who cared for the good of simple and honest people. So many ballads of praise have been written about him that you involuntarily begin to believe in the reality of this person. But did he live? noble robber in reality 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 forest robbers. In the first ballad the story is about how Robin helps a poor knight ruined by a greedy abbot. The poor fellow is lent a large sum of money, and the loyal squire of the noble leader of the robbers, Little Joe, is given to help. He was a huge fellow, 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 of Nottingham and the noble robber. "Romantics with high road“They organized a deer hunt in the sheriff’s lands, and then, with the help of cunning, invited the most formidable law enforcement officer to the feast.
Third ballad tells about Robin's meeting with King Edward. He secretly comes to Nottingham to conduct an investigation into violations of the law incognito. local authorities. The defender of the poor and the threat 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 work, but catches a cold and goes to Kirkley Abbey to undergo treatment. However, the insidious abbess treats him with leeches. They suck blood, the noble robber weakens day by day and eventually dies.
This, in brief, is the essence of the legends about 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. Next to him all the time was a cheerful and kind monk named Tak.
As for the origins of the glorious hero, some consider him a free peasant, others believe that he was a minor nobleman. The wife's name was Marian, however, she might not have been a wife, but simply a fighting friend.
Experts studied the census registers of England in the period from 1228 to 1230. In these lists, a man named Robin Hood was found, who was wanted for crimes. This time is notable for popular unrest. They were led by a certain Robert Thwing. Under his leadership, the rebels plundered monasteries, and the confiscated 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 approximately in 1246. This man was the Earl of Huntington, who had lost all his wealth. In fact, he was a rebellious aristocrat, but for some reason he did not oppose the king, but only opposed the 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 heads. In particular, this is Henry III (1207-1272). During his reign in 1261, an outbreak civil war. 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 rebel count, but then Henry III managed to regain power in 1265. However, some of the rebels did not bow their heads to the king. The nobles went into the forests and became robbers. Among them was our glorious hero. The king took everything from him, but could not take away his 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 Earl Thomas Plantagenet of 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 court. In 1322, a rebellion broke out. He was brutally suppressed, and Lancaster himself was beheaded.
The king pardoned some of the rebels. 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's salary was carefully paid. Then the newly appointed valet disappeared, and what happened to him next is unknown. It is quite 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 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 of the existence of Robin Hood, or more precisely at the end of the 12th century.
Nowadays, many researchers believe that bright and mysterious person is a composite image. That is, there was no specific person, but only a popular 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 people have turned it into a symbol of the eternal struggle between good and evil. That is why it remains not only popular, but also relevant for several centuries..
Historical prototype of Robin Hood
For 600 years now, scientists have been puzzling over where the world-famous ballad hero, leader of the forest robbers Robin Hood, came from, or rather, who he was based on, and whether he really existed. At least the four most common versions equally prove the existence of Robin, but they only argue about the prototypes. For example, Robert Goad (aka Good or Hod), born in 1290, lived during the reign of the English king Edward II. In 1322 Robert became a servant of the Earl of Lancaster. The count rebelled against the king and was executed, his possessions were transferred to the state treasury, and the participants in the uprising were declared outlaws. And then Robert hid in Sherwood Forest, organizing a criminal group with the mission of extorting money from the rich - nobles and royal servants. Also, one historical document says that this same Robert worked as a porter at the court of Edward II from March 24 to November 22, 1324 - so he had a chance to repent, receive forgiveness and enter the royal service. But by the time this could be done, Robert Goad was already seriously ill, and in 1346 he died in the Kirkley monastery from blood loss.
Another legend, somewhat similar in the chronology of events, states that Robert Goad lived in Witherby and escaped from the king's justice - this fact is stated in a court document from 1226 found in the London Public Record Office. The document also states that the sheriff of York took possession of the property of the escaped “Robin Hood”, but did not transfer the money to the treasury, and a year later put him on the wanted list, calling him “a criminal and villain of our land.” A little later, the robber was found and executed.
Another common version about the mysterious Robin Hood emphasizes that he was from the yeoman class (free artisan) from the village of Loxley, obsessed with a thirst for justice and prone to various extraordinary games. Many alternative versions, which say that Robin was supposedly the eldest son of the Earl of Huntington, refutes the fact that bards would rather write ballads and glorify not the count’s son, but a peasant socially close to them, helping the poor.
And finally, according to the fourth modern version, it is believed that Robin Hood lived during the times of Richard I, John I and Henry III, i.e. at the end of the XII - mid-XIII centuries. Since the hero was outlawed for a long time and became very famous for his exploits, soon every fifth robber began to be called “Robin Hood.” The deeds of all the Robin Hoods were summed up, from which ballads and legends were formed.
Majority historical sources are divided into two directions, along which it is possible to establish, at least, the era of Robin Hood. Some believe that Robin appeared under King Edward II or Edward III (1307-1377), others are inclined to believe that he was a contemporary of Richard the Lionheart (1189-1199). One thing remains clear: Robin Hood is a collective image, tailored from ballads and legends of different times and different generations.
Hero of Medieval England
Not far from the city of Nottingham lay Sherwood Forest. The Great Northern Road, laid by the Romans, passed through it - one of the main roads in Northern England. In the 11th century, after the conquest of England by the Normans, the new rulers harshly oppressed the Anglo-Saxons and treated them with undisguised contempt. Suffice it to say that the kings of the Norman and Angevin dynasties who ruled the country did not know a word of the language of the indigenous inhabitants of England.
The Anglo-Saxons, of course, rebelled - many of them went into the forests, creating gangs there for self-defense. Robin Hood became the leader of one of these gangs. His gang consisted of hundreds of valiant free shooters - fighters for the idea. Some became as immortal figures in folklore as Robin Hood himself. For example, the deputy chieftain, a healthy thug nicknamed Little John, whom Robin defeated in the famous stick fight at the river ford. And also the corpulent monk Tuk - a big fan of drinking, snacking and fighting. And other very colorful characters - such as Will Stutley-Scarlett, the minstrel Alan-o-Dale, Robin Hood's beloved Marion. They all wore green cloaks and were excellent archers, “good guys” who fought for economic justice by taking money from monks and landowners and giving it to the needy.
To live in the forest, you need to eat something, and that means hunt. In medieval England, such activity was considered criminal on a par with robbery, to the point that a poacher who shot a deer doomed himself to public hanging. Smaller game was punished in proportion to its size - for example, a rabbit could simply have its hand cut off. All the game that lived in the forest belonged only to the king; no one had the right to hunt there without permission. The king’s lands were guarded by specially appointed foresters, calling the robbers “arrogant rabble,” and tried to catch the poachers at any time. opportunity.
One day, the Bishop decided to take a walk through Sherwood and came across Robin's gang in the forest, where they were carefreely roasting venison. The bishop did not immediately realize that in front of him were the famous robbers whom the sheriff had been looking for for so long, and ordered his guards to seize the poachers. Those who loved to have fun from the heart, Robin and his friends, began to pretend to be simple serfs, begging for mercy. When Robin got tired of the fun, he gave a sign, and the rest of the gang rushed to their aid. The bishop was taken hostage and forced to dance a jig around a large oak tree. Since then, this oak has been called “Bishop’s”, and many ballads talk about the royal foresters as the eternal enemies of Robin Hood.
However, the foresters did not have the same power as the Sheriff of Nottingham, because in medieval England, the sheriff was a very significant figure, akin to the governor. Appointed personally by the king, the sheriff exercised all military, police, administrative and judicial powers in the county. He also collected taxes, some of which he took for himself without permission. The king, of course, did not know about this, but the peasants and aristocracy perceived him as their natural enemy. Not to mention the criminals from Robin Hood's squad, who mocked the official as best they could.
One day, the sheriff ordered the three sons of an old widow to be hanged because they shot a deer in the royal forest. This incident gave Robin another reason to have fun. Dressed in the clothes of a simple artisan, he hurried to Nottingham - to the square where the poachers were to be executed. Literally a second before the execution, Robin blew his horn, to the call of which all his friends immediately jumped up, beating off the prisoners.
The sheriff could not do anything about the “damned robber.” Once he even complained to the king, blaming his impotence. The king gave him wise advice - to resort to cunning, for which the sheriff came up with an “insidious” measure. He announced an archery competition in which the winner receives an arrow made of pure gold. Oddly enough, Robin fell for the simple trick and was about to set off for Nottingham when Little John advised him to change his green cloak to a multi-colored one. The sheriff did not recognize Robin, who arrived in such an outfit, allowing the robber to safely win the competition and hide in the forest along with the golden bow.
Very often the ballads talk about how Robin and the gang shook out the purses of fat abbots and monks. This was not done without reason, because the church was then the largest landowner and took three skins from the peasants.
And yet, why do they say that Robin was a nice guy? He did not harbor any fierce hatred for the nobles and even helped them if they were in trouble. For example, one knight had to mortgage his estate to the local abbot, and when the time came to pay the debt, he went to the abbey to ask for a deferment. Having met Robin on the road through Sherwood, who was about to rob him, the knight told a sad story about his situation. Robin Hood, mistaking him for a noble man, gave him money to pay off his debt, and the rest of the gang showered him with gifts.
Even in ballads there was the concept of a boomerang - good from fate for doing good to someone. One day, on a forest road, Robin Hood met a king who, according to legend, was “returning incognito from the Crusade.” Either in a fight with the king, or in a conversation with him, Robin managed to charm the monarch so much that he, having had enough of the gang, forgave them all their sins and accepted them into his service.
The Love and Death of Robin Hood
There should be a place for love in every story, even if it is a legend about a robber and a scoundrel. Initially, the slogan of Robin Hood and his associates was not “to rob and kill everyone,” but only evil and wealthy citizens who made capital through theft. This did not apply to women - they were in no way subjected to abuse or humiliation by the gang. One day, during the next “raid,” Robin met Marion, a noble and immaculate girl, and immediately fell in love with her. For a long time, posing as a count, Robin Hood sought her favor. Their feelings turned out to be mutual, but soon the hero had to return to Sherwood to his friends. Saddened by the separation, Marion changed into a man's dress and went to look for her lover. By chance, the couple met on a forest road, where Robin, in the dark, mistook her for a rich traveler and decided to rob her. Marion also did not recognize her betrothed in the robber and began to bravely defend herself. Robin Hood was pleasantly surprised by such an active attack and proposed to make peace. Soon the misunderstanding was cleared up, and they lived happily in the forest.
The exploits of Robin Hood and his robbers continued to shock the kingdom for some time, but after a few years, as the ballads say, the energetic and cheerful hero felt unwell. He was no longer able to fight; his arms were weak. Since there was no medicine at that time, he decided to seek help from the Kirkley monastery, whose inhabitants were famous for the art of “opening blood.” In the Middle Ages this was considered almost the only the best remedy from any serious illness.
Nuns, either from malice and the conspiracy, or out of ordinary imprudence, released so much blood from Robin’s veins that he barely remained alive. Finally realizing that the end had come for him, Robin blew his horn, and Little John rushed after him. With the help of a faithful friend, the heroes return to the forest, Robin Hood pulls the bowstring for the last time and shoots a golden arrow, bequeathing to bury himself where it falls. So, according to legend, Robin passed away with dignity and humility.
After the end of the story of Robin Hood, a May holiday in his honor existed in England for a long time, when peasants went into the forest to collect fresh green branches. This custom indicates that popular consciousness Robin Hood teamed up with a pagan forest deity.
The troops of King Richard of England are on the verge of setting off on another Crusade. But in order for the kingdom to remain secure, it is necessary to leave a replacement on the throne so that the appointed person manages affairs and protects the people from all sorts of problems from enemies. King Richard leaves a young prince named John on the throne. But he approaches government orders in a very unique way, literally only after feeling the power.
Being a very harsh tyrant, instead of protecting the people of England, he only begins to bring troubles and disappointments for civilians. King Richard is already in France at this point, but thanks to Lady Marian he still learns about the harsh reality. She writes a letter for her lover, who is the Duke of Huntingdon. It is he who accompanies King Richard on his military campaign. Even though Huntingdon has been very busy, he still returns to his native land to make things right. But at home, he, along with all those who arrived, is the enemy of the new king. The story of the legendary Robin Hood begins with this.
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Legends that have survived to this day say that once upon a time the brave King of England, Richard, went on a Crusade to distant lands. His people remembered him 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 collecting money from the ordinary population of the kingdom. One of the ruined people was Señor Robin of Locksley.
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 had to defeat Guy of Gisborne, as well as the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham. But even on the love front, Robin Hood will have a hard time winning the affections of the beautiful Marianne.
The Robber and the Queen (1946)
The legendary hero Robin Hood called all his brave fighters to Sherwood Forest. He had to comb all the expanses of this wonderful place to bring everyone together. The resistance leader explains to the free shooters that England and its freedom in once again in great danger.
An insidious tyrant wants to gain 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 abolishing the ill-fated Liberty Charter, once invented by Robin Hood and his faithful assistants. Robert, the young son of Robin Hood, now leads the forest brotherhood of archers to give the enemy a proper rebuff.
Robin Hood's Revenge (1950)
1214 Great England During this period I experienced a lot of negative things. The ruler's brother, the new king John the First, ascended the throne. Direct relative of Richard, the good ruler. John has one favorite hobby - jousting. And this time Baldrick, who is the absolute champion, and the Earl of Huntington - Robin, the offspring of the legendary Robin Hood from Sherwood Forest, are fighting.
John wishes the quick death of the son of the one who once managed to avoid royal taxes. But having persuaded Baldrick to commit a crime, he still does not know what awaits him. Robin inherited his father's courage, so he copes with his enemy. The king is very angry, so he sends his troops to 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 sets off again on a dangerous Crusade. To ensure that the kingdom is not 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 absolute 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 order. 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 help all people in need.
Ivanhoe (1952)
Wilfred is a legendary knight of Saxony. In 1190, he secretly returned 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 in captivity of the enemy - the Austrian troops. Ivanhoe suddenly learns about the affairs of brother Richard.
John, who came to power due to this situation, makes many wrong decisions. He wants to overthrow the previous government. But to avoid this, Ivanhoe takes part in a knightly battle. If he wins, then there will be enough money to return England to its former king.
The Men of Sherwood Forest (1954)
On the threshold of 1194, the English kingdom was going through difficult times. King Richard was captured 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, John is secretly organizing a conspiracy. He doesn't want to lose the power to which he is so accustomed. Even despite his blood relationship with Richard, he organizes the murder of the real king. But Richard's faithful henchmen find out about this and, while 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 justice of the people of England - the brave and courageous Robin Hood. being a noble robber, he often saved ordinary people from arbitrariness and injustice. As the leader of the resistance against the new orders of the greedy king, he went ahead and always achieved his goals.
So this time he faces the arrogant sheriff of Nottingham. Robin Hood will not give the corrupt policeman the opportunity to seize the 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, this was still possible to bring to life. King Richard was held captive after a clash with Austrian forces. But the brother of King Lionheart, John, the young prince, who inherited 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 a legendary gang of forest robbers, led by the legendary Robin Rood himself, the king of Sherwood Forest, enters the path of confrontation.
Robin Hood's Arrows (1975)
Medieval English folk tales were full of ballads about the legendary forest robber - Robin Hood. It was he who rushed to help those in need and always punished those guilty of injustice. Acting together with his gang, he could face any enemies. For Robin Hood and the forest archers, it did not matter who was in front of them - a priest or a feudal lord. If this person brought only troubles and problems for peaceful townspeople, then the gang severely punished the culprit. When they encountered arbitrariness against ordinary people, you can be sure that the villain will be punished.
Robin and Marian (1976)
King Richard died suddenly. Now Robin Hood and his best friend little John have returned from the Crusades. Upon arrival in England, in the local Sherwood, Robin immediately runs into his long-time lover Marian. But old enemies have not left these places either, for example, the corrupt local sheriff. On this basis, former enmity arises again. But for Robin, who is no longer so young, he has one desire - to live peacefully with his beloved in the forests. However, the new king gives the order to destroy all forest rebels.
The Artist from Sherwood Forest (1980)
Soviet television performance.
Robin Hood is back on the warpath. But this time not only old heroes await him, but also completely new faces. The sheriff's daughter, with whom Robin had fought for so long, entered his heart. Maria has incredible beauty. Even though the forest archer has a beautiful lover, Marian, he could not resist Maria's charm. Being between two fires, Robin will have to face the next outbursts of injustice. But thanks to his loyal friends, he will again fight back against those who decide 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 never give up. Now the enemies will have to pay for all the suffering. Now, wielding his sword, and also enlisting the support of his faithful friends in the person of the robber Robin Hood, together with the mighty Black Knight, he will give a proper rebuff to all the villains who caused him such pain. Their enemy Briand De Boisguilbert, along with his henchmen, does not yet know what awaits him.
The 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, merits, inheritance, and also achieve the favor of his beautiful beloved. Ivanhoe appears in royal England at the very moment when real war for the throne. Prince John, having sensed power, does not want to return it to the hands of his brother, King Richard the Lionheart.
Robin Hood (1991)
Not all soldiers managed to return from the bloody Crusade to Austria. Robin is trying to avoid death while imprisoned by traitors, so he uses the help of prisoners. One of them is a Muslim student, but religious enemies have already united in order to get out of a difficult situation. The English throne has already been seized. An impostor has sat on the throne, pursuing only selfish goals. Fellow believers remained loyal to the new king, who decided to use power only for his own personal good.
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 his fellow believers: the English throne has been captured by an impostor! Only green forest, only those who have lost everything, and friends who are ready for anything, only faith in their rightness will help Robin survive the unequal struggle. And his enemies will be forced 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 group of his friends - forest archers, tear off everything, even their tights, in order to once again confront the next villain. Prince John ascended to the throne of the kingdom completely 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 doesn’t even suspect that the keys need to be found for this beauty’s chastity belt.
Robin Hood's Daughter: Princess of Thieves (2001)
Robin Hood serves the British throne faithfully and nobly. He already had a daughter, who, fortunately or unfortunately, took after her father. Young Gwyn doesn't want to stay at home all the time. Before her father even noticed, she learned archery. Also unknown to his dad, Gwyn is very confident in the saddle and rides. Very soon the acquired skills will come in handy. Richard the Lionheart dies suddenly, and his brother, Prince John, comes to the throne. By his decree, Robin Hood should be hidden in prison, and the heir to the throne, Philip, should be killed. But Gwin, having learned about this, is already rushing to help his 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 an entire army of Sherwood Forest robbers 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 difficult times are coming when the treacherous Sheriff of Nottingham is on the trail of Robin Hood with the goal of destroying him and all his henchmen. 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, together with like-minded people, intends to put an end to injustice in his native lands and put an end to the endless victims. They are ruled by a desire for revenge, justice, and force majeure, which is given to him by the faith in him of ordinary people who faced inhuman injustice at the hands of the new king who ascended the throne.
Robin Hood: The Haunting of Sherwood (2012)
A legendary archer, king of thieves and forest hero named Robin Hood sells his soul. The witch was not honest with him, and he dies in another battle. Robin Hood's faithful friend Little John and his beloved Marian are saddened by such grief, but do not intend to put up with it. Having once again entered into a deal with dark forces, with the help of an enchanted potion they are trying to revive the dead warrior. But what returns to them is not exactly the Robin they knew, and as a result they get a living dead man.
Robin Hood: The Beginning (2018)
Robin Hood returns to once again humiliate villains and help those in need. There are many legends about this hero, the threat of injustice, but now we will talk about his origin. Why did he become a hero and what motivated him at the time of creating the most famous gang of forest robbers. What did you have to lose to gain the strength to resist such strong enemies. Being an ordinary person, faced with the tyranny and arrogance of the new king, he had the fortitude that made it possible to give a significant resistance. His imitators swarmed Sherwood Forest, creating even more headaches for Prince John, who had come to the throne illegitimately.
Who really was Robin Hood?
A romantic hero who robbed the rich to help the poor, or a bloodthirsty bandit who was idealized by subsequent generations? Which true face 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 rascal of the same name, who hunted in the forests of Central England.
However, it is unlikely that the petty villain would have received the attention of chroniclers if his actions did not stand out in any way from other events of those troubled times. And yet, when wars, plague and famine were commonplace, the historiography of that time devotes several lines to it. Popular rumor took care of the rest.
Through the depths of time, numerous legends about the romantic robber have reached our days, whose name is now, oddly enough, more widely known than during his lifetime. This name is Robin Hood.
Truth and fiction
March 1988 - Nottingham City Council, in east-central Britain, releases a report on the city's most famous citizen. Because over the years the council has received thousands of inquiries about Robin Hood and his gallant 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, members of the city council took it upon themselves to question the authenticity of the legend about the elusive Robin and find out who Robin Hood was.
After a thorough study of Nottingham's distant past, researchers came to the conclusion that the brave hero, who robbed the rich to help the poor, did not even know Maid Marian - according to legend, Robin Hood's lover. Monk Tuk, as they believe, is a completely fictitious person. Little John was an angry and grumpy man, who had nothing in common with the carefree character from folklore. This is the interpretation of the research results.
Having debunked the legend, the council members hoped to gain fame as pioneers. However, they were only the latest in a long line of skeptics. Because when studying the story of Robin Hood, it is almost impossible to separate fact from fiction. And before them, many undertook to explore this exciting story, but this did not dim the image of Robin 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 television viewers to this day? Some are inclined to accept on faith what serious researchers have revealed: Robin robbed people on the Great North Road near Barnsdale in South Yorkshire and was engaged in looting with his gang of criminals 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 ruled the forests and heaths of England date back to 1261. However, he was first mentioned in written sources 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 dates back to the 16th century.
According to the chronicler John Stow, he was a robber during the reign of Richard I. He was the leader of a gang that included hundreds of brave outcasts. They were all excellent archers. Although they traded in robbery, Robin Hood “did not allow oppression or other violence against women. He did not touch the poor, giving them everything that he took from the saints and noble rich people.”
We will look at this story from the most benevolent positions. Let's start with the fact that the fact of the existence of Robin Hood has documentary evidence. He lived in Wakefield, Yorkshire, in the 13th and 14th centuries.
The documents record that the legendary robber was born in 1290 and was named Robert Hood. Old registers give three spellings of the surname: God, Goad and Goode. But no one disputes the origin of Robin: he was the servant of Earl Warren.
How peasant son fell on the path of a robber?
1322 - Robin went into the service of a new master, Sir Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. When the count led a revolt against King Edward II, Robin, like the count's other servants, 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 declared outlaws.
Robin found the perfect refuge in the deep Sherwood Forest, in Yorkshire.
Sherwood Forest covered an area of 25 square miles and was adjacent to Yorkshire. The Great Northern Road, built by the Romans, passed through Sherwood and Barnsdale Woods and was a busy road. This attracted the attention of outcast robbers.
This is how the legend of Robin Hood, a man in green clothes, matching the color of the forest, appeared.
New stories
Legends about Robin abound in many funny stories about his brave adventures and tricks. One of them tells how the arrogant and narrow-minded Bishop of Hertsford, on his way to York, met Robin and his people, who were roasting venison obtained from the royal hunting forests.
Mistaking Robin's men for simple peasants, the bishop ordered the capture of those who killed the deer. The robbers calmly refused: the deer could no longer be resurrected, and everyone was terribly hungry. Then, at a sign from the bishop, those around the fire were surrounded by his servants. The robbers, laughing, began to beg to spare them, but the bishop was adamant. Robin eventually got tired of the bickering. He gave the signal, and the rest of the gang arrived from the forest. The stunned bishop was taken prisoner and began to demand a ransom.
Wanting to teach his hapless hostage a lesson, Robin forced him to 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 once Robin, accompanied by his best friend Baby John paid a visit to Whitby Priory. The abbot asked them to show off their vaunted skill in archery. It was necessary to shoot from the monastery roof. Robin and Little John gladly granted his request. They did not disgrace their glory.
Passed from mouth to mouth, one of the most beloved stories about how Robin met Edward II has been preserved in people's memory. According to legend: the king, concerned that the number of his deer was melting before his eyes, disappearing into the insatiable wombs of the robber people, wanted to clear his forest of poachers once and for all.
The king and his knights, dressed as monks, headed to Sherwood Forest, knowing that Robin Hood and his gang were lying in wait for unlucky travelers there. And they were right. 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 being summoned 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 calls them.
This story, of course, seems implausible, created by the imagination of Robin Hood admirers. But, after all, maybe not everything in it is fiction.
The fact is that this incident is described in “The Little Feat of Robin Hood,” 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 Robin Hood was mentioned in reports of Edward's yard.
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 about the brave adventures of Robin Hood. He appeared at St. Mary's Church 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 while in captivity, the fearless leader had no doubt that his loyal friends would not leave him. Shortly before Robin was due to stand trial, Little John launched a daring attack and returned the bandit brethren to their leader. 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 merry band and his legendary friend Maid Marian.
Robin's closest assistant was Little John, supposedly not a funny guy at all, but a sullen and very vulnerable guy. Most likely, he was called the Kid as a joke, since he was quite tall. This was discovered when his grave in Heathersage was opened in 1784 and the bones of a rather tall man were found.
As for Brother Tuck, 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 man 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 Tuck, participated in the adventures of a merry gang.
Maid Marian as a character also fits well with the theory that the image of Robin originated from folk tales about traditional May holiday festivities and games. Marian could simply be a girl chosen for her beauty as “Queen of the May.”
Contradictory 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 amounts of bloodletting, as a result of which, weakened and bleeding, he never recovered from his illness.
That's how romantic image Robin Hood, daredevil and benefactor. But the Anglo-Saxons have a strange tendency to denigrate their idols, and Robin suffered more than anyone else from this.
Director of the Nottanham Lore of Robin Hood exhibition, Graham Black, said: “We are 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 them criminals. Therefore, researchers believe that if Robin Hood really existed, then he most likely acted before that time.
The most likely candidate for this dubious role, according to Graham Black, is Robert God, a resident 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 a clear 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 fame of Robin Hood as the greatest archer comes from wandering storytellers who passed on from mouth to mouth ballads about the legendary robber, recorded in the second half of the 15th century.
As for Maid Marian, they believe that she was a beauty under the care of the treacherous Prince John. She first met Robin when she was ambushed by his men. However, scientists 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 did it finally become part of the legend of Robin Hood. And the reputation virgin virgin Marian won 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 Tuck also existed. This name was given to the priest of the Lindfield parish from Sussex, in reality 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 Cambridge University and author of Robin Hood, wrote: “Written evidence suggests that Brother Took organized his band of bandits two hundred miles from Sherwood Forest, centuries after Robin Hood. In fact, Brother Tuck was quite far from harmless gaiety, for he ravaged and burned the hearths of his enemies.”
Little John right hand Robin, was capable of brutal murders. It was he who killed the monk suspected of betraying Robin, then beheaded the monk’s young servant, a witness to the murder.
But Little John has done a lot courageous actions. 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 what he was described as. He wore a cap like a monk's hood. There is absolutely no evidence that he robbed the rich in order 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 looter.”
And yet, following the legends of hoary antiquity, we prefer to see in Robin Hood a defender of the oppressed and powerless, a brave and cheerful chieftain, every now and then wiping the nose of those in power.
And we want to believe that, finishing his life’s journey, full of various exploits, our hero is on the verge of death from last bit of strength blew the horn, as if sending news of himself to the future, and we still hear the echoes of this signal in our hearts.