Most of us know the legend of the noble robber Robin Hood. He stole from the rich and gave to the poor, whom the rich robbed. In any legend there is some truth and a lot of fiction. The legend of Robin Hood is no different in this sense. Scientists have long been trying to understand who was the prototype of this folk hero. During the entire study this issue There are several common versions. Let's figure it out.
Robin Dobry Maly
Let's start a little unconventionally and from afar, namely with the folklore of the Saxons and Scandinavians - more precisely, with the forest spirit Puck, or Peck, or Pook ( 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 of the ethnic composition of the population of the British Isles. The Scandinavians also participated, but later, starting with the era of the Norman Conquest of England 1066-1072.
Actually, Puck is a forest spirit who scares people and makes them wander through the thicket. And if in Scandinavian folklore Puck is a creature associated more with evil, then for the British he is a joker and a spoiler, a trickster (he can either help or harm). Rudyard Kipling in Tales of Old England described him as an elf dressed all in green. In addition to the colors of clothing (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 English call Puck, or Hob, also by the name Robin Goodfellow - Robin the Good Fellow . One might assume that at some stage Hob “incarnated” himself into the character of the Robin Hood legend, 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 a chronicle of the 16th century. But there is a nuance here - the famous episode from the legend of Robin Hood, which describes his participation in archery competitions. The fact is that such competitions began to be held in England no earlier than the 13th century. However, nothing prevented this story from becoming a legend right away.
Other information relating to 1261 tells us about a certain robber Robin, who ruled the forests of England at that time. There is also evidence according to which Robert Goad (Hood or Hod) was born in 1290, lived in the era of Edward II, at the age of 32 he found himself in the service of the Earl of Lancaster, who was defeated during the uprising he raised against the king, and his servants were declared outlaw. To avoid justice, Robert went to Sherwood Forest, where he gathered a band of robbers with the aim of extorting money from the rich. There is a record about this same Robert that he worked for several months at the court of Edward II - the legend beautifully played up this episode, building its chronological sequence 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 dates back to the 13th-14th centuries. But did he and his gang really live up to the image that popular rumor created?
Daniel Maclise. Robin Hood and his men entertain Richard the Lionheart in Sherwood Forest
It seems not, but most likely not at all. Even if he helped the poor, this is not recorded in any document. He did not know the girl Marian (Robin's legendary lover). Marian found herself in the legend of a noble robber from a 13th-century French poem, where she plays the role of the shepherd Robin's girlfriend. Monk Tuk, a drinker, a cheerful fellow and an unsurpassed stick fight fighter, is either a completely fictional character, or his prototype was a real priest of a local church, who in reality created his own band of robbers and lived in the 14th-15th centuries. Robin Hood's faithful friend Little John, whose grave was opened in 1784, was indeed a very tall man. But he was not a merry fellow at all. On the contrary, he is stern, touchy and capable of brutal murders.
It turns out that the real prototype that formed the basis of the legend about the noble robber Robin Hood and his gang did exist. But people in those harsh times wanted a “ray of light” so much that its collective image turned out to be completely unrecognizable...
“He hadn’t yet shaved his beard, but he was already a shooter...”
Once upon a time, in good old England, in the green Sherwood Forest, there lived noble robber named Robin Hood... This, or something like this, begins each of the stories about Robin Hood. And every year these stories become more and more numerous, they are invented and told by everyone who is not too lazy. The English bards with their simple ballads were replaced first by novelists led by Walter Scott and Alexandre Dumas, and then, with the development of technology, by screenwriters of films, television series and cartoons. And what is characteristic: each of these storytellers invariably came up with their own Robin Hood, who cannot be confused with the others. As a result of such collective creativity, the legend of Robin acquired new details and became incredibly complex and confusing, even contradictory.
Historians could not help but be interested in the personality of Robin Hood. With the words “now we will definitely find out who this Robin Hood was,” they put forward several mutually exclusive versions about the true Robin. The Sherwood Bandit has finally become a character about whom everyone can think whatever they want. And here the creators of computer games also made their contribution. Moreover, they thought not so much about following the letter of the legend (in one version or another), but about game balance, fun and other things that had nothing to do with Robin Hood himself. As a result, several more new Robins were born.
Now the legend of Robin Hood is a legend without a hero. That is, everyone, of course, knows who Robin Hood is, but everyone has at least a little bit of their own Robin. This, perhaps, is what makes his image so attractive, because the absence of a clear canon opens up enormous possibilities for the imagination. The legend of Robin is never boring because it changes all the time.
But behind the beautiful legend, most likely, there was quite a real man. Researchers have not yet come to a final conclusion about whether the legendary robber actually existed. But there is a lot of indirect evidence confirming that there is a fair amount of truth in the legend of Robin Hood.
Place and time of action
This is what the legendary Bishop's Oak looks like now.
All versions of the legend agree on one thing: the gang Robin Hood acted in Sherwood forest, located on the county border Nottinghamshire And Yorkshire. Yorkshiremen, by the way, still consider Robin Hood their fellow countryman and are offended by the residents Nottingham who appropriated the great robber to themselves.
The name Sherwood comes from "shire wood", which means "county forest". In the Middle Ages, Sherwood Forest covered an area of about 25 square miles and was a nature reserve in which only the king could hunt. Of course local residents They didn’t care about prohibitions and regularly supplemented their meager diet with fresh venison from Sherwood. The authorities, in turn, brutally punished the caught poachers.
Through Sherwood and its neighboring Barnsdale passed through the forest Great Northern Route, laid by the Romans and connecting the capital of northern England York with the southern counties. This was one of the most important roads in the country, and traffic along it was always very busy. It is not surprising that the road was literally swarming with robbers. In general, highway robbery was one of the calling cards of England in the Middle Ages; the authorities were able to finally deal with it only early XIX V.
Sherwood Forest still exists today. It is a small nature reserve, measuring just 4 square kilometres, in the northern part of the sprawling city of Nottingham. Every summer it hosts the Robin Hood Festival. The main attraction of modern Sherwood is an ancient oak tree, around which the bishop caught by Robin is believed to have danced a jig. That's what the oak is called - Episcopal.
Monument to Robin Hood in Nottingham.
This is interesting: The Bishop Oak may be up to a thousand years old. Its branches are so large and heavy that even in the 19th century. I had to install special supports for them. A project is currently underway to grow Bishop Oak clones in largest cities peace.
To what time can the events described in the legend be attributed? There is no clear answer to this question. The first written mention of the legend of Robin dates back to the end of the 14th century. Thus, there was no way he could live beyond that time.
Robin Hood is mentioned in folk ballads archery competition, which began to be carried out in England only in the 13th century. In addition, in one of the ballads there is a king named Edward. Three kings of this name reigned in England from 1272 to 1377. So, if we rely on the text of the ballads, Robin Hood lived at the end of the 13th - beginning of the 14th centuries.
However, there is evidence that relates the activities of Robin Hood to more early period. In 1261, a certain William Smith was outlawed. In the text of the corresponding decree, Smith was named Robinhood. That is, even then the name Robin Hood was a household name. Historians of the XV-XVI centuries. claimed that Robin lived either in the 13th century, or even earlier, at the end of the 12th century, during the time of the king Richard I the Lionheart. With the light hand of Walter Scott, the version according to which Robin was a contemporary of Richard I and his younger brother John became the most popular.
Hero Candidates
What's in a name?
It will die like a sad noise
Waves splashing onto the distant shore,
Like the sound of the night in a deep forest.
It's on the memorial sheet
Will leave a dead trail like
Tombstone inscription pattern
In an unknown language.
A. Pushkin
You can tell a lot about Robin Hood: he robbed the rich, helped the poor, mocked the priests and the sheriff, shot with a bow without missing... But there is only one clue that allows you to find the real Robin among many "outlaw"(outlawed robbers) who hunted in Sherwood Forest in the 12th - 14th centuries. This clue is his name.
"Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown". Robin Hood shoots money from people passing through Sherwood.
By the way, it leads to certain suspicions. It has long been noticed that the name Robin Hood (Robin the Hood) strongly resembles Robin Goodfellow(Robin the Good Guy, aka Puck). This was the name of the mischievous forest spirit from pagan legends, the leader of a gang of fairy-tale creatures. This is not the only circumstance that connects the legend of the Sherwood robber with pre-Christian tradition. For example, in one of the ballads about Robin it is stated that there are not twelve in a year (as in church calendar), and thirteen months. The holiday dedicated to Robin Hood, which was celebrated by English peasants for a long time, also had a clearly pagan character. So the legend of Robin Hood may well be a later version of a pagan legend, and one of the candidates for the legendary robbers is not a real person, but an ancient forest deity.
However, this version is not particularly popular; fortunately, in ancient documents there were plenty of references to robbers whose name was Robin or even Robin Hood. Among the many versions, three seem the most plausible.
According to the first of them, Robert Goad, aka Hood or Hod, was born in 1290 in Yorkshire. He was a servant of the Earl of Warren and lived with his wife Matilda in the village of Wakefield. In 1322 Robert entered the service of Sir Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. Soon the count led a revolt against the king Edward II, was defeated and executed, and all participants in the mutiny, including, possibly, Robert Goad, were declared outlaws.
No documents have survived indicating that the former servant of the Earl of Lancaster was engaged in robbery in Sherwood Forest. However, it is known that in 1323 Edward II visited Nottingham, and the following year a man named Robert Goad appeared among his servants, perhaps the same one who had recently participated in the rebellion. This fact goes very well with one of the ballads. It tells how King Edward visited the bandit camp at Sherwood, was warmly received by them, granted amnesty to Robin and his friends, and then accepted them into his service. This Robin Hood died in 1346.
Second candidate for Sherwood legend, Robin God of Witherby, nicknamed Brownie, lived in early XIII V. In 1226, he fled from justice, and all his property, worth a total of 32 shillings and 6 pence, was seized by the sheriff of York. Soon this sheriff moved to the neighboring city of Nottingham. There he announced a reward for the "outlaw and villain" Robin of Witherby. As a result of “operational search activities,” Robin was caught and hanged.
However, the third version is the most popular. According to her, the true Robin Hood was someone Robert Fitz-Wuth, Earl of Huntington. He was born somewhere around 1160 and died on November 18, 1247. This Robin Hood could not see King Edward, but he speaks in his favor the only direct evidence. The point is that next to Kirklei Monastery in Yorkshire, which in all legends is called the place of death of the legendary robber, has been preserved Robin Hood's grave. A barely visible epitaph remains on the tombstone. Here is its text, recorded in 1702 by Thomas Gale: “Here, under this small stone, lies Robert, the true Earl of Huntington. There was no archer more skillful than him. And people called him Robin Hood. England will never see exiles like him and his people again.".
Robin Hood dies surrounded by his closest friends. The noble robber bequeathed to bury himself where the last arrow he fired would fall.
This is interesting: The current owner of the estate, on the territory of which Robert Fitz-Ut is buried, cannot stand the legend of the Sherwood robber and is constantly fighting with admirers of Robin Hood. Every time someone tries to look at the Earl of Huntington's grave, the owner of the estate calls the police. Local kids call him nothing more than “Sheriff of Nottingham” and regularly shoot at his house with homemade bows.
However, there are great doubts that under this stone really lies the same Robin Hood. Now the text of the epitaph can no longer be read in full, and Thomas Gale could well have made a mistake when he rewrote it. Author of two books about Robin Hood Richard Rutherford-Moore, although he believes in the authenticity of the robber’s grave, claims that he was reburied, and his old grave was in a completely different place.
Robert Fitz-Ut was deprived of his inheritance, and in 1219 his younger brother John became the next Earl of Huntington. Perhaps this was a consequence of Count Robert's dissolute character. The modern Earls of Huntington claim to be related to Robin Hood, although in reality they have nothing to do with Robert Fitz-Wuth. The line of Yorkshire Huntingtons died out long ago, and since then the title has changed hands several times.
It is also possible that all three were the prototypes of Robin Hood from folk ballads, and different plots of the legends go back to the activities of different robbers.
Attention is a myth: Robin Hood is often called Robin of Loxley or simply Loxley. Three villages with this name lay claim to being the birthplace of the legendary robber. However, none of the possible prototypes of Robin Hood had anything to do with any of these villages.
Merry fellows from the green forest
Let there be no stake and no yard,
But they don't pay taxes to the king
Knife and ax workers -
Romantics with high road.
Yu. Entin, “Romantics from the High Road”
Robin's first meeting with Little John almost ended in self-harm.
“Don’t have a hundred rubles, but have a hundred friends,” says the Russian folk proverb. Robin Hood, according to legend, had well over a hundred friends. His gang alone included 140 outlawed yeomen. These people were called Merry Men, which is usually translated into Russian as "funny boys" or "funny men". But the word merry also has another meaning: “a follower and associate of a person declared outlaw.”
“Merry guys” usually act in stories about Robin as a kind of extras, but some of them are not only named, but also have the same coloring as the leader.
Little John was right hand Robin Hood. He is mentioned already in the earliest ballads, where he is portrayed as a very intelligent and talented person. Later ballads say that John was a real giant, and received the nickname Baby from his friends as a joke. He joined the gang of “merry guys” after defeating Robin Hood in a stick fight. Later, Little John saved Robin more than once and was the only person present at his death. John was a rather cruel man: he once personally killed the monk who betrayed Robin to the sheriff. Another story tells how John entered the sheriff's service, calling himself Reynold Greenleaf (and setting up a trap for the sheriff).
As with Robin Hood, there is some evidence that suggests Little John actually existed. His grave can still be seen in the village of Heathersage in Derbyshire. When this burial was opened in 1784, the skeleton of a very tall man was indeed found in it. Because this grave belonged to the Naylor family, Little John is also sometimes called John Naylor.
Along with Little John, the earliest ballads also mention Will Scarlet, or Scatlock, And Mach, the miller's son.
Little John's grave.
Will Scarlet is one of the youngest members of Robin Hood's gang. He was quick-tempered, hot-tempered, and loved to show off in beautiful clothes. He received the nickname Scarlet (i.e. “dressed in red”) because he often wore clothes made of red silk. Will fought with swords better than all the other “fun guys.” One of the ballads states that real name Scarlet Gamwell and that he was Robin Hood's nephew. Robin accepted Will into his squad after he killed a man and fled from justice in the forest. Scarlet is believed to have been buried in the churchyard at Blidworth, near Nottingham.
Much, the miller's son, is usually depicted as almost a boy, although in early ballads this name is borne by an adult and experienced person. Forest robbers saved him from hanging, to which he was sentenced for poaching. In most stories, Much turns out to be something like a “son of the regiment” with “cheerful guys”. Sometimes he is called not Mach, but Mage.
Will Stutley appears in two later ballads. He is sometimes confused with Will Scarlet. When Little John joined the "merry fellows", it was Stutley who acted as his " godfather" and named him "Baby." One day, Stutley spied on the sheriff and was caught by the guards. But the “funny guys” did not abandon their friend in trouble and rescued him from the sheriff’s dungeons.
Monk Tuk was a kind of chaplain in a detachment of forest robbers. However, he became famous not for his piety, but for his drunkenness, gluttony and ability to fight with sticks. He was expelled from the monastery for disobedience and lack of respect for his superiors. Usually Tuk is portrayed as a bald and fat jovial fellow, although sometimes he demonstrates remarkable physical strength.
Robin crosses the river, sitting on Friar Tuck's back.
Tuka is usually called friar, that is, a member of a mendicant monastic order. Such orders appeared in England after the death of Richard the Lionheart. So, if Robin Hood lived during Richard's time, there could not have been a Friar in his squad.
The prototype of Monk Thuc is usually called a certain Robert Stafford, who lived at the beginning of the 15th century. This Sussex monk was indeed known as Tuck. He was the leader of a gang of forest bandits operating 200 miles from Sherwood, and later stories about his adventures became part of the legend of Robin Hood. According to another version, Monk Tuk is a collective image that combines the features of several monks who lived in Sherwood Forest.
Alan-a-Dale was a traveling minstrel. His beloved was to be given in marriage to an old knight. But the “cheerful guys” disrupted this wedding, after which one of the forest robbers, either Little John or Friar Tuck, disguised himself as a bishop and married Alan to his beloved. Alan-a-Dale appeared quite late in the Robin legend, but became a very popular character. It was Alan-a-Dale who inspired the authors of the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons to create the Bard class. The village of Dale Abbey, halfway between Nottingham and Derby, lays claim to being Alan's birthplace.
Arthur Bland, like Little John, joined the gang after defeating Robin Hood in a duel. He is sometimes called Little John's cousin.
This young man in red is the wandering minstrel Alan-a-Dale.
ABOUT David from Doncaster very little is known. This " brave young man» persistently advised Robin Hood not to go to the archery competition organized by the sheriff. David felt it was a trap, and in the end he was right.
The “cheerful guys” had many friends and protectors. For example, in some versions of the legend, the king himself is on their side. The poor people adored Robin because he protected them from the arbitrariness of the authorities and helped them in difficult times. Knight Richard Lee once saved the “cheerful guys” from the sheriff, hiding them in his castle. Shortly before this, Robin helped Sir Richard pay off his debt to the abbot and regain his lands.
A special place in the stories about Robin Hood is occupied by his beloved, Maid Marian. Her character varies greatly from story to story. Sometimes she is portrayed as a commoner, sometimes as a noble lady, even a princess. In one version of the legend, Robin and Marian, after a long separation, do not recognize each other and begin to fight with swords.
In fact none of the Robin Hood ballads contain a character named Marian. They also say nothing about whether Robin had a lover. However, the character named Marian has as long a history as Robin Hood himself.
Initially, Maid Marian was one of the central figures at the traditional May games. Sometimes she was also called May Queen. Since these games have always been closely associated with the forest and archery, they soon began to be called Happy Robin Hood. And Marian turned into the bride of the Sherwood robber. According to another version, the name Marian came into legend from a French pastoral play. Robin and Marian first connected in the 16th century. and since then they have walked hand in hand across the pages of books and cinema screens.
Task Force from Nottingham
Our role is honorable and enviable.
The king cannot live without guards.
When we walk, the earth trembles all around.
We are always close, next to the king.
Yu. Entin, “Royal Guard”
Since the good guys in the legends of Robin Hood are all robbers, poachers and their accomplices, the guardians of law and order inevitably find themselves in the role of villains.
Most main enemy Robin Hood - Sheriff of Nottingham. He commands all sorts of guards and foresters, and is supported by the church and the feudal nobility. He has the law and chests full of gold on his side. But he can’t do anything about the brave Robin, who has not only the ability to shoot accurately with a bow, but also an extraordinary mind and the support of the broad masses...
"Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood". The final showdown between Robin and the sheriff.
Sheriff in medieval England he was an official responsible for fighting crime, in fact, the head of the criminal police. This position appeared before the Norman conquest of 1066. However, it was only under the Normans that England was divided into districts, each of which had its own sheriff. These districts did not always coincide with counties. For example, the sheriff of Nottinghamshire also had jurisdiction over the neighboring county of Derbyshire.
The sheriff is the protagonist of all the ballads about Robin Hood, but in none of them is he named. Its possible prototypes usually include William de Wendenal, Roger de Lacy And William de Bruer. In any case, there is no doubt about the reality of the existence of the Nottingham Sheriff.
In the early ballads, the sheriff was the enemy of the "merry fellows" simply because he was the sheriff and was obliged to fight bandits and poachers. However, in later legends he turns into an inveterate scoundrel. He mercilessly oppresses the poor, illegally seizes other people's lands, imposes exorbitant taxes, and generally abuses his official position in every possible way. In some stories, he also harasses Lady Marian and tries to take the throne of England.
This is interesting: Several years ago, Nottingham City Council decided to remove Robin Hood from the city coat of arms. The only one who voted against this decision was Derek Cresswell, who at that time held the post of Sheriff of Nottingham. Mr. Cresswell, explaining his position, said that rumors of his feud with Robin Hood were greatly exaggerated.
In most stories, the sheriff is not particularly brave. He usually sits in his castle and thinks over new plans to capture Robin Hood. His subordinates usually do all the dirty work for him.
Another enemy of Robin behaves completely differently - Sir Guy Gisborne. This is a skilled and brave warrior, excellent at sword fighting and good archery. One of the ballads tells how Gisborne went into the forest to kill Robin and receive a reward from the sheriff for this. As a result, Sir Guy himself fell at the hands of Robin Hood. Gisborne is usually called a noble knight, although in some stories he turns out to be a cruel and bloodthirsty killer, an outlaw. Sometimes he also becomes the suitor or even the groom of Maid Marian. His appearance Quite unusual - instead of a cloak, he wears horse skin. Gisborne is a fictional character. Perhaps he was once the hero of a separate legend, which later merged with the legend of Robin.
Forest bandits greet King Richard the Lionheart.
Prince John, the future King John the Landless, fell into the legend of Robin Hood through the efforts of Walter Scott. In the novel Ivanhoe, Robin Hood helps King Richard, who returned to England after the crusade and captivity, to regain his throne, usurped by his younger brother John. Later, this plot was repeated many times (with minor variations) in numerous books, films and computer games.
John indeed took the throne of England during his brother’s absence and was in no hurry to ransom Richard from captivity. He even sent a letter to the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI, who was holding Richard captive, in which he asked to keep the legitimate English king away from England. Some historians argue that John tried to protect his country from the not very wise reign of Richard. However, he himself did not shine with talents at all. His own reign, which began after Richard's death in 1199, was one complete disaster. John miserably lost the war with France and was forced to cede Normandy to her. Having quarreled with the Pope, he brought excommunication on England. As a result, he brought his country to complete ruin and forced his subjects to take up arms. The rebels gained the upper hand and forced John to sign the famous Magna Carta which underlies modern English democracy.
As for the simple henchmen of the sheriff and other enemies of Robin Hood, they are for the most part nameless. Sometimes, however, in the text of ballads there are names of individual guards and foresters, inserted there, presumably, for greater persuasiveness.
The Dark Side of Robin Hood
I'm the terrible Robin Bad.
I hurt people.
I hate poor people
Widows, orphans and old people.
O. Arch, "Robin Bad"
Recently, several attempts have been made in England to debunk the beautiful legend of Robin Hood.
Nottingham City Council, which had long been very concerned that their dynamic city was associated throughout the world exclusively with the highwayman, contributed to this endeavor. In 1988, the city issued an official statement declaring Marian, Friar Took, Alan-a-Dale and Will Scarlet to be fictional characters. Little John was recognized as a historical figure, but from a noble robber he turned into an evil grumbler and a bloodthirsty killer. Robin Hood received less from the current authorities of Nottingham than his associates, but the integrity of his reputation was also subject to great doubt.
The “Jolly Fellows” treat themselves to ale after a successful operation to rob the rich of excess cash.
A book by a Cambridge University professor caused a lot of noise James Holt"Legends of Robin Hood. Between truth and error." Holt writes about Robin: “He was completely different from what he is portrayed in folk songs, legends, and later in books and films. There is absolutely no evidence that he robbed the rich to give money to the poor. The legend acquired these fabrications two hundred years or more after his death. And during his lifetime he was known as a notorious looter, a sadistic killer, who abused defenseless victims and a molester. In a word, if he lived now, Robin Hood would not have avoided life imprisonment in prison...” The historian did not spare the monk Tuka, who, in his words, “was very far from harmless gaiety, since he plundered and burned the houses of his enemies... robbed passers-by to the last, and, unable to tame his greed, caught up with those who had already been robbed and brutally killed them... personally raped women and children, and then chopped them with axes like cattle...".
However, the professor outdid everyone English literature from Cardiff University Stephen Knight. This pundit bluntly stated that both Robin Hood and his “Merry Men” were in fact... gay. To prove his point, Knight refers to passages from ballads that seem ambiguous to him. He also points out that the original ballads say nothing about Robin's lover, but all too often mention his close friends like Little John or Will Scarlet. Knight's point of view is shared by a professor at Cambridge University Barry Dobson, who believes that "the relationship between Robin Hood and Little John was very controversial." This opinion is also shared by all kinds of fighters for the rights of sexual minorities. One of them, someone Peter Tatchell, demands that the version of the Sherwood robber's unconventional sexual orientation be taught in school.
The desire to deprive Robin Hood of his romantic aura and turn him into a banal robber and murderer is so great that there are already calls to demolish the statue of the noble robber in Nottingham and erect a monument in honor of the Sheriff of Nottingham in its place.
However, for a huge number of people around the world, Robin Hood remains a favorite hero and role model. After all, the Sherwood robber personifies such positive qualities as the desire for justice, devotion to friends and the desire to help those in trouble.
Robin Hood in fiction
Hair stuck to our sweaty foreheads,
And it sucked sweetly in the pit of my stomach from the phrases,
And the smell of struggle turned our heads,
Flying towards us from yellowed pages.
V. Vysotsky, “Ballad of Struggle.”
"Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood". Robin, Marian, Little John, Stutley, Scarlet and Took with trophies in the background.
Many people have addressed the theme of the adventures of Robin Hood English writers, for example, poets Robert Keats And Alfred Tennyson. Tennyson wrote the play “The Foresters, or Robin Hood and Maid Marian.” In 1819 the famous novel was published Walter Scott"Ivanhoe." In this novel, Robin Hood is the leader of a detachment of Saxons fighting against the Norman knights who oppress them. It can be said that modern look Robin Hood owes his appearance to Walter Scott. He did not ignore the noble robber and Alexandr Duma, who wrote the adventure novels "Robin Hood - King of Robbers" and "Robin Hood in Exile."
During the Victorian era, the legend of Robin Hood was adapted for children. In 1883, a collection considered to be a classic was published Howard Pyle"The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood." It collected and literary processed all the stories about Robin Hood that existed at that time, with the exception of those that mentioned Marian (after all, the collection was intended mainly for children, and the requirements of Victorian morality were extremely strict). Pyle idealized medieval England. In Sherwood Forest from his book there is never winter, and there is no end to the fun. Pyle's Robin Hood appears as a kind of ideal philanthropist and altruist. Pyle's collection was revised in 1956. Roger Green. His book differs from Pyle's work only in that Lady Marian is present in it.
"Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood". A mountain of corpses in the central square of Nottingham.
The twentieth century gave the world a huge number of new, sometimes completely original stories about Robin. Terence White made Robin the hero of his book The Sword in the Stone, which tells the story of the childhood of King Arthur. Michael Cadnam wrote two novels based on the legends of Robin Hood: “The Forbidden Forest” and “In dark forest" The main character of the first book is Little John, and the second is none other than the Sheriff of Nottingham himself. In the novel Teresa Tomlinson Lady Marian comes to the fore, turning uncouth highwaymen into legendary fighters for justice. In the novel Gary Blackwood"The Lion and the Unicorn" tells the story of how the treacherous Alan-a-Dale takes Robin's lover away from him. In the duology Godwin Park"Sherwood" takes place during the time of King William the Red, and in the trilogy Stephen Lawhead- in Wales. In the novel Robina McKinley"Outlaw from Sherwood" Robin Hood does not know how to shoot a bow at all, but he more than compensates for this deficiency due to his intelligence. From the pen Jennifer Roberson a love-adventure duology about Robin and Marienne was released. In the book Clayton Emery The story is told from the perspective of the animals and fairy-tale creatures that inhabit Sherwood Forest. Among the huge number of books for children, one can highlight the cycle Nancy Springer, dedicated to the adventures of Robin Hood's young daughter. American writer Esther Friesner made Robin the hero of the science fiction novel Sherwood's Game. In this book, talented programmer Carl Sherwood creates a virtual world for a game about Robin Hood. Suddenly, this world escapes the control of its creator, and Robin Hood and other characters in the game begin to live independent life. In the story Adam Stemple the action also takes place in virtual reality: the spirit of Robin Hood, who has taken possession of the computer, is engaged in the redistribution of the world's wealth through the Internet.
"Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown". Sherwood Forest from a bird's eye view.
Russian writers did not stand aside either. The ballads about Robin were translated into Russian Nikolay Gumilyov And Marina Tsvetaeva. Moreover, Tsvetaeva’s translation came out very freely. Robin Hood, according to the poetess, did not live in the vicinity of Nottingham, but somewhere in Scotland. Mikhail Gershenzon made a classic Russian-language retelling of the legends of Robin. If in Soviet times Robin Hood was the hero of mainly children's books, but recently domestic science fiction writers have taken him seriously. In "The Sword and the Rainbow" Elena Khaetskaya Robin Hood is a minor but very colorful character. Anna Ovchinnikova offered a very unusual version of the adventures of the Sherwood Outlaws. The main character of her book “Robin Hood's Friend and Lieutenant” is our contemporary and compatriot Ivan Menshov, who moved through time and space and became Little John. Robin's gang, according to Ovchinnikova, numbered only ten people, Monk Tuk was a vagrant, and one of negative characters books bears the surname Huntington.
Many writers, although they did not write directly about Robin Hood, put some of his traits into their characters. For example, the forest robber John Vengeance for All from Black Arrow is very reminiscent of Robin Hood. Robert Louis Stevenson.
The Screen Life of Robin Hood
A character like Robin Hood simply could not help but end up on the silver screen. The legend about him has everything you need to create a spectacular film, doomed to box office success: medieval romance, beautiful forest landscapes, a love story, the struggle between good and evil, humor, brawls using all types of bladed weapons...
This movie poster features Errol Flynn as Robin Hood.
The first film about Robin was made back in 1908. However, the first truly successful film adaptation of the legend was made only fourteen years later. In the 1922 film, the role of Robin Hood was played by Douglas Fairbanks, one of the main stars of the silent film era. And in 1938 the film was released "The Adventures of Robin Hood", main role in which the inimitable Errol Flynn performed. This picture had a huge influence not only on all subsequent Hollywood films about the Sherwood robber, but also on all films of the same genre.
The classic legend, according to which Robin was killed by an insidious nun, received a completely unexpected interpretation in the film. "Robin and Marian"(1976). Old and gray Robin Hood (Sean Connery) returns to Sherwood Forest after a very long absence. And he discovers that his beloved Marian (Audrey Hepburn) has long gone to the monastery and even managed to become abbess. Marian, forced to choose between loyalty to her monastic vows and her love for Robin, ends up killing her lover and then committing suicide.
In 1991, Sean Connery again starred in the film about Robin Hood. But this time he plays not Robin, but King Richard. The role of Robin Locksley in the Hollywood blockbuster "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" went to Kevin Costner. The filmmakers said a new word in “Robinhood studies” by introducing a black Saracen into Robin Hood’s gang.
In 1993, a brilliant comedy appeared "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" parodying films with Eroll Flynn and Kevin Costner.
Soviet filmmakers went their own way. If in Western films the Robin Hoods are all knights and nobles, then our Soviet Robin Hood is a bearded peasant played by Boris Khmelnitsky. Films by Sergei Tarasov "Robin Hood's Arrows"(1975) and "The Ballad of the Valiant Knight Ivanhoe"(1983) were remembered by many thanks to the wonderful songs of Vladimir Vysotsky.
Of course, there was a place for Robin in cartoons. Who hasn't played the role of Robin Hood or his friends! And Bugs Bunny the rabbit, and Daffy the duck, and even the Pink Panther...
"Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown". Whack-Whack-Whack! Take away what's ready...
In 1967, during the period of enormous popularity of science fiction films and TV series, a multi-part cartoon was shot "Rocket Robin Hood". The action of this series takes place in 3000. Robin and his gang of “fun astronauts” live on the Sherwood asteroid and fight against the evil sheriff... In general, everything is the same as in the 13th century, only the surroundings have changed.
Finally, in 1973, the Walt Disney Company took up the matter. In their cartoon, all the characters are humanoid animals. Robin and Marian became foxes, Little John, naturally, became a bear, the sheriff became a wolf, Took became a badger, and Alan-a-Dale became a rooster. The cartoon couldn't do without Robin either. "Shrek" He is, however, an episodic hero and, moreover, not very positive.
Robin Hood has appeared on television more than once. The most famous of the Robin television series was called "Robin of Sherwood" and ran on British television from 1984 to 1986. Unlike the vast majority of books and films about Robin, this series was made in the fantasy genre. The main villain in Robin of Sherwood is the powerful sorcerer Baron de Balham. And the main ones goodies two at once: after the death of the peasant Robin Loxley, his work is continued by Count Robert Huntington. By the way, both really wear hoods, and not green caps with a feather. The music for the series was written by the famous Irish band Clannad.
The creators of the science fiction series also paid tribute to the legend of Robin Hood « Star Trek: next generation". In one of the episodes, the crew of the starship Enterprise has to temporarily transform into the characters of the legend and feel like real forest robbers.
Robin Hood in computer games
You can become Good, neighbor,
Or maybe I will be it,
That's why for hundreds of years
No death to Robin Hood!
Evgeniy Agranovich, “Brave Robin Hood”
"Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown". The Sheriff of Nottingham listens to the complaint of a merchant who was robbed by the "jolly fellows".
Computer games have opened up new opportunities for fans of the Robin Hood legend. If, when reading a book or watching a film, a person passively perceives ready-made information, then in a computer game he can actively influence the development of the plot. In other words, computer games allow the player to feel for some time in the shoes of a Sherwood outlaw.
The first Robin video game came out in 1985. It was an action movie called "Super Robin Hood". The same year the game appeared "Robin of the Wood". IN classic game "Defender of the Crown"(1986) Robin is one of the player's allies in the fight to unite the occupied civil war England. However, you cannot play directly as Robin in this game.
In the wake of the popularity of the film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves", several games were released at once. « The Adventures of Robin Hood"- role-playing game with action elements. The player controls the brave Robin, who performs all sorts of heroic deeds, thereby increasing his popularity among the local population. On a quest "Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood" a lot depends on the size of Robin's gang and how well the player commands it. The plot of the game is non-linear. The matter could end in either a gallows or a wedding.
"Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood". Drummers made in Sherwood Forest.
In strategy "Age of Empires II" There are such heroes as Robin Hood, Took and the Sheriff of Nottingham. It also contains the Sherwood Forest and Heroes of Sherwood cards. In many role-playing games you can find characters that closely resemble Robin, although they go by a different name. IN "Medieval II: Total War" Robin is gone. But by playing as England and building a foresters guild, you can gain access to a fighter called the Sherwood Archer. You can play as Robin, although not right away, in the game Shrek SuperSlam.
In 2003, a remake of the game "Defender of the Crown" was made. In a new game called "Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown", the player no longer controls one of the English barons, but Robin Hood himself. And he will have to fight against the Sheriff of Nottingham.
As in the original game, the action takes place on a map divided into several counties. Only this is not a map of England, but of the immediate surroundings of Nottingham or some other city. As a result, the “counties” have names that are quite strange for counties: Forest, Paths, Bridge, Mills, Tract. The player has many options. He can command armies in battle, storm castles, fight in tournaments, raid the sheriff's treasury and shoot enemies passing through Sherwood Forest with a bow. But it all looks quite monotonous and gets boring very quickly. It's much more fun to rescue beautiful ladies from captivity. By the end of the game, Robin has collected a whole collection of noble maidens. And where is Lady Marian looking? During a break between fights, you can chat with one of the “funny guys” or read stories about Robin’s exploits.
"Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood". Robin Hood and Little John came to visit Prince John.
A game "Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood"(2002) from Spellbound Studios was released in a series of tactical games, which also includes Desperados and Chicago 1930. The player controls the actions of Robin Hood and other “merry guys”. In order to win the game, you need to successfully complete several missions, the complexity of which is constantly increasing. In addition to the missions that are required to be completed, there are several missions that you can skip by bribing the enemy army or choosing another task.
From one to five characters are sent to each task. This could be Robin himself or his friends. Robin starts out alone, but is gradually joined by Will Stutley, Scarlet, Took, Little John and Lady Marian. In addition to these characters, whose death means the end of the game, there are many ordinary gang members who can be used as cannon fodder or free labor. A forest robber who has not gone on a mission can produce all sorts of useful things or improve his combat skills. Each character has unique skills. For example, Robin and John can knock out an enemy without killing him, Scarlet shoots accurately with a slingshot, Stutly pretends to be a beggar, and Took ties up prisoners and can solder guards.
"Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown". Robin Hood and Will Scarlet.
The plot of the game is quite simple: we need to put an end to the evil machinations of the sheriff and Prince John. There are two types of tasks: in the forest and in the city. Both here and there you can plunder the loot with all your might, replenishing your treasury. The amount of money, however, does not in any way affect the success of the game. The fact is that the gang is growing due to volunteers coming to Sherwood after each mission. Their number directly depends on the percentage spared enemies. So being too bloodthirsty in this game is not recommended. If you regularly complete missions without a single corpse, then at the end of the game there will be a crowd roaming Sherwood that far exceeds your manpower needs.
The undoubted success of the game developers is fencing with the mouse. All fights are very intense and exciting. True, sometimes it is more difficult to win a one-on-one battle than to cope with a squad of a dozen guards. The enemy behaves quite adequately: archers do not bother and shoot from cover, men-at-arms use shields to protect themselves from arrows, and mounted knights prefer to attack with acceleration. If the guards find themselves in the minority, they scatter in different directions and raise the alarm.
Not all game situations, however, look realistic. But that’s why it’s a game, to differ from reality.
The legend of Robin Hood was, without a doubt, excellent material for creating computer games. But its potential has not yet been fully realized. Let's hope that in the future we will see many new wonderful games about the noble robber from Sherwood Forest.
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 earliest source telling about the deeds of this hero is The Ballad of Robin Hood, written at the end of the 14th 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 hazel thicket where merry Robin walked.”
Modern researchers believe that the prototypes of Robin Hood could have been several historical figures.
Thus, in the census registers for 1228 and 1230 the name of Robert Hood, nicknamed Brownie, appears. According to sources, he came into conflict with the law. In addition, the emergence of a rebel movement led by Sir Robert Thwing dates back to approximately the same time. It is known that the rebels plundered monasteries, took grain reserves from there and distributed them to the poor.
Another candidate for the role of Robin Hood is Robert Fitzoot. Legend has it that Fitzoot was born into an aristocratic family, lived from approximately 1160 to 1247 and staged rebellions in order to win the title of Earl of Huntington that was supposedly rightfully due to him. In any case, the dates of Fitzut's life coincide with the dates of the life of Robin Hood, as indicated in some sources. However, no mention of Robert Fitzut was found in the official archives. Robin Hood, but skeptics point out that modern records do not mention a rebellious nobleman named Robin Fitzoot.
Who was Robin Hood's king?
Apart from problems related to the timing of the Robin Hood stories, different sources tell us about different kings. The first historian, Walter Bower, confidently placed Robin Hood in the 1265 rebellion against King Henry III, which was led by his Simon de Montfort, the king's son-in-law. After his defeat during 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 appeared among those who were disinherited and exiled for participating in the uprising. These people glorified their exploits in romances, performances and passages.” The main snag in Bower's reasoning is the presence of the bow, which is so often found in the ballads of Robin Hood. It had not yet been invented at the time of Simon de Montfort's rebellion.
A document dating from 1322 tells of the Robin Hood Stone in Yorkshire. It is assumed that ballads - not people - were already well known by this time. Those who would place the real Robin Hood in this time period suggest that Robin Hood, the owner of Wakefield who took part in the Earl of Lancaster's rebellion, was the prototype of the rebellious hero. The following year, they point out, King Edward II visited Nottingham and hired a certain Robin Hood as his court valet. His salary was paid for the next 12 months or until he was dismissed “as he could no longer work.” This evidence is beautifully presented in the third story of Robin Hood's Small Gesture.
The mention of King Edward II places the highwayman 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 the enemy of Richard's brother and his successor John the Landless - so 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 beloved girl. It first appears at the end of the 15th century, when folk songs and dances became popular during the May holidays. Huge baby John is with Robin Hood at the very beginning, but Father Tuck appears in the last ballad when he plunges Robin into the torrent. The real Robin Hood is a simple yeoman, later he turns into a rebellious nobleman.
There are so many conflicting additions to the Robin Hood legend that it is unlikely that the real hero will ever be found. Most scholars now agree that he represents a type - the robber hero - that has been described in ballads passed down from generation to generation since the 1300s. Storytellers weave a variety of contradictory 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 creation of a muse,” an invention of unknown poets who wanted to glorify the common man who sought justice against the pressures of nobility and wealth. This is what made him famous and made him a 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. Thoth ruled England in the last decade of the 12th century. However, the mentioned monarch almost never visited his country, spending time on military campaigns abroad. And the adventures of Robin Hood take place in England.
The prototype of Robin Hood could also be a certain tenant from Wakefield, who in 1322 took part in the uprising of the Earl of Lancaster. This version is confirmed by documentary information that in 1323 the English king Edward II, having visited Nottingham, hired a man named Robert Hood as his 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 exactly coincided with the reign of Edward II.
Hooded Man
Most researchers are still inclined to believe that Good is a nickname, not a surname. Hood translated from English means “hood”. This traditional element clothes of all medieval robbers. By the way, this word could mean several headdresses at once: a hood, cap, bashlyk, hood, helmet - the main thing is that it protects the entire head... And the term also has a figurative meaning: “to hide.” Hence the expression “hoodlum” - “thug”, “hooligan” (after all honest people there is no requirement to cover the face and head unless they are warriors). Thus, Robin Hood was understood as a secretive person with hooligan habits...
So, most likely, the image of Robin Hood is a collective one. 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, the mythical character has his own grave, next to which there is even a monument to Robin Hood. It is located near Kirkless Abbey in West Yorkshire.
As the legend goes, 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 pursuing the robber and decided, on the contrary, to hasten his death. The woman used a trick: she made Robin lose too much blood, and so that the patient would not notice it, 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 shot would fall. The arrow fell about 650 meters from the monastery gatehouse, where, according to legend, the robber met his death. A memorial was set up there.
Meanwhile, researcher Richard Rutherford-Moore doubts that Robin Hood could have been buried in this particular place. After experimenting with a medieval style bow and arrow, he concluded that an arrow fired from the gatehouse window could fly away from him at most 5 meters. And the archives indicate that in the 18th century, during 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 no one knows where they are now.
The legend tells about the events taking place in medieval England during the period of the captivity of King Richard the Lionheart at the time of his return from a successful military campaign by the Austrian emperor.
The absence of the king is taken advantage of by his brother Prince John, who dreams of the coveted ascension to the throne and taking power in the country under his own control. To strengthen his position, which requires an infusion of large funds, John increases the amount of tribute collected from the population.
John's actions lead to mass starvation among the common people, while the rich nobility continue to enjoy an idle life.
A young Saxon nobleman, Sir Robin, tries to convince the newly minted King John of the misdirection of his new power. However, John does not want to listen to reasonable opinion and declares Robin a criminal.
As a result, the Saxon is forced to hide in the thicket of Sherwood Forest, where he is soon joined by his like-minded people in the person of Much, the miller's son, monk Tuck, the big man Little John and Will from Gunwell, who do not recognize anyone other than King Richard as their ruler.
The assembled detachment under the command of Robin Hood begins an operation of retaliation against the rich who infringe and rob ordinary people. Taking valuables from the rich nobility, Robin Hood distributes them to the disadvantaged and poor people.
In one of the attacks on the convoy, Robin and his friends capture high-ranking nobles and Lady Marian, who, having gotten to know Robin Hood better, understands the Saxon's goal to free his people from the tyrant John. Mutual sympathy flares up between the young people.
Prince John tries to destroy Robin Hood's squad, but all attempts are unsuccessful.
King Richard manages to escape from captivity and secretly returns to his homeland, which becomes known to the local bishop and, accordingly, to Prince John, who is planning fratricide. King Richard meets with Robin Hood, realizing that this man supports him in all his endeavors and worries about his people, and friends sneak into Prince John's coronation ceremony. In the ensuing battle, justice triumphs, Robin Hood and his comrades defeat Prince John, and King Richard returns to his rightful throne. Robin Hood leaves Sherwood Forest and, together with his young wife Lady Marian, goes to his native estate.
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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 a 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. Little John, Will Scarlet and Much the Miller's Son have already appeared in Robin's squad, but there is still no mention of Maid Marian and the cheerful monk Friar Tuck 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 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 merry bandit 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.