Most famous character medieval epic - noble robber Robin Hood. What is the legend about? This article outlines summary. Robin Hood, in addition, is a personality who has aroused the interest of historians and inspired prose writers and poets for several centuries. The article also provides works of art, dedicated to the leader of the forest robbers.
Ballads of Robin Hood
Summary poetic work Scottish folklorist Robert Burns can be summed up in a few sentences. The work of the eighteenth-century poet, which is based on a medieval legend, should be read in the original. Burns' legend is an example of poetic romanticism. Main role It’s not the plot that plays here, but literary language. Let's give a brief summary anyway.
Robin Hood lived against fate. He was called a thief only because he did not let others steal. He was a robber, but he did not harm a single poor person. Little John once started a conversation with Robin about his duties in the gang. He, of course, ordered the inexperienced robber to rob the moneybags.
It's time for lunch. However, the gang leader was not used to eating at his own expense. Therefore, he ordered John to go off to fulfill his noble robber duty.
The young member of the gang did everything as his mentor taught. However, the victim of the robbery turned out to be an impoverished knight, who had once taken a large loan from the abbot. Robin Hood helped the poor man, providing him with armor and everything else necessary to fulfill his knightly duty. The first song tells this story. In the following chapters we're talking about about other glorious exploits of Robin.
The most popular is the version of the writer and historian Walter Scott. Based on medieval legend, the Scottish author created the novel Ivanhoe. The work is known all over the world. It has been filmed more than once. Therefore, it is more important to analyze the image of the famous robber in the interpretation of the Scottish author than to present a brief summary.
Robin Hood in the prose of Walter Scott
The novel depicts an era of conflict between the Normans and the Anglo-Saxons. According to Scott's version, Robin Hood lived in the second half of the twelfth century. According to critics, best chapters This adventure work is dedicated to the struggle of people's liberators against the arbitrariness of power. Robin Hood's squad performs glorious feats in the novel. People's liberators storm the castle of Front de Boeuf. And the servants of the Norman feudal lord are unable to resist its onslaught.
The image of Robin Hood in Scott's work symbolizes not only justice, but also freedom, strength, and independence.
Based on the legends about the just robber, he wrote two novels. The French prose writer significantly changed the canonical history. What can you learn by reading the summary?
"Robin Hood - King of Thieves", like other classic works, is gripping prose. The novel in question also has an unexpected ending. How is Robin Hood depicted in the work of the French writer?
In the book, Robin is surrounded, as expected, by loyal friends. Among them is John Malyutka. But French writer paid attention not only to the exploits of the fearless robber. Robin Hood in Dumas's novel can also be called lyrical hero. He flirts with women. But at the same time he remains faithful to his beloved.
In the novel about Robin Hood, the heroes are either positive or negative. This is due to the author's style and romantic stories born in the medieval era. However, Dumas' version is an unfinished story. The continuation is set out in the book “Robin Hood in Exile”.
In Russian prose
Russian writers also dedicated works of art to the noble leader of the forest robbers. One of them is Mikhail Gershenzon (“Robin Hood”).
A summary of the story about the beloved hero of the English people in any version is a presentation of an ancient legend. Robin Hood is a character with fearlessness, nobility, and a keen sense of justice. The interpretation of a particular author differs in its system of images, interpretation historical events. The image of the main character remains unchanged.
The story of Robin Hood was probably extremely close in spirit to Gershenzon. The writer died during the Great Patriotic War. According to the recollections of eyewitnesses, he died on the battlefield “a completely Robin Hood death.”
Robin Hood is a hero whose story will always inspire writers and filmmakers. It doesn't matter how true the stories in the books about him are. The important thing is that the hero's image represents an example of honor, courage and self-sacrifice.
Sergey Lvov
He spent his life in the forest. Barons, bishops and abbots feared him. He was loved by peasants and artisans, widows and the poor. (From ancient chronicles.)
This is how they talk about his death. One day, a glorious archer felt that his hands did not have enough strength to pull the bowstring, and his legs were having difficulty walking along the usual forest path. And then he realized: old age was approaching...
He went to the monastery, whose abbess was known as a skilled healer, and asked to treat him. The nun pretended to be delighted by his arrival, cordially escorted the stranger to a distant cell, carefully laid him on the bed, sharp knife opened a vein on a powerful arm (bloodletting was then considered good remedy from many ailments). And, saying that she would return immediately, she left.
Time passed slowly. The blood flowed faster. But the nun still did not return. Night has come. Dawn came after the night, and then the shooter realized that he had become a victim of betrayal. Above the head of his bed was a window into the forest. But the bleeding man no longer had enough strength to reach the window. There was barely enough breath in my chest to last time blow a curved hunting horn. A faint, trembling sound of horns sounded across the forest. True friend heard the calling signal. In alarm, he hurried to help.
Late! No one could have saved the shooter. So are the enemies who long years They did not know how to defeat Robin Gul either in a hot battle or in a stubborn duel, and they tormented him with black betrayal.
The ancient historian names the year and day when this happened: November 18, 1247.
Several centuries have passed. Wars began and ended. The shortest lasted several days, the longest - a hundred years. Devastating epidemics swept through the cities and villages of England. Uprisings broke out. Kings came and went on the throne. People were born and died, generations replaced generations.
However, a stormy series of events, as they liked to say in ancient books, could not erase the name of Robin Hood from the memory of the English.
One day, it was about two hundred and fifty years ago, a heavy carriage slowly drove into a small town near London. The carriage was elegant and magnificent: only the most important people kingdoms rode around in these. Indeed, an important gentleman was sitting in the carriage: the Bishop of London himself! He came to the town to read a sermon to the townspeople. While the carriage was traveling from the city gates to the church square, the bishop managed to notice that the town seemed to have died out. The bishop was not surprised by this. This means that the rumor of his arrival preceded the carriage, and the townspeople hurried to the church: they do not often see and hear his Eminence. And he habitually imagined how he would get out of the carriage, how he would slowly ascend the steps of the temple through the respectfully parting crowd... But the church square was empty. There was a heavy lock on the church doors. 
The bishop stood for a long time in the empty square, turning purple with anger and trying to maintain a dignified appearance befitting his rank and solemn vestments, which was not at all easy in front of a locked door.
Finally, a passerby, hurrying not to go to church, said to the bishop as he walked:
“Sir, you are waiting in vain, we are celebrating Robin Hood’s day today, the whole city is in the forest, and there will be no one in the church.”
There are different stories about what happens next. Some say that the bishop got into the carriage and returned to London, uttering in his mind words that bishops do not usually utter. Others claim that he went to the city meadow, where the townspeople, dressed in green caftans, depicted scenes from the life of Robin Hood, and joined the spectators.
What kind of life was this? Why is the memory of her preserved for centuries? Why the whole city could you remember Robin Hood for many hours in a row and think only about him?
What do you know about Robin Hood, except those pages of Walter Scott's novel "Ivanhoe", where he is depicted under the name of the brave yeoman, free peasant Loxley? 
Robin Hood has two biographies. One is very short. Scientists have collected it bit by bit in ancient chronicles. From this biography you can learn that Robin Hood was ruined by rich enemies and fled from them to Sherwood Forest, a dense and dense bowl that stretched for many tens of miles. Fugitives like him joined him. He united them under his command into a formidable detachment of “forest brothers” and soon became the real ruler of Sherwood Forest. Robin Hood and his archers, numbering more than a hundred, hunted forbidden royal game, feuded with rich monasteries, robbed passing Norman knights, helped the persecuted and the poor.
The authorities announced a reward for the capture of Robin Hood many times. But not a single peasant into whose hut he entered, not a single one of the “forest brothers” was seduced by these promises.
That's all, or almost all, that historians know about Robin Hood.
The second biography of Robin Hood is much more detailed. From it you can learn how he first encountered the royal foresters and how this meeting ended; how he met the fugitive monk - Brother Tuck - and Little John, who became his assistants, and how Robin Hood won archery competitions, how he was at enmity with the Sheriff of Nottingham, who oppressed the peasants, how he refused to serve King Richard the Lionheart.
Where is all this and more about Robin Hood recorded? Not in historical works, but in folk songs- ballads, as literary historians call them.
They were composed throughout England over many centuries. The author of these songs was the people, and the performers were traveling singers. Songs about Robin Hood were overgrown with various details, several small songs merged into one or one large one broke up into several small ones... The singers who sang these ballads, if they knew how to write, wrote down the words of the song and, for a fee, gave them to those who wished to copy them. And when the first printing houses appeared in England, songs about Robin Hood began to be printed. At first these were separate sheets with prints of songs. They were eagerly bought up by residents of cities and villages, who celebrated Robin Hood Day once a year in the summer.
It was in these songs that the second biography of Robin Hood gradually took shape. In it he is the way the people imagined him. If the ancient Latin chronicle claims that Robin Hood was a nobleman, then the folk song decisively calls him the son of a peasant. Common people of England legendary biography Robin Hood began to be considered a real life story. For many decades and even centuries, everything that was told about Robin Hood in songs was believed by the British as an immutable historical fact.
There is interesting evidence for this. One of the oldest ballads tells how Robin Hood, as a fifteen-year-old youth, went to the city of Nottingham for an archery competition. Halfway there, the royal foresters stopped him and began to mock him. “Will this boy, who can barely bend his own bow, dare to appear in front of the king in a competition!” - they exclaimed. Robin Hood bet with them that he would hit the target within a hundred feet, and won the bet. But the royal foresters not only did not pay him for his winnings, but also threatened to beat him if he dared to show up at the competition.
Then Robin Hood, as the ballad enthusiastically reports, shot all the mockers with his bow. The people did not like the royal foresters, who did not allow the poor man to collect brushwood in the forest, much less hunt forest game or fish in forest streams and rivers. Not loving the royal foresters, folk singers they sang this ballad with delight.
And so in April 1796, that is, five centuries after Robin Hood lived, a message appeared in one of the English magazines. Here it is: “When workmen were digging in a garden at Coxlane, near Nottingham, a few days ago, they came across six human skeletons lying close together in a neat row. They are believed to be part of the fifteen gamekeepers he killed in his time for Robin Hood."
One can imagine how the magazine publisher asked the author of the note: “Are you sure that these are the same skeletons?” And the author answered, as journalists of all times answer: “Well, let’s write in the word “supposed” for caution.” But neither the author nor the publisher thought of doubting that Robin Hood really fought with the royal foresters on the road to the glorious city of Nottingham : after all, this is what is sung about in ballads!
Why Robin Hood became a favorite hero folk songs? To answer this question, we may have to remind you of what you learned in history lessons: in 1066, England was captured by the Normans led by William the Conqueror. They took away land, houses and property from the indigenous population of England - the Saxons - and imposed their laws on them with fire and sword. An ancient historian names Robin Hood as one of those who were robbed of their land. 
Enmity between the old and new rulers continued two centuries later. Do you remember what place the enmity between Saxon and Norman nobles occupies in Walter Scott's book "Ivanhoe"? However, the Saxon nobles soon made peace with the conquerors. But the songs about Robin Hood were not forgotten. They were sung by the detachments of peasants who rebelled under the leadership of Watt Tyler. The people felt in their hearts: the struggle of Robin Hood, glorified in songs, is not only the struggle of the Saxons against the Normans, but in general the struggle of the people against the oppressors.
I'm leafing through an old book that contains ballads about Robin Hood one after another. Here is a ballad about how Robin Hood fought with his other worst enemy - the knight Guy Guysbourne, and how, having defeated him and dressed in his clothes - and you need to know that Guy Guysbourne always wore a tanned horse skin over his armor - he again outwitted Sheriff of Nottingham. Here is the ballad "Robin Hood and the Bishop", which tells how Robin Hood took out his anger against the church on the bishop. Here is a ballad about how Robin Hood saved the three sons of a poor widow - and in each of these ballads he is always the same: brave in battle, faithful in friendship, a joker, a merry fellow, a mocker, an ageless folk hero.
I told you about Robin Hood, as he was portrayed in folk ballads, and now you yourself can see how Walter Scott changed this image when he brought him to Ivanhoe.
In Walter Scott, Yeoman Loxley, the name under which Robin God is written in the novel, becomes Richard's faithful assistant. Robin Hood, as his people praised him, refused to serve King Richard the Lionheart.
People remember Robin Hood exactly as he was sung in ancient folk songs. And this is the immortality of Robin Hood.
Drawings by P. Bunin.
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 to 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 challenge 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 leader of the resistance explains to the free shooters that England and its freedom are once again in great danger.
An insidious tyrant wants to gain the throne, immediately after sudden death King John This time, William of Wembrud, better known as Lord Regen, claims the throne. It was he who once created the royal council. His tasks included the goal of 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 experienced a lot of negative things during this period. The ruler's brother came to the throne - new king John the First. 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, does a lot 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 plot. 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 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 loyal 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 precisely at the moment when a real war for the throne is unfolding. 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 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 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 a green forest, only friends who have lost everything and are ready for anything, only faith in their own 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 he comes to the throne brother- Prince John. 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. He is ruled by the desire for revenge, justice, as well as the irresistible strength that is given to him by the faith in him of ordinary people who are faced with inhumane injustice at the hands of the new king who has 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.
As stated in the famous French comedy- “Even if Fantômas does not exist, invent him.” It is still not known for certain whether there was a prototype for the most famous criminal in France, created on the pages of writers Pierre Souvestre and Marcel Alain.
But this is not about him, but about the fact that people at all times believed that evil must be fought by a daredevil who is not afraid to challenge harsh reality and protect the poor and disadvantaged. Sometimes such heroes really existed, and sometimes someone, fearing to be caught, performed feats of arms against the state under the guise of someone else, invented to avert suspicion. Probably one of the biggest mysteries is in Great Britain. And her name is Robin Hood.
Robin Hood is one of this country's greatest legends. A fallen noble who was aided by a gang of outlaws who lived in Sherwood Forest and robbed the rich to give to the poor, while challenging a corrupt sheriff and a king who many believed had no right to rule England. But what do we know about him? And does it even exist? Let's try to figure it out.
His legend has been alive for centuries because he is a timeless symbol of a noble, selfless man who brought his own concept of justice to the people. In this case, Robin Hood represents the elimination of the imbalance between the haves and the have-nots (note that Nottingham only benefited from this - thousands of tourists come to this city every year to touch the legend).
Criminal or savior?
The legend of Robin Hood dates back to medieval times, with the oldest references not found in historical chronicles, but simply as remarks and notes in various writings. From the early 13th century, several English judges throughout the country referred to the names "Robinhood", "Robehod" or "Rabunhod" in their written records. In this case, most likely, there is a generalized name for all fugitives and criminals. However, the first mention of the supposed historical Robin Hood can be found in a chronicle written around 1420. There is also the first mention of "Lytil John", who became known to everyone as Robin Hood's assistant - Little John.
An earlier (but therefore not entirely accurate) mention is found in the work of the Scottish chronicler John Fordun, written between 1377 and 1384. The source mentions the year 1266 - the year before, a conflict occurred between King Henry II and the aristocrat Simon de Montfort, as a result of which the latter wanted to overthrow the king. It was then that the famous murderer Robert Hood arose, as well as Little John, along with his accomplices from among those disinherited (for various reasons).
Over time, many ballads and stories have appeared about the character of Robin Hood, but none of them give a single description of the man, what he actually did. Some of these ballads link Robin to the historical figure Robert Hood of Wakefield, who, like the Sherwood hero, may have been an agent of King Edward II after the Lancastrian Rebellion of 1322. Other stories say that Robin Hood was actually Robin of Loxley, a nobleman from Yorkshire who lost all his lands and wealth as a result of the intrigues of the local authorities. However, the question is still open - when (at least theoretically) did Robin Hood exist? Under which king did he live and “work”?
The 16th century was marked by the fact that the legend of Robin Hood received a historical setting - the end of the 12th century, namely the 1190s, when the king left to fight in the Crusades. The stories grew with new details, for example, the short-sighted and pathetic new King John, who ruled England while Richard was away, and the evil Sheriff of Nottingham appears. Victorian era even made Robin a national figure, a Saxon leading his fellows against the Norman invaders.
Why Nottingham?
To this day, Nottingham - and Sherwood Forest in particular - is the spiritual home of Robin Hood, but there is no real reason for this; although many ballads composed over the centuries make reference to Nottingham and Sherwood. However real reasons unknown to us. But here's an interesting detail - there are two Loxleys in England - to the north-west of the city of Sheffield there is a small village called Loxley, which has long been associated with the legends of Robin Hood and the Robin Hood Hotel, built in 1799, being an attempt to exploit this fame.
There is also another Loxley in Warwickshire, near Stratford-upon-Avon, and here some historians have traced Robin Hood to the ancestor of one of the Norman invaders who came with William the Conqueror and settled there.
However, Nottingham will always be Robin Hood territory, and the city attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world every year, keen to see, among other things, the famous 1000-year-old large oak tree called Robin Hood's home in Sherwood Forest.
Now, after so many centuries, it is difficult to say whether Robin Hood really existed, or was it a play of the imagination of a people oppressed by power who wanted to believe in a miracle? An association different traditions, historical characters and romantic ideals were brought together into one picture called Robin Hood, the noble robber. And you can end with a quote from the same famous French comedy: “I would like him to really exist, and for you to meet him.
-Me too. Do you think I'm afraid of him? I admire this man."
