Robin Hood - real person or myth? Robin Hood.

Robin Hood doesn't owe his name to English word"good", that is, "good", as Russian readers usually think. The most common belief is that he got his nickname from “hood,” that is, a hood or other headdress. Robin Hood - Robin in the hood.

A character from English folklore, a skilled archer and warrior from Sherwood Forest who robs the rich and distributes his loot to the poor. Interestingly, this trait was not part of the original ballad character and did not appear until the 19th century. It is unknown whether the legend of the noble robber had real prototype or whether it was based only on medieval ballads and tales, but over the past centuries Robin Hood has become one of the most popular elements of English culture, and the story about him feels great in the age of cinema and television.

Robin Hood owes his name not to the English word “good,” that is, “good,” as Russian readers usually believe. The most common belief is that he got his nickname from “hood,” that is, a hood or other headdress. Robin Hood - Robin in the hood. Attempts to connect this name with a real person have led nowhere, in particular because Robert has been one of the most popular names in England over the past ten centuries, and Robin is perhaps the most popular diminutive version of it. . It is not surprising that in medieval records there were many people named Robert or Robin Hood, and some of them were indeed criminals - but not so famous or significant as to contribute to the birth of the legend.

Robin Hood is accompanied by a squad of loyal companions, all of whom live in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, where the action of the first Robin ballads and modern films and television films mainly takes place. In the earliest accounts he was a yeoman gone into the woods, a free peasant, but later he was often portrayed as an exiled aristocrat, unjustly deprived of his possessions due to the machinations of an unscrupulous sheriff. The Forest Archer is often called Robin of Loxley - he is believed to have been born in this village near Sheffield, but this version dates from the late 16th century, while there are earlier versions of his birthplace, such as the village of Skelough in South Yorkshire (Skellow, South Yorkshire), which has been associated with the name of Robin Hood since 1422.

The first reference to the poems about Robin Hood dates from the end of the 14th century, but the ballads themselves were written down only in the 15th and 16th centuries, and already in them Robin Hood has all his main features - he comes from the common people, worships the Virgin Mary, enjoys increased attention from women, he is a skilled archer, cannot stand clergymen and is at enmity with the Sheriff of Nottingham. 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 action, such as King Edward, for example, but ballads, of course, cannot be considered reliable in such matters historical source. Moreover, there were several kings with this 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 keeps his people in strict submission, and, recognizing his supremacy, they kneel before him as before their lord - in medieval legends there is no hint of modern ideals equality and fraternity. 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 robs 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 cheerful robber to national hero of epic proportions, who not only cares for the weak, but also bravely defends the English throne from unworthy and corrupt lords.

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. Over the entire period of studying this issue, several common versions have emerged. 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 ethnic composition 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 in England began to be held 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 out this episode, building its own chronological sequence of events. Robert died in 1346 in the Kirkley monastery from a serious illness.

It turns out that the fact of the existence of the famous robber (or several) is documented and 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 it collective image turned out to be completely unrecognizable...

For almost 700 years there has been a legend telling about a noble robber. He robbed the rich, and distributed the goods taken from them to the poor. This man led a gang of “knife and ax workers” numbering more than a hundred people. Desperate people lived in Sherwood Forest (Nottinghamshire) and caused a lot of trouble to dishonest, greedy and greedy citizens.

Robin Hood was the name of the legendary hero who cared for the good of simple and honest people. So many ballads of praise have been written about him that you involuntarily begin to believe in the reality of this person. But did he live? noble robber in reality or legends about him - beautiful myth that has nothing to do with real life?

In the second half of the 15th century, an unknown author wrote 4 ballads dedicated to the brave leader of forest robbers. In the first ballad the story is about how Robin helps a poor knight ruined by a greedy abbot. Lent to the poor guy large sum money, and the faithful squire of the noble leader of the robbers, Little Joe, is given to help. He was a huge fellow, endowed with immeasurable strength. Naturally, the knight takes revenge on the greedy abbot, and good triumphs.

Second ballad is dedicated to the conflict between the sheriff of Nottingham and the noble robber. The “highway romantics” organized a deer hunt in the sheriff’s lands, and then, with the help of cunning, invited the most formidable law enforcement officer to the feast.

Third ballad tells about Robin's meeting with King Edward. He secretly comes to Nottingham to conduct an investigation into violations of the law incognito. local authorities. The defender of the poor and the threat of the rich enters the service of the king and swears allegiance to him.

Fourth ballad the saddest. It tells about the death of a noble robber. He again begins to engage in dangerous work, but catches a cold and goes to Kirkley Abbey to undergo treatment. However, the insidious abbess treats him with leeches. They suck blood, the noble robber weakens day by day and, in the end, dies.

This, in brief, is the essence of the legends about courageous man, who faithfully served the common people. A great many such ballads were written. Robin is presented as a proud and independent person who opposes the rich who oppress the people. At the same time, the noble robber was loyal to the king and revered the church. Next to him all the time was a cheerful and kind monk named Tak.

As for the origin of the glorious hero, some consider him a free peasant, others believe that he was a minor nobleman. The wife's name was Marian, however, she might not have been a wife, but simply a fighting friend.

Experts studied the census registers of England in the period from 1228 to 1230. In these lists, a man named Robin Hood was found, who was wanted for crimes. This time is notable for popular unrest. They were led by a certain Robert Thwing. Under his leadership, the rebels plundered monasteries, and the confiscated grain was distributed to poor peasants.

Some historians are inclined to believe that the legendary robber was Robert Fitzug. He was born around 1170 and died approximately in 1246. This man was the Earl of Huntington, who had lost all his wealth. In fact, he was a rebellious aristocrat, but for some reason he did not oppose the king, but only opposed the nobles.

This is how Robin Hood is portrayed in Hollywood

Who sat on the royal throne during the activities of the noble robber? If you rely on ballads and legends, you can find the names of several crowned heads. In particular, this is Henry III (1207-1272). During his reign in 1261, an outbreak Civil War. The rebels were led by Count Simon de Montfort (1208-1265).

At first, the rebels were victorious with the establishment of the dictatorship of the rebel count, but then Henry III managed to regain power in 1265. However, some of the rebels did not bow their heads to the king. The nobles went into the forests and became robbers. Among them was our glorious hero. The king took everything from him, but could not take away his noble heart. Some researchers believe that that courageous nobleman from the 13th century became the hero of ballads and legends.

Robin Hood is also associated with Earl Thomas Plantagenet of Lancaster (1278-1322). He opposed King Edward II (1284-1327) and led the baronial opposition. The reason for the hostility was that the count was not appointed chief adviser at court. In 1322 a rebellion broke out. He was brutally suppressed, and Lancaster himself was beheaded.

The king pardoned some of the rebels. One of them was a man with a legendary name. He was taken into service at court and given the rank of valet. During the year this gentleman's salary was carefully paid. Then the newly appointed valet disappeared, and what happened to him next is unknown. It is quite possible that for a number of reasons he became a noble robber.

If we consider Edward II as the main royal figure, then we can assume that the “romantic and unmercenary from the high road” did good deeds in the period from 1320 to 1330. However famous writer and historian Walter Scott (1771-1832) portrayed the image of a noble robber in his novel Richard the Lionheart. This English king lived from 1157 to 1199. And this indicates more early dates the existence of Robin Hood, or rather at the end of the 12th century.

Nowadays, many researchers believe that bright and mysterious person is a composite image. That is, there was no specific person, but there was only a people's dream of a just and honest hero-robber. This is a purely folk creation, born among ordinary people. Since the image was unusually interesting and romantic, it became popular among poets and novelists. Creative people have turned it into a symbol of the eternal struggle between good and evil. That is why it remains not only popular, but also relevant for several centuries..

Robin Hood is one of the most famous English heroes. His motto - rob the rich and give money to the poor - captivated many people, he became a symbol of protection for the disadvantaged. But it is still unclear whether such a person actually existed or is just a fictional character. /website/

If he really existed, then who was he? Different versions increase the aura of mystery around Robin Hood.

The very first mentions of it are found in traditional ballads that were sung to music. They cannot be considered as historical evidence of the existence of Robin Hood because they were not written in the era in which Robin Hood supposedly lived. Most likely, stories about Robin Hood were initially passed down orally among the people.

Robin Hood and Sir Guy, illustration by Louis Read. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

According to one version, Robin Hood - mythological hero, and stories about him have symbolic overtones.

Some believe that the green color of Robin Hood's costume is the traditional color of fairies. Green color Also associated with spring, which is mentioned in ballads, this symbolically links the image of Robin Hood with life and growth.

Robin Hood is sometimes associated with the Teutonic elf Hodekin, as well as with Wotan and Robin the Goodfellow (Peck), who are fictional fantastic characters. Therefore, Robin Hood can also be a fictional hero.

According to other versions, Robin Hood actually existed. In the early ballads about Robin Hood, his name is associated with a real place - Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire.

Robin Hood was a very common name in medieval England. In the 13th century Robert was popular name, like its diminutive form Robin. The surname Hood (Hood) is also relatively common. It is therefore quite possible that there were several Robin Hoods in medieval England, one of whom fit the description of the legendary hero.

There are several versions about who the real Robin Hood was. One writer claimed that Robin Hood was the Earl of Hattingdon, who was buried at Cirley Prior, a monastery in West Yorkshire. This version is supported by a grave with an inscription, which may indicate that the real Robin Hood is buried there.

Other theories claim that Robin Hood was not from Nottingham, but from York, and his base was not in Sherwood Forest, but in Banrnsdale Forest, on the border between South and West Yorkshire. Such information can be found in one of the most ancient ballads about Robin Hood, “The Exploits of Robin Hood,” from the 15th century. The ballad also mentions a church, most likely St Mary Magdalene's in Docaster, West Yorkshire, where Robin Hood married Maid Marian.

Additionally, only a few early ballads mention Robin Hood's bow, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and only the ballad "Robin Hood and the Friar" mentions Nottingham.

Sherwood Forest, Nottingham. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The earliest mentions of real person named Robin Hood (Robert Hood) are available in the archives of the York Criminal Court. They are dated 1226. According to the documents, Robert's fortune of 32 shillings and 6 pence, which he owed, was confiscated and he himself was declared an outlaw.

Robert Hood from York is the only Robin Hood who had problems with the law. Many historians believe that this is the same Robin Hood from the legends.

Regardless of whether Robin Hood actually existed, his image continues to attract people. Over the past hundred years, the legend of Robin Hood has appeared many times. different versions Robin Hood: from the Saxon, a national hero who fought against Norman rule (this version arose in the 19th century), to the fox Robin Hood in Disney cartoon"Robin Hood" (1973). Robin Hood recently appeared in the science fiction series Doctor Who, along with robots and a spaceship.

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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. 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 contemporary 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. On next 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 in other versions, Robin Hood appears as a supporter of King Richard the Lionheart, who reigned in the last decade of the 12th century, and an opponent of Richard's brother and his successor John the Landless - as he was named for the territories lost in France.

Fictional stories.

What is most obvious about Robin Hood is the development of his legend. In the early ballads there is no mention of Marian, the hero's beloved girl. It first appears at the end of the 15th century, when folk songs and dances became popular in 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 it will ever be found a real hero. 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,” the invention of unknown poets who wanted to glorify ordinary person, who sought justice against the pressure 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. The Ballad of Robin Hood contains similar facts.
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 is a traditional element of clothing for 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.