Robin Hood historical facts. Robin Hood - real person or myth

Most famous character medieval epic - noble robber Robin the Hood. What is the legend about? This article sets out summary. Robin Hood, in addition, is a personality that has been of interest to historians for several centuries, inspiring prose writers and poets. The article also provides works of art dedicated to the leader of the forest robbers.

Ballads of Robin Hood

The summary of the poetic work of the Scottish folklorist Robert Burns can be summarized in a few sentences. The work of an eighteenth-century poet, based on a medieval legend, should be read in the original. The Burns legend is an example of poetic romanticism. main role it's not the plot that plays here, but literary language. However, let's make a brief summary.

Robin Hood lived against fate. He was called a thief only because he did not allow others to steal. He was a robber, but did not harm any poor man. Little John once started a conversation with Robin about his duties in the gang. He, of course, ordered the inexperienced robber to rob moneybags.

It's time for lunch. However, the leader of the gang is not used to eating at his own expense. Therefore, he ordered John to go on a noble robbery duty.

The young member of the gang did everything as instructed by the mentor. However, the victim of the robbery was an impoverished knight who had once taken a large loan from the abbot. Robin Hood helped the poor fellow by providing armor and everything else necessary to fulfill his knightly duty. The first song is about this story. In the next chapters in question of Robin's other glorious deeds.

The most popular is the version of the writer and historian Walter Scott. On the basis of a medieval legend, the Scottish author created the novel Ivanhoe. The product is known all over the world. It has been filmed many times. Therefore, it is more important to analyze the image of the famous robber in the interpretation of the Scottish author than to present a summary.

Robin Hood in the prose of Walter Scott

The novel depicts the era of contradictions 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 of this adventure work are devoted to the struggle of people's liberators against the arbitrariness of power. Glorious feats in the novel are performed by the squad of Robin Hood. The people's liberators storm the castle of Front de Boeuf. And the servants of the Norman feudal lord are not able 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 of the just robber, he wrote two novels. The French prose writer significantly changed the canonical history. What can you learn from reading the summary?

"Robin Hood - King of Thieves", as well as other works of the classic, is an exciting 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 true friends. Among them is John Malyutka. But French writer paid attention not only to the exploits of the fearless robber. Robin Hood in Dumas' novel can also be called a lyrical hero. He flirts with women. But at the same time, he remains faithful to his beloved.

In a novel about Robin Hood, the characters are either positive or negative. This is due to the style of the author and romantic stories born in the medieval era. However, Dumas' version is an unfinished story. Continued in the book "Robin Hood in Exile".

In domestic prose

Russian writers also dedicated works of art to the noble leader of the forest robbers. One of them is Mikhail Gershenzon ("Robin Hood").

Brief summary of the story of your favorite hero English people in any of the versions is a statement of an old legend. Robin Hood is a character with fearlessness, nobility, and a heightened sense of justice. The interpretation of this or that author differs in the 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 fell on the battlefield "totally Robin Hood's death."

Robin Hood is a hero whose story will always inspire writers and filmmakers. It doesn't matter how true the plots of the books about him are. It is important that the image of the hero is an example of honor, courage and self-sacrifice.

For almost 700 years, there has been a legend about a noble robber. He robbed the rich and gave what he had taken from them to the poor. This man led a gang of "knife and ax workers" numbering over a hundred people. Desperate people lived in Sherwood Forest (Nottinghamshire) and brought a lot of trouble to dishonest, greedy and greedy citizens.

Robin Hood - that was the name of the legendary hero who cares about the welfare of ordinary and honest people. So many laudatory ballads have been written about him that you involuntarily begin to believe in the reality of this person. But did the noble robber live in reality or legends about him - beautiful myth having nothing to do with real life?

In the second half of the fifteenth century unknown author wrote 4 ballads dedicated to the brave leader of the forest robbers. In the first ballad tells of how Robin helps a poor knight ruined by a greedy abbot. The poor fellow is borrowed a large amount of money, and the faithful squire of the noble leader of the robbers, Little Joe, is given to help. It was a huge kid, 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 from Nottingham and the noble robber. "Romance with high road"arranged a deer hunt in the lands of the sheriff, and then, with the help of cunning, they invited the most formidable law enforcement officer to the feast.

Third ballad tells of Robin's meeting with King Edward. He secretly comes to Nottingham to incognito investigate violations of the law by local authorities. The defender of the poor and the storm 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 fishing, but catches a cold and goes to Kirklayskoe Abbey to undergo a course of treatment. However, the insidious abbess treats him with leeches. Those suck blood, the noble robber is weakening day by day and, in the end, dies.

This, in brief, is the essence of the legends about a 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. Near 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 petty nobleman. The wife's name was Marian, however, she could not have been a wife, but simply a fighting girlfriend.

Experts studied the census registries of England in the period from 1228 to 1230. In these lists was found a man named Robin Hood, who was on the wanted list for crimes. This time is notable for popular unrest. They were headed by a certain Robert Twing. Under his leadership, the rebels plundered monasteries, and the seized 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 around 1246. This man was the now wealthy Earl of Huntington. In fact, he was a rebellious aristocrat, but for some reason he did not oppose the king, but only opposed noble nobles.

This is how Robin Hood is portrayed in Hollywood

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

At first, the rebels won with the establishment of the dictatorship of the rebellious count, but then Henry III in 1265 he managed to regain power. However, some of the rebels did not bow their heads before the king. The nobles went into the forests and became robbers. Among them was our glorious hero. The king took everything from him, but he could not take the 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 Count Thomas Plantagenet 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 the court. In 1322 there was a rebellion. He was brutally suppressed, and Lancaster himself was beheaded.

Some of the rebels were pardoned by the king. 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 was carefully paid a salary. Then the newly-made valet disappeared, and what happened to him next is unknown. It is 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. but famous writer and the historian Walter Scott (1771-1832) portrayed the image of the noble robber in his novel Richard the Lionheart. This English king lived from 1157 to 1199. And this points to more early dates the existence of Robin Hood, or rather at the end of the XII century.

Nowadays, many researchers believe that the bright and enigmatic personality 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 nature turned it into a kind of symbol of the eternal struggle between good and evil. That is why it remains not only popular, but also relevant for several centuries..

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 that tells 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 " Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer mentions "a hazel thicket where the merry Robin walked."
Modern researchers believe that several historical figures could be the prototypes of Robin Hood at once.
So, in the census registers for 1228 and 1230, the name of Robert Hood, nicknamed Brownie, is found. According to sources, he came into conflict with the law. In addition, the emergence of an insurrectionary movement led by Sir Robert Twing dates back to approximately the same time. It is known that the rebels plundered the monasteries, took away grain supplies from there and distributed them to the poor.
Another candidate for the role of Robin Hood is Robert Fitzut. The legend says that Fitzut was born into an aristocratic family, lived from about 1160 to 1247 and staged rebellions in order to win the title of Earl of Huntington supposedly due to him. In any case, the dates of Fitzut's life coincide with the dates of the life of Robin Hood, as they are indicated in some sources. However, no mention of Robert Fitzut was found in the official archives. Robin Hood, however skeptics point out that contemporary records do not mention a rebellious noble named Robin Fitzut.

Who was the king of Robin Hood?

In addition to the problems associated with the time of origin of the Robin Hood stories, various sources tell us about the various kings. The first historian, Walter Bower, confidently placed Robin Hood in the 1265 rebellion against King Henry III, led by Simon de Montfort, the king's son-in-law. After his defeat at the Battle of Evesham, most of the rebels remained in the army and led a life similar to that described in the ballads of Robin Hood. “At that time,” wrote Walter Bower, “the famous robber Robin Hood stepped out among those who were disinherited and expelled for participating in the uprising. These people sang their feats in romances, performances and passages. The main catch in Bower's reasoning is the presence of the bow, which is so common in the ballads about Robin Hood. It had not yet been invented at the time of the rebellion of Simon de Montfort.
A document dated 1322 speaks of a "Robin Hood stone" in Yorkshire. It is assumed that ballads - not human - were already well known by this time. Those who would place the real Robin Hood in this time period would suggest that Robin Hood, the owner of Wakefield who took part in the rebellion of the Earl of Lancaster, was the prototype of the rebel hero. The following year, they point out, King Edward II visited Nottingham and took a certain Robin Hood into his service as court valet. He was paid his salary for the next 12 months or until he was fired "because he could no longer work." This evidence is beautifully presented in the third story of Robin Hood's Little Gesture.
The mention of King Edward II places the robber hero in the first quarter of the 14th century. But according to other versions, Robin Hood appears as a supporter of King Richard the Lionheart, who ruled in last decade 12th century, and an opponent of his brother Richard and his successor John Landless - as he was named for the territories lost in France.

Fictional stories.

What is most obvious about Robin Hood is the development of his legend. In the early ballads, there is no mention of Marian, the hero's girlfriend. It first appears at the end of the 15th century, when folk songs and dances become popular on May holidays. Huge baby John is with Robin Hood at the very beginning, but Father Took appears in the last ballad when he dips Robin in torrential stream. The real Robin Hood is a simple yeoman, later he turns into a rebellious nobleman.
There are so many controversial additions to the Robin Hood legend that it's unlikely that one will ever be found. real hero. Most scholars now agree that he represents a type - the rogue hero - that has been described in ballads passed down from generation to generation since the 1300s. Narrators weave a variety of conflicting stories into their stories and real people and turn it all into a story about a man who may never have existed. As one professor wrote: "Robin Hood is the product of a muse," the invention of unknown poets who wanted to glorify ordinary person who sought justice against the pressure of nobility and wealth. This is what glorified him and made him the hero of ballads:
He was a good robber
And did a lot of good to the poor
And for this the Lord spared his soul.

There is also a version that Robin Hood was one of the warriors of King Richard the Lionheart. He ruled England in the last decade of the twelfth century. However, the mentioned monarch almost never visited his state, spending time in foreign military campaigns. And the adventures of Robin Hood unfold in England.
A certain tenant from Wakefield, who in 1322 took part in the uprising of the Earl of Lancaster, could also become the prototype of Robin Hood. This version is supported by documentary evidence that in 1323 the English King Edward II, having visited Nottingham, accepted 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 just coincided with the era of the reign of Edward II.

hooded man

Most researchers still tend to believe that Good is a nickname, not a surname. Hood (Hood) translated from English means "hood". This traditional element clothes of all medieval robbers. By the way, this word could mean several hats at once: a hood, a cap, a cap, a hood, a helmet - the main thing is that it protects the entire head ... And the term also has a figurative meaning: “to hide”. Hence the expression "hoodlum" - "thug", "hooligan" (after all, honest people do not need to cover their faces and heads if they are not warriors). Thus, Robin Hood was understood as a secretive person with hooligan manners...
So, most likely, the image of Robin Hood is collective. Oppressed by the authorities and the rich, the poor dreamed of folk hero who would fight for justice, defending 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.
According to legend, the sick Robin Hood came to the abbess of the monastery, having heard that she was very knowledgeable in the medical craft. But she turned out to be loyal to the authorities persecuting the robber and decided, on the contrary, to hasten his death. The woman went to the trick: she made Robin lose too much blood, and so that the patient did not notice this, she passed the blood through a jug with a hole.
Realizing that the end was near, Robin Hood bequeathed to bury himself where the arrow he fired would fall. The arrow fell about 650 meters from the monastery gatehouse, where, according to legend, the robber was overtaken by death. There they set up a memorial.
Meanwhile, researcher Richard Rutherford-Moore doubts that Robin Hood could be buried in this place. After experimenting with a bow and arrows of a medieval type, he concluded that an arrow fired from the window of the gatehouse could fly off from him at most 5 meters. And the archives testify that in the 18th century, in the process of laying pipes next to the notorious gatehouse, the remains of an unknown man were discovered. Maybe these were the bones of Robin Hood? But where they are now - no one knows.

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 old chronicles.)

This is what is said about his death. One day, a glorious archer felt: there was not enough strength in his hands to pull the bowstring, and it was difficult for his legs to follow the usual forest path. And then he realized: old age approached ...
He went to the monastery, the abbess of which was known as a skilled healer, and asked to be treated. The nun pretended to be delighted with his arrival, affably escorted the stranger to a distant cell, carefully laid him on the bed, and with a sharp knife opened a vein on a powerful arm (bloodletting was then considered a good remedy for many ailments). And, saying that she would return immediately, she left.
Time passed slowly. The blood flowed faster. But the nun did not return. Night has come. Dawn followed 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 already lacked the strength to reach the window. There was barely enough breath in my chest to last time blow a curved hunting horn. Weak, trembling sound, horns sounded over the forest. A faithful friend heard the call signal. Anxious, he rushed to help.
Late! No one could have saved the shooter. So the enemies that long years they did not know how to defeat Robin Gul either in a hot battle or in a stubborn duel, they exhausted him with black betrayal.
An ancient historian names the year and day when this happened: November 18, 1247.
Several centuries have passed. Wars have begun and ended. The shortest lasted a few days, the longest - a hundred years. Devastating epidemics swept through the cities and villages of England. Revolts broke out. Kings changed on the throne. People were born and died, generations succeeded generations.
However, a turbulent series of events, as they liked to say in old books, could not erase the name of Robin Hood from the memory of the British.
One day, it was about two hundred and fifty years ago, a heavy carriage drove slowly into a small town near London. The carriage was elegant, magnificent: only the most important people kingdoms traveled in such. 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 driving 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 climb the steps of the temple through the respectfully parting crowd... But the church square was empty. There was a heavy padlock on the church doors.
For a long time the bishop stood in the empty square, turning purple with anger and trying to maintain a dignified appearance befitting his rank and solemn robes, which was not at all easy before the locked door.
Finally, a passer-by, hurrying by no means to the church, threw out to the bishop on the way:
- Sir, you are waiting in vain, we are celebrating Robin Hood today, the whole city is in the forest, and there will be no one in the church.
What happens next is told in different ways. Some say that the bishop got into the carriage and returned to London, uttering in his mind such words as bishops usually do not utter. Others claim that he went to the city meadow, where the townspeople, dressed up in green caftans, depicted scenes from the life of Robin Hood, and joined the audience.
What was this life? Why is her memory preserved for centuries? Why whole city could remember Robin Hood for many hours in a row and think only about him?
What do you know about Robin Hood, except for those pages of Walter Scott's novel "Ivanhoe", where he is bred under the name of the brave yeoman, the 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, we can learn that Robin Hood was ruined by wealthy enemies and fled from them into Sherwood Forest, a deaf and thick bowl that stretched for many tens of miles. He was joined by fugitives like 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 shooters, more than a hundred in number, hunted forbidden royal game, feuded with rich monasteries, robbed passing Norman knights, and helped the persecuted and the poor.
For the capture of Robin Hood, the authorities announced a reward many times. But not a single peasant, whose hut he entered, not a single one of the "forest brothers" was tempted by these promises.
Here is everything or almost everything that is known to historians about Robin Hood.
The second biography of Robin Hood is much more detailed. From it you can find out how he first encountered the royal foresters and how this meeting ended; how he met a fugitive monk - Brother Took - 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 much more about Robin Hood recorded? Not in historical writings, but in folk songs- ballads, as literary historians call them.
They were composed throughout England for many centuries. The author of these songs was the people, and the performers were wandering singers. Robin Hood songs overgrown different details, several small songs merged into one or one big 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 gave them to those who wished to write them off for a fee. 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 once a year, in the summer, celebrated Robin Hood Day.
It was in these songs that the second biography of Robin Hood gradually developed. In him, he is what the people imagined him to be. If the old Latin chronicle claims that Robin Hood was a nobleman, then the folk song decisively calls him the son of a peasant. Simple people England legendary biography Robin Hood began to be considered his 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 indisputable historical fact.
There is interesting evidence for this. One of the oldest ballads tells how Robin Hood, at the age of fifteen, went to the city of Nottingham to compete in archery. Halfway through, he was stopped by the royal foresters and began to mock him. "Does this boy, who can barely bend his own bow, dare to appear before the king in a contest!" they exclaimed. Robin Hood made a bet with them that he would hit the target a hundred feet, and he won the bet. But the royal foresters not only did not pay him the winnings, but threatened that they would beat him if he dared to appear at the competitions.
Then Robin Hood, as the ballad reports with delight, shot all the scoffers with his bow. The people did not like the royal foresters, who did not allow the poor to either collect brushwood in the forest, let alone hunt forest game or fish in forest streams and rivers. Not loving the royal foresters, folk singers sang this ballad with delight.
And in April 1796, that is, five centuries after Robin Hood lived, a message appeared in one of the English magazines. Here it is: "While a few days ago, workers were digging the ground in a garden in the town of Coxlein near Nottingham, they came across six human skeletons that lay close to each other, neatly side by side. It is believed that this is part of the fifteen foresters whom he killed in his time for Robin Hood.
One can imagine how the publisher of the magazine asked the author of the note: "Are you sure that these are the same skeletons?". And the author replied, as journalists of all times answer: "Well, let's put in for caution the word" suggest ". But it never occurred to either the author or the publisher to doubt that Robin Hood really fought with the royal foresters on the way to the glorious city of Nottingham : after all, this is sung in ballads!
Why Robin Hood is my favorite character folk songs? To answer this question, you will probably have to remind you of what you learned in history lessons: in 1066, England was captured by the Normans, led by William the Conqueror. From the indigenous population of England - the Saxons - they took away land, houses and property, imposed their laws on them with fire and sword. An ancient historian calls Robin Hood one of those who were deprived of the land.
The enmity between the old and new rulers persisted two centuries later. Do you remember what place the feud between the Saxon and Norman nobles occupies in Walter Scott's book "Ivanhoe"? However, the Saxon nobles soon reconciled with the conquerors. But the songs about Robin Hood were not forgotten. They were sung in 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 leaf through an old book that contains one after the other ballads about Robin Hood. Here is a ballad about how Robin Hood fought with another of his worst enemy— by the knight Guy Guysbourne, and how, by defeating him and disguising himself in his attire — and you should know that Guy Guysbourne always wore dressed horseskin over his armor — he again outwitted the 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, loyal in friendship, a joker, a merry fellow, a mocker, a folk hero who does not grow old.
I told you about Robin Hood as he was portrayed folk ballads, and now you yourself will be able to notice how Walter Scott changed this image when he brought it to Ivanhoe.
Walter Scott's yeoman Loxley, the name under which he is bred in the novel Robin God, becomes faithful assistant Richard. Robin Hood, as his people sang, refused to serve King Richard the Lionheart.
The people remember Robin Hood exactly as he is sung in old folk songs. And this is the immortality of Robin Hood.

Drawings by P. Bunin.

Everyone knows the stories about Robin Hood. For some, this is a beautiful legend, for others - a real-life character. Stories about Robin Hood are covered with a touch of romance and legend.

However, it is safe to say that Robin Hood actually existed. He was first remembered in 1377 in a ballad about a forest robber - an enemy of the rich and a defender of the oppressed. Around 1510, a pamphlet was published that told the story, and according to it, Robin Hood met the king. He pretended not to recognize his sovereign, and he invited the daredevil to serve the crown. Since then, more and more versions about the exploits of the public defender began to appear, and each of the authors put more and more data into their stories, not always taking into account the facts.

And Robin Hood in every new version raises his status in society - from a small-land peasant to the Earl of Huntington. However, all the legends agree on one thing - the noble robber launched an active activity when the central government fought for authority with the local one.

The name of the person who became the prototype for folk legends Robert Hood. He was a native of Wakefield, Yorkshire, and was born around 1280. He had a wife Matilda, served in the royal army during the battles with the Scots and supported the Duke of Lancaster in his war with King Edward II.

After the general battle lost by his patron around 1322 future hero legends went underground. He created his own partisan detachment and continued the war with royalty. And, of course, he fought with the Nottingham sheriff, while not sparing the clergy.

Both the sheriff and his sworn enemy were constantly captured by each other, but, oddly enough, they dispersed peacefully. It seems that both opponents agreed among themselves on the division of powers between the center and local authorities. Soon the king himself arrived at the head of Sherwood Forest for negotiations. And only after that, Robert Hood agreed to disband his troops, accepting the post of bed-keeper offered by his sovereign. This was a fairly high position, giving access directly to the king.

However, Goode soon left London and returned to his native forests. Punitive expeditions were constantly sent against him. He managed to defeat several detachments. One of these detachments was led by the Norman knight Sir Guy of Gisborne. After the victory, Robert Hood cut off this knight's head and impaled it on a stake. The same fate befell the Nottingham sheriff.

After that, it was no longer possible to stay in England, and the forest robber tried to swim away. But he was not lucky - the storm brought him back to the shore. After that, Robin Hood sheltered in his castle alone and barons hostile to the king. However, he could not fight the state. After several defeats from government troops, the legendary partisan became seriously ill and went for treatment to convent in Kirkles. The local abbess sheltered the fugitive and undertook to treat him. V medicinal purposes she let her patient bleed, but forgot to stop it.

After that, the deceased robber was buried near the abbey. Rumor has it that in the nineteenth century, the tombstone from Good's grave was turned into rubble for the local railway.

Many researchers do not understand why Robin Hood is so popular. For example, the abuse of the Sheriff and Sir Gisborne does not look very attractive. In addition, his constant conflicts with the king look illogical, when Robin himself could become part of the government. There are even versions that he had an unconventional sexual orientation, which caused conflicts with the church.

It is quite possible that such a tough position of Robin Hood is connected with the increased royal power. On the ground, this very power was represented by sheriffs. They headed county councils, disposed of royal property, collected taxes and led armies on campaigns. Of course, the sheriffs had conflicts with local lords and yeomen.

At the beginning of the thirteenth century, under pressure from the barons, one of the most unfortunate kings, John Landless, was forced to sign the Magna Carta. And she was called Great not only because of her historical significance, but also because of the scope of rights and freedoms granted to subjects. According to one of the points, if the king violated the charter, the barons had the right to revolt, which should not have ended in the death of the king or members of his family.

However, almost immediately, John Landless began to break these promises, which led to a new uprising. Under Edward the First, amendments were made to the Magna Carta, which prohibited the central government from collecting taxes without the consent of the entire English community. Nevertheless, Edward II strengthened his power, limiting all the liberties of citizens. This led to unrest and forced Robert Hood to go into the forests.

Robin Hood was not the only one who demanded that the authorities fulfill these promises, but it was he who was remembered as the people's defender.

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