Robin Hood's city. The Dark Side of Robin Hood

As they said 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 being caught, committed feats of arms against the state under the guise of someone else, invented to divert 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 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 comments and notes in various scriptures. 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 Gude 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 about the character of Robin Hood have appeared, 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? A combination of various traditions, historical characters and romantic ideals, they came together in 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."

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. Nevertheless, we will present a brief summary.

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 a 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 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.

Historical prototype of Robin Hood

For 600 years now, scientists have been puzzling over where the world-famous ballad hero, leader of the forest robbers Robin Hood, came from, or rather, who he was based on, and whether he really existed. At least the four most common versions equally prove the existence of Robin, but they only argue about the prototypes. For example, Robert Goad (aka Good or Hod), born in 1290, lived during the reign of the English king Edward II. In 1322 Robert became a servant of the Earl of Lancaster. The count rebelled against the king and was executed, his possessions were transferred to the state treasury, and the participants in the uprising were declared outlaws. And then Robert disappeared into Sherwood Forest, organizing criminal group with the mission of extracting money from the rich - nobles and royal servants. Also, one historical document says that this same Robert worked as a porter at the court of Edward II from March 24 to November 22, 1324 - so he had a chance to repent, receive forgiveness and enter the royal service. But by the time this could be done, Robert Goad was already seriously ill, and in 1346 he died in the Kirkley monastery from blood loss.

Another legend, somewhat similar in the chronology of events, states that Robert Goad lived in Witherby and escaped from the king's justice - this fact is stated in a court document from 1226 found in the London Public Record Office. The document also states that the sheriff of York took possession of the property of the escaped “Robin Hood”, but did not transfer the money to the treasury, and a year later put him on the wanted list, calling him “a criminal and villain of our land.” A little later, the robber was found and executed.

Another common version about the mysterious Robin Hood emphasizes that he was from the yeoman class (free artisan) from the village of Loxley, obsessed with a thirst for justice and prone to various extraordinary games. Many alternative versions, which says that Robin was allegedly the eldest son of the Earl of Huntington, refutes the fact that bards would rather write ballads and sing songs not of the count’s son, but of a peasant socially close to them, helping the poor.

And finally, according to the fourth modern version, it is believed that Robin Hood lived during the times of Richard I, John I and Henry III, i.e. at the end of the XII - mid-XIII centuries. Since the hero was outlawed for a long time and became very famous for his exploits, soon every fifth robber began to be called “Robin Hood.” The deeds of all the Robin Hoods were summed up, from which ballads and legends were formed.

Majority historical sources are divided into two directions, along which it is possible to establish, at least, the era of Robin Hood. Some believe that Robin appeared under King Edward II or Edward III (1307-1377), others are inclined to believe that he was a contemporary of Richard Lionheart(1189-1199). One thing remains clear: Robin Hood is a collective image, tailored from ballads and legends of different times and different generations.

Hero medieval England

Not far from the city of Nottingham lay Sherwood Forest. The Great Northern Road, laid by the Romans, passed through it - one of the main roads in Northern England. In the 11th century, after the conquest of England by the Normans, the new rulers harshly oppressed the Anglo-Saxons and treated them with undisguised contempt. Suffice it to say that the kings of the Norman and Angevin dynasties who ruled the country did not know a word of the language of the indigenous inhabitants of England.

The Anglo-Saxons, of course, rebelled - many of them went into the forests, creating gangs there for self-defense. Robin Hood became the leader of one of these gangs. His gang consisted of hundreds of valiant free shooters - fighters for the idea. Some became as immortal figures in folklore as Robin Hood himself. For example, the deputy chieftain, a healthy thug nicknamed Little John, whom Robin defeated in famous battle on sticks at a river ford. And also the corpulent monk Tuk - a big fan of drinking, snacking and fighting. And other very colorful characters - such as Will Stutley-Scarlett, the minstrel Alan-o-Dale, Robin Hood's beloved Marion. They all wore green cloaks and were excellent archers, “good guys” who fought for economic justice by taking money from monks and landowners and giving it to the needy.

To live in the forest, you need to eat something, and that means hunt. In medieval England, such activity was considered criminal on a par with robbery, to the point that a poacher who shot a deer doomed himself to public hanging. Smaller game was punished in proportion to its size - for example, a rabbit could simply have its hand cut off. All the game that lived in the forest belonged only to the king; no one had the right to hunt there without permission. The king’s lands were guarded by specially appointed foresters, calling the robbers “arrogant rabble,” and they tried to catch poachers at every opportunity.

One day, the Bishop decided to take a walk through Sherwood and came across Robin's gang in the forest, where they were carefreely roasting venison. The bishop did not immediately realize that in front of him were the famous robbers whom the sheriff had been looking for for so long, and ordered his guards to seize the poachers. Those who loved to have fun from the heart, Robin and his friends, began to pretend to be simple serfs, begging for mercy. When Robin got tired of the fun, he gave a sign, and the rest of the gang rushed to their aid. The bishop was taken hostage and forced to dance a jig around a large oak tree. Since then, this oak has been called “Bishop’s”, and many ballads talk about the royal foresters as the eternal enemies of Robin Hood.

However, the foresters did not have the same power as the Sheriff of Nottingham, because in medieval England, the sheriff was a very significant figure, akin to the governor. Appointed personally by the king, the sheriff exercised all military, police, administrative and judicial powers in the county. He also collected taxes, some of which he took for himself without permission. The king, of course, did not know about this, but the peasants and aristocracy perceived him as their natural enemy. Not to mention the criminals from Robin Hood's squad, who mocked the official as best they could.

One day, the sheriff ordered the three sons of an old widow to be hanged because they shot a deer in the royal forest. This incident gave Robin another reason to have fun. Dressed in the clothes of a simple artisan, he hurried to Nottingham - to the square where the poachers were to be executed. Literally a second before the execution, Robin blew his horn, to the call of which all his friends immediately jumped up, beating off the prisoners.

The sheriff could not do anything about the “damned robber.” Once he even complained to the king, blaming his impotence. The king gave him wise advice - to resort to cunning, for which the sheriff came up with an “insidious” measure. He announced an archery competition in which the winner receives an arrow made of pure gold. Oddly enough, Robin fell for the simple trick and was about to set off for Nottingham when Little John advised him to change his green cloak to a multi-colored one. The sheriff did not recognize Robin, who arrived in such an outfit, allowing the robber to safely win the competition and hide in the forest along with the golden bow.

Very often the ballads talk about how Robin and the gang shook out the purses of fat abbots and monks. This was not done without reason, because the church was then the largest landowner and took three skins from the peasants.

And yet, why do they say that Robin was a nice guy? He didn't feed fierce hatred to the nobles and helped even them if they were in trouble. For example, one knight had to mortgage his estate to the local abbot, and when the time came to pay the debt, he went to the abbey to ask for a deferment. Having met Robin on the road through Sherwood, who was about to rob him, the knight told sad story about your situation. Robin Hood, mistaking him for noble man, gave him money to pay off his debt, and the rest of the gang showered him with gifts.

Even in ballads there was the concept of a boomerang - good from fate for doing good to someone. Once on a forest road, Robin Hood met a king who, according to legend, “was returning incognito from Crusade" Either in a fight with the king, or in a conversation with him, Robin managed to charm the monarch so much that he, having had enough of the gang, forgave them all their sins and accepted them into his service.

The Love and Death of Robin Hood

There should be a place for love in every story, even if it is a legend about a robber and a scoundrel. Initially, the slogan of Robin Hood and his associates was not “to rob and kill everyone,” but only evil and wealthy citizens who made capital through theft. This did not apply to women - they were in no way subjected to abuse or humiliation by the gang. One day, during the next “raid,” Robin met Marion, a noble and immaculate girl, and immediately fell in love with her. For a long time posing as a count, Robin Hood sought her favor. Their feelings turned out to be mutual, but soon the hero had to return to Sherwood to his friends. Saddened by the separation, Marion changed into a man's dress and went to look for her lover. By chance, the couple met on a forest road, where Robin, in the dark, mistook her for a rich traveler and decided to rob her. Marion also did not recognize her betrothed in the robber and began to bravely defend herself. Robin Hood was pleasantly surprised by such an active attack and proposed to make peace. Soon the misunderstanding was cleared up, and they lived happily in the forest.

The exploits of Robin Hood and his robbers continued to shock the kingdom for some time, but after a few years, as the ballads say, the energetic and cheerful hero felt unwell. He was no longer able to fight; his arms were weak. Since there was no medicine at that time, he decided to seek help from the Kirkley monastery, whose inhabitants were famous for the art of “opening blood.” In the Middle Ages this was considered almost the only the best remedy from any serious illness.

The nuns, either out of malice and conspiracy, or out of ordinary imprudence, drained so much blood from Robin's veins that he barely remained alive. Finally realizing that the end had come for him, Robin blew his horn, and Little John rushed after him. With the help of a faithful friend, the heroes return to the forest, Robin Hood in last time pulls the bowstring and shoots a golden arrow, bequeathing to bury himself where it falls. So, according to legend, Robin passed away with dignity and humility.

After the end of the story of Robin Hood, a May holiday in his honor existed in England for a long time, when peasants went into the forest to collect fresh green branches. This custom indicates that in the popular consciousness Robin Hood was united with the pagan forest deity.

Most of us know the legend about noble robber Robin Hood. He stole from the rich and gave to the poor, whom the rich robbed. In any legend there is some truth and a lot of fiction. The legend of Robin Hood is no different in this sense. Scientists have long been trying to understand who was the prototype of this folk hero. During the entire study this issue There are several common versions. Let's figure it out.

Robin Dobry Maly

Let's start a little unconventionally and from afar, namely with the folklore of the Saxons and Scandinavians - more precisely, with the forest spirit Puck, or Peck, or Pook ( English Puck), who in England itself is called Hob ( English Hob). Saxon folklore is important here because part of it 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 thickets. 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 Fairy Tales old England" described him as an elf, dressed all in green. In addition to the colors of clothing (Robin Hood wore a green cloak/cape with a pointed hood) and dual behavior (a robber, but a good robber), there is also a similarity in the name, since the English call Puck, or Hob, also by the name Robin Goodfellow - Robin the Good Fellow . One might assume that at some stage Hob “incarnated” himself into the character of the Robin Hood legend, but this is not entirely true.

Historical prototypes

The most common version of Robin Hood is the one in which the robber is a contemporary of King Richard I the Lionheart (second half of the 12th century). This is reported in a chronicle of the 16th century. But there is a nuance here - the famous episode from the legend of Robin Hood, which describes his participation in archery competitions. The fact is that such competitions began to be held in England no earlier than the 13th century. However, nothing prevented this story from becoming a legend right away.

Other information relating to 1261 tells us about a certain robber Robin, who ruled the forests of England at that time. There is also evidence according to which Robert Goad (Hood or Hod) was born in 1290, lived in the era of Edward II, at the age of 32 he found himself in the service of the Earl of Lancaster, who was defeated during the uprising he raised against the king, and his servants were declared outlawed. 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 Took, a drinker, a merry fellow and an unsurpassed stick fight fighter, either entirely fictional character, or its prototype was real priest one local church, who in reality created his own band of robbers and lived in XIV-XV centuries. Faithful friend Robin Hood's Little John, whose grave was opened in 1784, was indeed a very tall. 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 real prototype, which formed the basis of the legend about the noble robber Robin Hood and his gang, still existed. But people in those harsh times wanted a “ray of light” so much that it collective image turned out to be completely unrecognizable...

Many poems, stories and ballads have been written about the noble robber Robin Hood. But was he there? 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 " Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer mentions “the 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, in official archives No mention of Robert Fitzut was found. Robin Hood, but skeptics point out that modern records do not mention a rebellious nobleman named Robin Fitzoot.

Who was Robin Hood's king?

Apart from problems related to the timing of the Robin Hood stories, different sources tell us about different kings. The first historian, Walter Bower, confidently placed Robin Hood in the 1265 rebellion against King Henry III, which was led by his Simon de Montfort, the king's son-in-law. After his defeat during the Battle of Evesham, most of the rebels remained in the army and led a life similar to that described in the ballads of Robin Hood. “At that time,” wrote Walter Bower, “the famous robber Robin Hood appeared among those who were disinherited and exiled for participating in the uprising. These people glorified their exploits in romances, performances and passages.” The main snag in Bower's reasoning is the presence of the bow, which is so often found in the ballads of Robin Hood. It had not yet been invented at the time of Simon de Montfort's rebellion.
A document dating from 1322 tells of the Robin Hood Stone in Yorkshire. It is assumed that ballads - not people - were already well known by this time. Those who would place the real Robin Hood in this time period suggest that Robin Hood, the owner of Wakefield who took part in the Earl of Lancaster's rebellion, was the prototype of the rebellious hero. The following year, they point out, King Edward II visited Nottingham and hired a certain Robin Hood as his court valet. His salary was paid for the next 12 months or until he was dismissed “as he could no longer work.” This evidence is beautifully presented in the third story of Robin Hood's Small Gesture.
The mention of King Edward II places the highwayman hero in the first quarter of the 14th century. But according to other versions, Robin Hood appears as a supporter of King Richard the Lionheart, who ruled in last decade 12th century, and the enemy of Richard's brother and his successor John the Landless - so he was named for the territories lost in France.

Fictional stories.

What is most obvious about Robin Hood is the development of his legend. In the early ballads there is no mention of Marian, the hero's beloved girl. It first appears at the end of the 15th century, when folk songs and dances became popular during the May holidays. Huge baby John is with Robin Hood at the very beginning, but Father Tuck appears in the last ballad when he drenches Robin in 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 took part in the uprising of the Earl of Lancaster in 1322. This version is confirmed by documentary information that in 1323 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 traditional element clothes of all medieval robbers. By the way, this word could mean several headdresses at once: hood, cap, bashlyk, hood, helmet - the main thing is that it protects the entire head... And the term also has 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.