William of Cassingham: the Commoner Who Saved England
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- Опубликовано: 6 июн 2024
- Is the English hero William of Cassingham the real Robin Hood?
In the reign of King John, one man stood alone against the tyranny of an unwanted king. Fleeing the authorities for the protection of the deep woods, he raised a band of bowman and launched cunning ambushes on the corrupt knights and lords who travelled through the trees.
Does this sound like the Robin Hood legend to you?
In fact, this is the story of William of Cassingham, a man known as Willikin of the Weald. A forgotten English hero and a man often named as the historical Robin Hood.
But is this true?
Find out all about William’s life and his heroic exploits in the war against Prince Louis and his army of French knights and rebel English barons and discover for yourself if it's anything like the legend of Robin Hood.
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I love the French, by the way. I was just getting into character.
Watch the 1216 Invasion of England video here ➜ ruclips.net/video/pst1mLsMZlQ/видео.html
What other videos on medieval history would you like to see?
You could carry on talking about different events that take place in your books such as the Hundred Years’ War, Third crusade etc. There aren’t any RUclips channels with any good videos on The Hundred Years’ War tbh.
Yeah I certainly will do that. I need to do Richard the Lionheart and the third crusade. The Mongols etc. And definitely the Hundred Years War. Is there really a lack of videos about it? That surprises me. We will have to rectify that then for sure, thanks.
@@DanDavisHistory I’ve found a few videos covering specific battles but nothing about the personalities involved.
@@EnglishShieldwall I love a gap in the market.
Was weighing up whether to make a Gilles de Rais video. It's interesting but also it's so horrific I don't wanna go there again.
@@DanDavisHistory I don’t know much about the gruesome details of his life but it would be interesting to find out.
"The Cunning Headed Gent who's run amuck in Kent, King Louis best stay close to Mayfair, Ah-hoo William of Cassingham."
Great reference to Zevon!
@@davidsmith385 thank you, I did stretch it a bit cause Cassingham has one more syllable than London
Ah, the longbow, defeater of huge, technically advanced armies. The Toyota pick-up of it's day.
I’d argue there’s a good deal more romance associated with the longbow; it makes me think of Agincourt and Crecy and that story about ghostly English bowmen standing alongside soldiers in the trenches in France during the ‘14/18 war.
Toyota pick-up, on the other hand? I got nothin’.
More like IED of its day. Toyota pickup technicals have never been good against technologically advanced armies, against undeveloped armies with poor mobility they are amazing though
Did you know there was a Toyota war in Chad between Chad and Libya.
Chad like a true Chad defeated Libya using Toyota pick ups.
Ultimate Gigachad
@@ishtarg8 We got actual skeletons of English Bowmen from time of Henry the Eight thanks to ship sink with most onboard into muck that prevented much decomposition. They actualy were using 160 to 185 pound pull bows something in last few centuries had not been belived as that is an insanely hard draw. But turns out actual accounts were true they did not even draw those bows. They had modified their bodies massively with truelly huge left arms compared to the right and the bones much bigger than rest of body they must have not seamed human somewhat. And they "bent the bow: meaning held the string against their chest and used their huge left arm to push the bow away from them bending the bow to get it ready to fire. In effect using a lot of arm strength to use the bow instead of back strength.
So effective these bowmen they striped England of the wood to make the bows so all ships in order to dock in England had to pay with some bow wood and that ment that wood alse striped from man parts of Europe.
It was stated to make a English Bow man you had to start with the Grandfather and this probably right and they held a very privlaged special status while remaining commoners.
These were not the irregular weapon these were conventional war artilery weapons in effect and had great influance in many battles.
But this story well before the peak development of the English Bow men.
No,the AR-15 of its day...
I love how you breathe life into history instead of just treating it like a dry checklist of facts and events.
This was very interesting! I agree, Cassingham was a hero on his own merits. I saw a documentary that claimed that Robin Hood really came from Yorkshire and could have been two or three men fused into the legend.
Hearing you talk about William Marshall's biographer made me think of an interview, middle ages style, of this writer tracking down people to ask them their words on the matter, having to go to great lengths to track them down... it's an interesting picture you painted in my head, thank you very much!
It would make for a good premise to a story all on its own 👍
My goodness, you're right, that would make for a great story.
Sort of a detective story. It could work but it would have to be in the right hands: It takes a really good author (or a really good scriptwriter and director) to make literary sleuthing interesting to the reading or viewing audience.
@@DanDavisHistory Considered a book on William Marshal?
I've started telling this story to my young cousins, nephews, and nieces. Thank you for adding this new campfire story to our family.
You'd think this guy would be much better known. This is just the kind of story the English love, and just the way they like to imagine themselves, or it was until recent times.
A joke, right?
@@mangot589 a joke in what way?
@@mangot589 it doesn't appear to be a joke, no. Why?
Terrible to see what England's become
@@Stephen-uz8dm Then become something better, if you are, like me, an Englishman, don't wait for someone else to do it, that is the moral of this story.
Funny thing is that the Weald is pretty much still as you described it being...
Just with more ale houses, and better roads to work as a highway man on!
Yeah it's lovely isn't it.
@@DanDavisHistory it's what I love about being a Hastonian, Mate!
To my east is Romney (beyond which lays The North Downs), to my west is the Pevensey marshes (beyond which is The South Downs) and to the north lays the High Weald ...
unchanged since medieval times, just beckoning me to don my hiking boots and explore the lands!
Yeah I have family in a village near Sevenoaks, I always loved it around there.
@Hoa Tattis Romney Marsh lamb's good, but so is Pevensey Marsh lamb on the other side of Hastings!
And then there's great beef to the north of me, especially the Old Sussex breed!
@@DanDavisHistory It's lovely country to live in, and fantastic to ramble through!
The story about robin attending a bow contest in disguise is likely of Indo European origin. I did a blog on it
Fascinating! I googled it if anyone would like to read it: survivethejive.blogspot.com/2018/03/indo-european-archery-contest-myth.html
Of course - Odysseus is also in disguise in an archery contest, I never made that link.
I'm actually reading the Robert Fagles translation to one of my daughters right now, it's amazingly readable.
This is an eye opener video for the reason that it gives an authentic account of a little known figure in England's history, a real hero for the English and wonderfully researched and narrated text. Hoping to see more of such informative historical videos. Thanks.
Wow! I've never even heard of him until now! So glad I stumbled upon it, and your channel. I don't see why a bard wouldn't pull stories from history to weave into their characters, modern storytellers do the same. I'm not much of a vampire fan, but I appreciate that your writing draws upon historical fact and figures. Thanks for this! You got a sub up.
Wonderful, I'm glad you found us too. I hope you enjoy the other videos on the channel. Cheers.
@@DanDavisHistory I always thougth that 'Robin of Hood' was the Earl of Huntington.
I never heard of this guy, thank you so much for sharing this. What strikes me most about his story is that, unlike so many other historical and/or mythical figures of the British Isles (King Arthur, Hereward the Wake, Robin Hood, William Wallace), William Cassingham seems to have actually gotten to live to an old age in peace.
Like theirs, h is story is one of decisive and necessary violence, born out of desperation - but it doesn't have the tragic ending you'd expect.
That’s probably why we’ve never heard of him. All else being the same, the fallen hero who died in the name of duty, love or whatever else he was fighting for, people tend to immortalise that. Makes for great stories. Though this too is one worthy of respect, and remembrance.
Brilliant. As a “Kentish Man” this is new to me. Now I have a new Hero, in history and in historical video publishing.
Amazing story I never heard before, this is why I love your channel
Thank you, it is an amazing story. Because it so nearly might never have happened; there was no good reason for it to happen but it did.
A story worth telling for sure. Thank you
Wow how come when history was taught properly in school we never heard of William of Cassingham? That was fascinating Thanku for this fantastic bit of history. I knew about the brilliant William the Marshal and could name all the kings of England + queens and kids when I was reading all the novels of Jean Plaidy I’m 64 now so I’m not so cluey but am still very interested in the history of England, Scotland and Wales. Thanks again. .Tina from Australia 🇦🇺🏴🇬🇧🏴
Thank you.
I really appreciate how skillfully you tell historic events to be both as accurate as you can and also totally absorbing, fascinating, and enjoyable. Your videos are truly addictive! This one reminds me of "The Yeomen of England", a song from a 1902 light opera, "Merrie England" by Basil Hood and Edward German, because, like William of Cassingham, the song is really great, yet for some uncertain reason is little known, and they both should be much better known!
This is my favorite history channel.
Your good sense for Story and Narrative serve historical figures in a more entertaining way than any stodgy biography could.
Since discovering your RUclips channel, sir, I like many others I've seen in the comments find myself relentlessly binging your content. Your storytelling abilities are uncanny and I salute your endeavors to educate those that seek it or happen upon your work due to the Algorithm. You have a supporter in purchasing of your literature and on Patreon. I had to stop midway through my binge to relay this because your in-the-mind of this historical figure, William, evoked in me a need to follow him in defense of the homeland. Great Men theory bedamned, moments like these you described the human male warrior element to a T. Thank you, Storyteller.
Thank you very much, I appreciate it enormously.
This is the first video I've watched of yours, loved it- thank you!
Fantastic! I was hoping it would be shown to new people too, thanks for watching.
Thank you for your documentary, it is enlightening, inspiring and entertaining at the same time, excellent quality.
Thank you. I love the Basque and the Pyrenees.
I've been a fan of yours for quite some time. I own many of your books. However, only in this narration have I heard your unapologetic admiration of a historical character, as is evident in this video.
You really --- REALLY --- like William. 👍 And, I couldn't agree more.
Thanks, Dan!
Great video, man. Best production yet. Amazing quality now. Truly superb.
Thanks Bro! That's very kind of you. I'm just off to watch your new video now.
How did I discover this channel just today…?! I’m a huge Robin Hood fan and love any interpretation of the guy himself. Thank you so much for doing this video!
Heroes like Wyatt Earp or Robin Hood all come from highwaymen.
Cowardly city folk authorized the most feared highwaymen to 'regulate' highwaymen.
Now highwaymen are part of everyday life (authority that charges you to drive on your trails)
But Wyatt Earp isn't a fictional character
Also you're missing figures like kett and others who led peasants revolts. I don't think they were highwaymen and elements of their legends merge with the Robin Hood stories, I think. Kett was historical and hid not just in a forest but inside a dead tree, just like the legend of Robin hoods tree in Sherwood forest that still stands, I think.
It's always the merchants, they did the same with Cromwell. Great work Dan, I really enjoy these.
Glad you like them, thanks.
And we know who the merchants were (and are). They have financed kings on both sides and their ensuing wars upon each other for millennia. The city-state of London is still under their control to this day.
@@maeveofthelongbows9552 ok based
Terrific story and terrific video! Thanks!
Very well put together, thankya
Thank you.
Excellent video, many thanks!
Awesome Brother! Thank You Kindly
What an enjoyable video! Thank you.
Thank you for your work!
I'm 54 year old American and I've never heard of him before. Sounds like this man was one of England's greatest heroes. Why isn't he more famous?
bellend
because it is a fiction . the guy is a fiction writer not a historian. richard was king at the time not john although richard spent very little time in england. the villain of the piece whas the sheriff of nottingham who lived i n prince johns castle in Nottingham. it was robin of loxley who was the hood, the one robbing the sheriff and fighting his men.
Dude you’re the idiot here, Richard was dead by now and his brother John succeeded him until he died in 1216. Which was the same year as the French invasion by Prince Louis like it was said in the video.
Check your own facts before insulting people who actually did research.
Loved this. He should have his own holiday. He's certainly a hero who saved his country.
Thank you for sharing the research ☝️☝️☝️
Great work! Thanks!
Glad you liked it!
Great video as allways. Interesting subject paired very good with wonderful visuals.
Thank you! 🙏
Hell yeah! You are my new favorite human.Thanks again for making the content I've been looking for.
Awesome, thanks Kevin, that's great to hear.
Nice bit of history thank you
Thanks for this. I had never heard of him. I had heard of the Weald but wasn't sure where it was so that was interesting. Also thanks for including images of Robin of Sherwood, my favourite version of the Robin Hood legend. 😁
love your videos cant wait for more!
Thank you very much.
This was great, thanks.
Brilliant. I loved your telling. Thank you.
Cheers Ian.
Fantastic Chris! (Once again)
The older I get, the more I realise just how inaccurate historical accounts are. So much so that all historical details are 100% unreliable, even when written records are found. There are millions of inaccurate historical records that are within living memory let alone from hundreds of years ago. Accounts differ because of perspectives, 2nd, 3rd, 4th hand information, political beliefs, social and economic experience, status, agendas, fear etc etc etc. Also If medieval England was as brutal as we think, then writing the truth would have been a death sentence, much like the truth today can get you arrested. Even an event from just 12 months ago will be written by dozens of people who all account those events differently. History is completely unreliable.
Yes, history is unreliable and easily rewritten if wanted. I am currently writing about 118 French and Vietnamese saints. Many were insurrectionists. Their punishment for breaking the law was written up as persecution by the church. As a consequence of the rewriting, the Vietnam War was 'justified'. And eventually the Vatican declared them saints!! Yes, history is completely unreliable.
Great Video!... will def start your books
Thanks for watching. I hope you like the stories.
Love these mini Docs!!!
Love your vids and I have your books in my queue!
Another good one, mate. 👊🏻 Never heard of this bloke before.
Brilliant! Glad to bring him to your attention. Thanks for watching.
great video thank you DanDavisHistory and William of Cassingham is a hero in his own right
I really enjoyed this!
Very good documentary. I enjoy it very much.
Good shit. I'll be checking out your novel thanks to your wonderful historical documentary. Keep up the good work, mate.
Thank you. I hope you enjoy the stories.
I loved the history of this time period as well as the area you describe. I learned something new! I have 2 favorite authors now. One being yourself and the other Dan Jones. I love both history and fantasy. Thank you for making these entertaining videos. I plan to read all your books!
Thanks mate! I hope you enjoy the stories. Cheers.
thanks very much. very informative!
Wow. Cool story and person. This is why I love history so much. Get to hear about awesome events and people like this. BTW, your up another sub.
Brilliant!. Thank you ❤️
Amazed I've never heard of him. Thanks for this video.
very nice work Dan and I am preparing something similar, but with Czech history. English history is quite interesting and I have never heard of Cassingham. Thank you.:-) Tomas
Thank you Dan Davis for an intriguing historical video and thanks especially for closing it with a sensible conclusion instead of a sensational one. I agree, Cassingham didn't inspire the legend of Robin.
At its roots the story of Robyn Hode (now spelled Robin Hood) unfolds in a body of folksongs, of which the oldest ones seem to be about a couple of centuries newer than the history of Cassingham. In the ballads, Robyn's feud isn't with political figures but with oppressive local authorities like the sheriff and corrupt higher clergy. He's loyal to the local priesthood but he executes a greedy dishonest bishop in one of the ballads. He's not interested in politics beyond expressing a conventional Englishman's goodwill toward "Edward our comely king."
In the novel Ivanhoe, Sir Walter Scott put a political spin on the legend by transplanting it to the time of King Richard Lionheart and Prince John. Scott further transformed Robin by making him a partisan of Richard against John. Those inventions were picked up by Douglas Fairbanks when he made the movie Robin Hood, and it's been basic to the film and tv formula ever since.
As for Robyn of old, his values and priorities align with the everyday concerns of the yeoman class and his setting...well, eventually it's in Sherwood but the oldest ballads put him in Barnsdale.
Thank you very much Don, great comment.
So wait, is it possible that Cassingham heard a bard sing some Robinhood stuff at a pub and was like “eh fuck it, I can do that?!”
if only it wasnt 200 years later but @@Thor-Orion
@@biffa1234100 what?
Loved this one. LOLd ( well giggled anyway ) several times at your quips and one second book promos.
Fascinating video!
Thanks, Batman.
How dare you confuse my mind with facts. I loved Robin Hood, Wil Scarlet and Fryer Tuch and Little John since I was in the 5th grade.
I love Robin Hood too. I recently read Rosemary Sutcliffe's version to one of my children, it's wonderful.
Your fifth grade teacher should have taught you how to spell Friar Tuck ("Fryer" makes it look like he's a short-order cook not a priest). Don't mind me, I'm just picky. I love Robin Hood too. My favorite book of RH stories is by Howard Pyle and his illustrations are fantastically good.
that is why they were great stories
Its Will Scarlett O'hara. He's from Georgia
@@DanDavisHistory BTW,a friend of mine would b most upset with you.Her name is Natalie & she convinced she is descended from Robin Hood!Beware Of The Nat!!
good work
Very interesting. There are always real stories behind myths and legends.
I’m glad you have a video about Louis Philippe’s invasion - I seem to remember that he was invited by John, who needed his support against the barons. Then John reneged on the deal and Louis came anyway. I look forward to seeing your take on it.
Very interesting! Definitely should get a movie some day!
Love the story and the commentary.
I will read your book.
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it. And I hope you like the books too. Cheers.
wow!! I love this and ill defiantly be checking out you books
Thank you, glad you liked it! And I hope you enjoy my stories.
Loved the still shot of Maid Marian And Her Merry Men. Such a great kid's show.
Such an amazing story!
Absolutely awesome I've never heard of this dude but it was extremely interesting good work
Well written, narrated and produced.
Thank you very much.
Good research
Thank you.
I've heard that there were at least three "Robin Hoods," in both Sherwood and Barnsdale.
Like the Blue Man Group...
OH YES thanks for this , absolutely unknown until now, (by myself) what a lovely piece of research.
Quick point, when discussing numbers sources during the anarchy tended only to list the numbers of knights and archers. Which suggests they where considered highly useful.
Amazing story. Never knew! Thank you.
It is amazing isn't it!
@@DanDavisHistory it is! What a man. Dan, you would also like Lautaro, Eagle Eye of the Mapuche.
Fascinated with the Berserkers too. Remembered that Lewes chess set, where they bite their shields.
Thank you. Actually I read about the Mapuche after researching Francis Drake. When he goes into the Pacific and is attacked by local people on an island off shore and the biographies talk about the Mapuche a bit. That led me to find out more about this conflict. Amazing how they adopted some of the military technologies of the Spanish. Reminded me a bit of how the Comanche adopted horse riding and rifles to establish their empire.
I have a lot of photos of the chess men biting their shield but I forgot to put them in my berserker video. They are truly amazing pieces.
@@DanDavisHistory
And that Lautaro was 23 when he died, leading not guerrilla war but a pitched battle.
He and William have in common not just immense courage but also tactical skills. And the love and loyalty of their people. William has been forgotten. Lautaro is revered in Chile. Both are men for the ages.
I didn't remember he was so young, how amazing. It's very sad. They did amazingly well for such a long time.
That was very interesting, Dan. I noticed that you used the same language in describing the invading French army as the French described the English army during the Seven Years War.
The Weald is still there my friend as are people such as myself whos family's have lived there for generations. there are still wild boar in the woods and today we have 80 percent of England's ancient wood lands and we still remember wilikin.
Very epic
Just watched Richard the Lionheart. Thought I'd scroll through and see what else you have. This looks like a gem. Can't wait to watch.
I'm a new subscriber. Love your videos 😊
thanks for an interesting video.its the first time I've heard this story.everyone knows the tale of robin hood but this video is something totally new to me and I'm 77 years old
Great story 👏
Fascinating bit of the past.. somehow I have an urge to go book shopping now..
Just found your channel, and I am hooked! Got yourself a new subscriber after just two minutes. 😁
Thank you! Welcome to the channel.
The rendition set starting in 1066, pitting Robin against William the Conqueror begins with the volume "Sherwood". It was written by an American author Parke Godwin. As I remember it was a good read.
Thank you.
Well done.
Yes 👍 saved the day in the day great 👍 story Dan keep it up David ❤️🇬🇧👍
"Burned the town of Sandwich to the ground", what a bastard! Thankfully the Northern town of "Butty" was kept intact.
A good thing Butty survived. Imagine a life without it. 😁
....so he toasted Sandwich then.😉
I enjoyed this.
Thanks , that was interesting
I enjoyed this very much. Thanks for making it-I must check out your books. A point, though: I wish you would have made it clearer that the Plantagenet royal family was French (Normans), as were the "English" lords and barons in the 1200s (much as the current British royal family are more German than not). It makes Louis's claim to the English throne more understandable.
Can’t wait to watch 🌟🌼😊!!!
Thank you, I hope you enjoy it!
Wow after this story I subscribed at once.
Thanks!
Some of your videos are better than University Lectures that I've attended !!!
Thank you