Castle of Nottingham

Prince John's Castle
Background information
Feature films	Robin Hood
Shows	House of Mouse
Inspiration	Original Castle from Robin Hood tales
Other information
Location	England, Nottingham
Owners	King Richard
Inhabitants	Prince John Sir Hiss Maid Marian
Visitors	Robin Hood Little John

Prince John's Castle is a location in Robin Hood. It is the primary home of Prince John and Maid Marian. The formal owner of this Castle is King Richard, the older brother of Prince John, although a line by Sir Hiss indicated that the castle was owned at some point by John and Richard's mother. A large portion of the castle catches on fire as a result of the Sheriff's recklessness during his final confrontation with Robin Hood.

Description

The castle is located in the town of Nottingham, and serves as Prince John's center of power while he is living in the area. Maid Marian also lives here with her lady-in-waiting, Lady Kluck.

The castle is surrounded by a large wall and moat, with a drawbridge controlling access. A large courtyard is within the walls, and has a gallows where traitors are hanged. The castle itself contains a throne room which Prince John is often seen scheming from as well as rooms that hold the taxes he takes from the citizens. Prince John also has a bedroom that has a large balcony. His room is shown to be directly across the courtyard from the castle dungeon, which is of importance during the final confrontation. Maid Marian has her own room in a tower, and has been seen playing badminton in a courtyard in the back of the castle.

Appearance in Robin Hood

The castle first appears when Skippy and his friends attempt to retrieve the arrow the young bunny received for his birthday. At the badminton court, the children meet Maid Marian and Lady Kluck and act out a scene showing Robin Hood's defeat of Prince John.

Later, at the royal treasury, Prince John learns from Sir Hiss and the Sheriff of Nottingham of the mocking song the peasants are singing of him. In his rage, Prince John orders a tripling of the taxes. Still angry later on, he explodes in a fit of rage in the throne room when Sir Hiss tells him of Friar Tuck's arrest, as he truly desires Robin Hood. However, Prince John quickly comes up with a plan to use Friar Tuck to capture Robin Hood.

In the courtyard, a disguised Robin Hood learns of the plot, and carries out a plan to rescue the townspeople before Friar Tuck is hanged for treason. While Little John infiltrates the jail, Robin Hood enters Prince John's private quarters to steal back the people's taxes. While Friar Tuck is able to escape the castle with the townspeople, Robin is forced to stay behind, resulting in a chase throughout the castle, as Robin attempts to escape the Sheriff. With the castle on fire, Robin is forced to jump from a tower into the moat and is initially presumed dead. When Robin is found to have survived, Prince John is upset and finally goes mad upon realizing that the castle (which belonged to his mother), is burning.