I am aware the legend is set in the region of Nottingham during the Crusades, specifically the reign of King Richard and King John, so around 1200 AD. My question is why did Nottingham become associated with the legend? Was Nottingham a particularly lawless or oppressed part of England during the time of Richard/John or even the subsequent centuries when many of the ballads/stories were composed? Could it be due to it being a midpoint on the Great North Road, effectively a decent distance from the major urban centers, but still on a key transportation hub? Curious if anyone has gone down this rabbit hole.