We’re now moving into one of the most fun parts of Shakespeare’s Histories, the Henriad Tetralogies.

I hope you enjoyed Edward III as much as I did! I had one more post I wanted to put up about the women of the play, but alas! I ran out of time. (I may put it up on Patreon as a bonus post still, so keep an eye out over there!) Now it’s time to move on to the next play.

The next four plays we read will follow the arc of the rise of the house of Lancaster through Henry IV and Henry V. Young Henry V (Prince Hal) is one of the delights of Shakespeare’s history plays, especially in his interactions with Falstaff. Before we get there, though, we have to lay the groundwork of Richard II.

As we move into this play, we find ourselves in the middle of the family of Edward III, and some internal lines of conflict, so before we jump all the way in, let me offer some helpful family breakdowns.

Let’s start with the sons of Edward III (I’m leaving out the two sons who died in childhood or the daughters married out of the country and had no impact on the plays, though there are some fascinating bits of history here—a daughter, Joan, who died of the BLACK PLAGUE on the way to her wedding.):

Edward the Black Prince (Ned): In Edward III, we saw what a heroic young man he was, a clear noble heir for the kingdom, with the promise of all his father’s prowess without his temptations. What a king he’ll be! NOPE. He tragically died before his father, much to the country’s grief. He did, however, have a young son named Richard II, who was raised to be king after his grandfather, Edward III. He does NOT live up to his father’s promise.

Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence: He also dies before his father and does not leave an heir. He never got a chance to show up in a Shakespeare play, but he does have an impact. His daughter Philippa married Edmund Mortimer, and her descendants will make some claim to the throne as they are second in line through Lionel. Keep an eye on the Mortimers!

John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster: He’s going to play one of the most important roles in Richard II, and he has a fantastic death scene where he calls out his nephew’s destruction of the land. He is the father of Henry Bolingbroke, who then becomes Henry IV after taking the throne from Richard II. This conflict drives the play, but also leads to repercussions into the Wars of the Roses. Henry’s son, Prince Hal, will be the central figure over the next three plays after Richard II.

Edmund of Langley, Duke of York: He’s also a great figure in Richard II, as he attempts to balance his loyalty to the king with his unhappiness with what Richard is doing to the land. He walks this line in the play by expressing his unhappiness with his nephew Richard, expressing understanding of Henry Bolingbroke’s complaints, and ultimately following loyalty to the crown, no matter who’s wearing it. He has two sons, both of whom are significant in coming plays: Edward, Duke of Aumerle, and Richard of Conisburgh. Aumerle is going to play a role in backing Richard II in this play to the point of nearly participating in a conspiracy against Henry IV. (However, Henry IV’s forgiveness of him pays off, as Aumerle comes back as the Duke of York in Henry V, sacrificing his life in the battle of Agincourt to defend Henry IV’s son.) Richard, on the other hand, will have a son named Richard as well, who (along with his sons) becomes the central contestant for the throne in the Wars of the Roses, where the House of York and the House of Lancaster clash in civil war. These characters all show up in the second Henriad Tetralogy (Henry VI - Richard III). We’ll get there in a few weeks.

Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester: He challenged Richard II’s excesses, and Richard had him murdered (by the hand of Thomas Mowbray). This event triggers the beginning of the play, where Henry Bolingbroke wants to challenge Thomas Mowbray to a duel for treason. This tension also explains why Richard II is not particularly eager for justice in this scene. When you read the opening act of this play, notice the tension that all the characters feel between serving a terrible king and responding to his injustices and abuses. Richard became historically oppressive and arbitrary in this period, crushing the people with taxation and exerting his authority excessively while living wastefully and indulgently.

Note the Duchess of Gloucester’s speech to John of Gaunt in Act 1, scene 2, as she reflects on the tragedy of her husband’s murder and the failure of justice to be done:

Brutal! Enjoy the unravelling of the family of Edward III! Happy reading!