Thou hast a better place in his affection
Than all thy brothers; cherish it, my boy,
And noble offices thou mayst effect
Of mediation, after I am dead,
Between his greatness and thy other brethren.
Near the end of 2 Henry IV, Shakespeare explores the possibility of tension between Prince Hal and his brothers.
Henry IV calls on his sons to support and stand with Prince Hal, admonishing them to develop a positive relationship with him for the strength of the kingdom. However, they waver in uncertainty as to the sort of king he will be when he finally rises to power. Later, we’ll see them all throw their full support behind him as he carries them to victory in Henry V. We’ll also see their continued support of his son in the Henry VI plays, but as their names and titles shift through these plays, I thought it would be helpful to unpack them clearly here and show how they track through the next few plays.
The sons of Henry Bolingbroke (Henry IV):
Prince Hal becomes Henry V. As the oldest son, he’s the heir apparent and a central figure in this arc.
Prince Thomas becomes Duke of Clarence. He’s the second son, called upon to support his brother Henry V in the quote above. He will be with him in solidarity before the battle of Agincourt, but doesn’t have a big role to play. He’s dead before 1 Henry VI, so we won’t see much of him. He leaves no heirs.
Prince John becomes Duke of Bedford. He plays a significant role here in 2 Henry IV, cleverly and ruthlessly stopping the rebellion in Gaultree Forest, and then supporting his brother Henry. (He’s also referenced in the battle at the end of 1 Henry IV, though he would have been too young historically.) He plays a supporting role in Henry V as Bedford, standing by his brother at Agincourt, and he has a significant role in 1 Henry VI, as regent and then fighting in France and ultimately dying dramatically in the battle at Rouen in Act III. He also leaves no heirs.
Prince Humphrey becomes Duke of Gloucester. He is very young in 2 Henry IV, standing at his father’s deathbed. He continues to support Henry V in the battle of Agincourt as Gloucester but only has a few minor lines. However, he plays a stronger role in both 1 and 2 Henry VI, as the regent and protector of young Henry VI, ultimately becoming a central character of 2 Henry VI. His tragedy and downfall arise from the growing backbiting and infighting that ultimately lead to the Wars of the Roses.
Keep your eyes on Bedford and Gloucester!
Along with these brothers, we have another important group of family members that grows in significance over the next few plays: The Beauforts.
John of Gaunt, the notable father of Henry Bolingbroke/Henry IV, whose death scene in Richard II struck such a chord, had another group of children with his mistress/second wife. They were never in line to inherit (born out of wedlock, but made legitimate by royal patent), but played a role in supporting the royal line. They are half-siblings of Henry IV and uncles of Henry V, great-uncles of Henry VI.
John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford had the following three sons:
John Beaufort becomes the Earl of Somerset. He’s not in Shakespeare’s plays, but his son (same name/same title!) is in the Rose Garden scene in 1 Henry VI, defending the Lancastrian line.
Henry Beaufort becomes Cardinal Beaufort/Bishop of Winchester. He has a significant role in the Henry VI plays, constantly feuding with Humphrey of Gloucester (above) and scheming for power. He’s something of a villain in 2 Henry VI.
Thomas Beaufort becomes Duke of Exeter. He plays a significant supporting role in Henry V, standing by his nephew throughout the play. He continues his support and defense of the royal family in 1 Henry VI, but then fades away and doesn’t appear in the next two plays.
Whew! We’re rising to heroism in Henry V, but then (after our first real break!) we’ll be on to the Wars of the Roses!
Check out Patreon for some fun extras, including bonus videos and free Shakespeare Valentines!
