The Historical Background The Historical Background of Shakespeare’s History of Shakespeare’s History

PlaysPlays

The Hundred Years’ War The Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) and the Wars of (1337-1453) and the Wars of

the Roses (1455-1485)the Roses (1455-1485)

The origins of the The origins of the Anglo-French conflictAnglo-French conflict

Canute (1016-1035)Canute (1016-1035) 1066: the Norman Conquest 1066: the Norman Conquest

The first Hundred Years’ War, 1159-1259The first Hundred Years’ War, 1159-1259 Henry II’s (1154-89) AngevinHenry II’s (1154-89) Angevin Empire: Empire:

Normandy, Anjou, Brittany, AquitaineNormandy, Anjou, Brittany, Aquitaine Richard I (1189-1199) Richard I (1189-1199) King John’s (1199-1216) defeats King John’s (1199-1216) defeats Henry III’s (1216-1272) failuresHenry III’s (1216-1272) failures

The aims of Edward I (1272-1307): the The aims of Edward I (1272-1307): the defence of Gascony and the conquest of defence of Gascony and the conquest of Wales and ScotlandWales and Scotland

The Franco-Scottish alliance, 1295-1560The Franco-Scottish alliance, 1295-1560 The fiascos of Edward II (1307-1327):The fiascos of Edward II (1307-1327):

1314: defeated by the Scots (Bannockburn)1314: defeated by the Scots (Bannockburn)

1324: defeated in Gascony1324: defeated in Gascony

1327: dethroned1327: dethroned

The succession crisis in The succession crisis in FranceFrance

Edward III (1327-1377)Edward III (1327-1377)

1327: 1327: palace revolution by Isabella and palace revolution by Isabella and Roger Mortimer Roger Mortimer

1328: Anglo-Scottish peace treaty1328: Anglo-Scottish peace treaty

1330: Mortimer’s execution1330: Mortimer’s execution

1333: Edward’s war against David II, King 1333: Edward’s war against David II, King of Scotlandof Scotland – – David escapes to FranceDavid escapes to France

1336-37: Philip VI’s invasion plan and 1336-37: Philip VI’s invasion plan and confiscation of Gascony confiscation of Gascony

The phases of the The phases of the Hundred Years’ WarHundred Years’ War

1. 1337-13601. 1337-1360

2. 1369-13962. 1369-1396 Henry IV (1399-Henry IV (1399-1413)1413)

3. 1415-14293. 1415-1429 Henry V (1413-Henry V (1413-1422)1422)

4. 1429-14534. 1429-1453 Henry VI (1422-61)Henry VI (1422-61)

The English victories The English victories of the first phase of the first phase

1340: Sluys1340: Sluys – – the French fleet is the French fleet is destroyeddestroyed

1346: Crécy1346: Crécy the first use of cannon in Europethe first use of cannon in Europe the debut of the archersthe debut of the archers – – the longbow the longbow

1347: capture of Calais 1347: capture of Calais

1356: Poitiers1356: Poitiers – – the Black Prince’s successthe Black Prince’s success

1360: the Treaty of Brétigny1360: the Treaty of Brétigny

The second phase: French The second phase: French advantages and English advantages and English

difficultiesdifficulties The Fabian tactics of Charles V (the Wise)The Fabian tactics of Charles V (the Wise) 1372: victory of the Franco-Castilian fleet1372: victory of the Franco-Castilian fleet 1376: death of the Black Prince1376: death of the Black Prince 1377: death of Edward III1377: death of Edward III Richard II (1377-1399)Richard II (1377-1399) 1381: the Peasants’ Revolt (taxation, 1381: the Peasants’ Revolt (taxation,

social and religious tensions – John social and religious tensions – John Wycliffe, Lollardy, John Ball) Wycliffe, Lollardy, John Ball)

1399: the beginning of the 1399: the beginning of the Wars of the Roses?Wars of the Roses?

government by John of Gaunt, Duke of government by John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster Lancaster

1382-86: Richard II begins to rule1382-86: Richard II begins to rule 1386-88: Parliament’s revolt led by the 1386-88: Parliament’s revolt led by the

Duke of Gloucester Duke of Gloucester 1389: the king regains power with the help 1389: the king regains power with the help

of John of Gaunt of John of Gaunt 1397-1398: Richard II’s revenge1397-1398: Richard II’s revenge – – execution execution

of leading baronsof leading barons;; exile of Henry exile of Henry Bolingbroke Bolingbroke

1399: the fatal mistake 1399: the fatal mistake

Richard IIRichard II

The timeThe time span of the Shakespeare span of the Shakespeare play: 1398-1400play: 1398-1400

The The disputedispute betweenbetween Henry Henry Bolingbroke and Thomas Mowbray Bolingbroke and Thomas Mowbray

Richard’s death: killed by Exton Richard’s death: killed by Exton (starved to death in reality?)(starved to death in reality?)

Henry IV wishes to repent in the Holy Henry IV wishes to repent in the Holy LandLand

Henry IV (1399-1413)Henry IV (1399-1413)

1400-1408: 1400-1408: rebellion of Owen Glendower, rebellion of Owen Glendower, Edmund Mortimer and Henry Percy Edmund Mortimer and Henry Percy (Hotspur) (Hotspur) – – Shrewsbury (1403Shrewsbury (1403 – – Henry IVHenry IV, end of Part 1), end of Part 1)

after 1408: the king’s illnessafter 1408: the king’s illness;; the ambitions of the ambitions of the easygoing Prince of Walesthe easygoing Prince of Wales;; Falstaff; Falstaff; struggle within the Royal Councilstruggle within the Royal Council;; the growing the growing influence of the Beaufortsinfluence of the Beauforts;; Chancellor and Chancellor and Archbishop Thomas Arundel forced to resign Archbishop Thomas Arundel forced to resign (1410-1412)(1410-1412)

Henry V (1413-1422)Henry V (1413-1422)

1415: siege of Harfleur1415: siege of Harfleur; ; dysenterydysentery Battle of Battle of AgincourtAgincourt French difficulties, English advantages: French difficulties, English advantages:

madness of Charles VImadness of Charles VI;; civil war in France civil war in France;; England’s alliance with BurgundyEngland’s alliance with Burgundy;; capture capture of Parisof Paris

1420: Treaty of Troyes (Henry marries 1420: Treaty of Troyes (Henry marries CatherineCatherine of of Valois Valois;; the the dauphindauphin is is excluded from the succession)excluded from the succession)

Henry VIHenry VI, Part 1 , Part 1

1422: Henry V’s funeral1422: Henry V’s funeral 1429: siege of Orléans, Jeanne d’Arc1429: siege of Orléans, Jeanne d’Arc (Joan (Joan

la Pucelle)la Pucelle) The barons pick white and red roses (a The barons pick white and red roses (a

false representation)false representation) 1435: the end of the Anglo-Burgund1435: the end of the Anglo-Burgundiian an

alliance (not Jalliance (not Joan ofoan of Arc’s achievement) Arc’s achievement) Henry’s planned marriage to Margaret Henry’s planned marriage to Margaret of of

AnjouAnjou (it is not the (it is not the EarlEarl of Suffolk who of Suffolk who captures the French princess) captures the French princess)

Henry VIHenry VI, Part 2, Part 2

1445: the wedding of Henry and Margaret 1445: the wedding of Henry and Margaret of of Anjou; the Duke of Gloucester (the Anjou; the Duke of Gloucester (the king’s uncle) is removed from power king’s uncle) is removed from power

1450: Suffolk is dismissed; Jack Cade’s 1450: Suffolk is dismissed; Jack Cade’s rebellion in Kent (it is not Richard, Duke of rebellion in Kent (it is not Richard, Duke of York who incites him) York who incites him)

1455: conflict between Richard and 1455: conflict between Richard and Somerset; the first Battle of Saint Albans; Somerset; the first Battle of Saint Albans; Somerset’s deathSomerset’s death

(1453-1454: Richard’s regency during the (1453-1454: Richard’s regency during the king’s incapacity)king’s incapacity)

Henry VIHenry VI, Part 3, Part 3

14551455: agreement between the king and : agreement between the king and Richard – after Henry’s death, the House Richard – after Henry’s death, the House of York comes to the throneof York comes to the throne

1460: the Battle of Wakefield –1460: the Battle of Wakefield – Margaret Margaret of of Anjou and Clifford are victorious, Richard Anjou and Clifford are victorious, Richard diesdies

1461: the Battle of Towton – Yorkist 1461: the Battle of Towton – Yorkist victory,victory, Edward IV (1461-70, 1471-83) Edward IV (1461-70, 1471-83) proclaimed king proclaimed king

Growing conflict between Warwick the Growing conflict between Warwick the Kingmaker and EdwardKingmaker and Edward

The Wars of the Roses: The Wars of the Roses: three separate warsthree separate wars

1. 1. 1455-1461 (until 1464 in the north)1455-1461 (until 1464 in the north)

Causes: Causes: the the mistakes and illness mistakes and illness of of Henry VIHenry VI;; defeat in France defeat in France

22. 1469-1471. 1469-1471

Caused by Warwick’s dissatisfaction Caused by Warwick’s dissatisfaction

3. 1483-873. 1483-87

Caused by Caused by the the ambitions ambitions of of Richard IIIRichard III

Henry VIHenry VI, Part 3, Part 3

Warwick, the dissatisfied nobleman : Warwick, the dissatisfied nobleman : The anti-French policy of Edward IVThe anti-French policy of Edward IV 1464: Edward marries Elizabeth Woodville1464: Edward marries Elizabeth WoodvilleAutumn, 1470: Warwick invades England, Autumn, 1470: Warwick invades England,

Edward escapes to Holland, Henry VI Edward escapes to Holland, Henry VI returns to the thronereturns to the throne

Spring, 1471: Edward returns, Warwick dies, Spring, 1471: Edward returns, Warwick dies, the Prince of Wales and Henry VI are the Prince of Wales and Henry VI are murdered (Richard’s deed?)murdered (Richard’s deed?)

Richard IIIRichard III

A A hunchbackhunchbackeded monster? 2012: he really monster? 2012: he really had a twisted spinehad a twisted spine

1472: marries Anne Neville (Warwick’s 1472: marries Anne Neville (Warwick’s daughter, the Prince of Wales’ widow)daughter, the Prince of Wales’ widow)

1478: Edward IV has the Duke of 1478: Edward IV has the Duke of Clarence executed for high treason (it is Clarence executed for high treason (it is not Richard who has hisnot Richard who has his own brother own brother murdered)murdered)

1483: Edward IV dies at the age of 40, 1483: Edward IV dies at the age of 40, Edward V is only 12Edward V is only 12

Richard IIIRichard III

Richard’s mistakes:Richard’s mistakes:1.1. The execution of Chamberlain Lord Hastings The execution of Chamberlain Lord Hastings 2.2. Declaring the two sons of Edward IV Declaring the two sons of Edward IV

illegitimateillegitimate3.3. Having the two princes murdered (James Having the two princes murdered (James

Tyrrell?) – the Duke of Buckingham’s revoltTyrrell?) – the Duke of Buckingham’s revolt1485: the Battle of Bosworth, Henry VII’s 1485: the Battle of Bosworth, Henry VII’s

(Richmond’s) accession to the throne and (Richmond’s) accession to the throne and marriage to Elizabeth of York marriage to Elizabeth of York

ShakespeareShakespeare’s’s historical historical distortionsdistortions

Factual mistakesFactual mistakes Invented eventsInvented events Upsetting the chronological order of eventsUpsetting the chronological order of eventsShakespeare’s interpretation: Shakespeare’s interpretation: 1.1. There was persistent bloodshed in England There was persistent bloodshed in England

for decades for decades 2.2. The conflict started as early as 1399 The conflict started as early as 1399 3.3. Richard III’s demonic figure – symbol of the Richard III’s demonic figure – symbol of the

whole ‘dark’ periodwhole ‘dark’ period