The Historical Background of Shakespeare’s History Plays The Hundred Years’ War ( ) and the Wars of the Roses ( )

The origins of the Anglo-French conflict Canute ( ) Canute ( ) 1066: the Norman Conquest 1066: the Norman Conquest The first Hundred Years’ War, Henry II’s ( ) Angevin Empire: Normandy, Anjou, Brittany, Aquitaine Henry II’s ( ) Angevin Empire: Normandy, Anjou, Brittany, Aquitaine Richard I ( ) Richard I ( ) King John’s ( ) defeats King John’s ( ) defeats Henry III’s ( ) failures Henry III’s ( ) failures

The aims of Edward I ( ): the defence of Gascony and the conquest of Wales and Scotland The aims of Edward I ( ): the defence of Gascony and the conquest of Wales and Scotland The Franco-Scottish alliance, The Franco-Scottish alliance, The fiascos of Edward II ( ): The fiascos of Edward II ( ): 1314: defeated by the Scots (Bannockburn) 1324: defeated in Gascony 1327: dethroned

The succession crisis in France

Edward III ( ) 1327: palace revolution by Isabella and Roger Mortimer 1328: Anglo-Scottish peace treaty 1330: Mortimer’s execution 1333: Edward’s war against David II, King of Scotland – David escapes to France : Philip VI’s invasion plan and confiscation of Gascony

The phases of the Hundred Years’ War Henry IV ( ) Henry V ( ) Henry VI ( )

The English victories of the first phase 1340: Sluys – the French fleet is destroyed 1346: Crécy the first use of cannon in Europe the first use of cannon in Europe the debut of the archers – the longbow the debut of the archers – the longbow 1347: capture of Calais 1356: Poitiers – the Black Prince’s success 1360: the Treaty of Brétigny

The second phase: French advantages and English difficulties The Fabian tactics of Charles V (the Wise) The Fabian tactics of Charles V (the Wise) 1372: victory of the Franco-Castilian fleet 1372: victory of the Franco-Castilian fleet 1376: death of the Black Prince 1376: death of the Black Prince 1377: death of Edward III 1377: death of Edward III Richard II ( ) Richard II ( ) 1381: the Peasants’ Revolt (taxation, social and religious tensions – John Wycliffe, Lollardy, John Ball) 1381: the Peasants’ Revolt (taxation, social and religious tensions – John Wycliffe, Lollardy, John Ball)

1399: the beginning of the Wars of the Roses? government by John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster government by John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster : Richard II begins to rule : Richard II begins to rule : Parliament’s revolt led by the Duke of Gloucester : Parliament’s revolt led by the Duke of Gloucester 1389: the king regains power with the help of John of Gaunt 1389: the king regains power with the help of John of Gaunt : Richard II’s revenge – execution of leading barons; exile of Henry Bolingbroke : Richard II’s revenge – execution of leading barons; exile of Henry Bolingbroke 1399: the fatal mistake 1399: the fatal mistake

Richard II The time span of the Shakespeare play: The time span of the Shakespeare play: The dispute between Henry Bolingbroke and Thomas Mowbray The dispute between Henry Bolingbroke and Thomas Mowbray Richard’s death: killed by Exton (starved to death in reality?) Richard’s death: killed by Exton (starved to death in reality?) Henry IV wishes to repent in the Holy Land Henry IV wishes to repent in the Holy Land

Henry IV ( ) : rebellion of Owen Glendower, Edmund Mortimer and Henry Percy (Hotspur) – Shrewsbury (1403 – Henry IV, end of Part 1) : rebellion of Owen Glendower, Edmund Mortimer and Henry Percy (Hotspur) – Shrewsbury (1403 – Henry IV, end of Part 1) after 1408: the king’s illness; the ambitions of the easygoing Prince of Wales; Falstaff; struggle within the Royal Council; the growing influence of the Beauforts; Chancellor and Archbishop Thomas Arundel forced to resign ( ) after 1408: the king’s illness; the ambitions of the easygoing Prince of Wales; Falstaff; struggle within the Royal Council; the growing influence of the Beauforts; Chancellor and Archbishop Thomas Arundel forced to resign ( )

Henry V ( ) 1415: siege of Harfleur; dysentery 1415: siege of Harfleur; dysentery Battle of Agincourt Battle of Agincourt French difficulties, English advantages: madness of Charles VI; civil war in France; England’s alliance with Burgundy; capture of Paris French difficulties, English advantages: madness of Charles VI; civil war in France; England’s alliance with Burgundy; capture of Paris 1420: Treaty of Troyes (Henry marries Catherine of Valois; the dauphin is excluded from the succession) 1420: Treaty of Troyes (Henry marries Catherine of Valois; the dauphin is excluded from the succession)

Henry VI, Part : Henry V’s funeral 1422: Henry V’s funeral 1429: siege of Orléans, Jeanne d’Arc (Joan la Pucelle) 1429: siege of Orléans, Jeanne d’Arc (Joan la Pucelle) The barons pick white and red roses (a false representation) The barons pick white and red roses (a false representation) 1435: the end of the Anglo-Burgundian alliance (not Joan of Arc’s achievement) 1435: the end of the Anglo-Burgundian alliance (not Joan of Arc’s achievement) Henry’s planned marriage to Margaret of Anjou (it is not the Earl of Suffolk who captures the French princess) Henry’s planned marriage to Margaret of Anjou (it is not the Earl of Suffolk who captures the French princess)

Henry VI, Part : the wedding of Henry and Margaret of Anjou; the Duke of Gloucester (the king’s uncle) is removed from power 1445: the wedding of Henry and Margaret of Anjou; the Duke of Gloucester (the king’s uncle) is removed from power 1450: Suffolk is dismissed; Jack Cade’s rebellion in Kent (it is not Richard, Duke of York who incites him) 1450: Suffolk is dismissed; Jack Cade’s rebellion in Kent (it is not Richard, Duke of York who incites him) 1455: conflict between Richard and Somerset; the first Battle of Saint Albans; Somerset’s death 1455: conflict between Richard and Somerset; the first Battle of Saint Albans; Somerset’s death ( : Richard’s regency during the king’s incapacity) ( : Richard’s regency during the king’s incapacity)

Henry VI, Part : agreement between the king and Richard – after Henry’s death, the House of York comes to the throne 1455: agreement between the king and Richard – after Henry’s death, the House of York comes to the throne 1460: the Battle of Wakefield – Margaret of Anjou and Clifford are victorious, Richard dies 1460: the Battle of Wakefield – Margaret of Anjou and Clifford are victorious, Richard dies 1461: the Battle of Towton – Yorkist victory, Edward IV ( , ) proclaimed king 1461: the Battle of Towton – Yorkist victory, Edward IV ( , ) proclaimed king Growing conflict between Warwick the Kingmaker and Edward Growing conflict between Warwick the Kingmaker and Edward

The Wars of the Roses: three separate wars (until 1464 in the north) Causes: the mistakes and illness of Henry VI; defeat in France Caused by Warwick’s dissatisfaction Caused by the ambitions of Richard III

Henry VI, Part 3 Warwick, the dissatisfied nobleman : The anti-French policy of Edward IV The anti-French policy of Edward IV 1464: Edward marries Elizabeth Woodville 1464: Edward marries Elizabeth Woodville Autumn, 1470: Warwick invades England, Edward escapes to Holland, Henry VI returns to the throne Spring, 1471: Edward returns, Warwick dies, the Prince of Wales and Henry VI are murdered (Richard’s deed?)

Richard III A hunchback ed monster? 2012: he really had a twisted spine A hunchback ed monster? 2012: he really had a twisted spine 1472: marries Anne Neville (Warwick’s daughter, the Prince of Wales’ widow) 1472: marries Anne Neville (Warwick’s daughter, the Prince of Wales’ widow) 1478: Edward IV has the Duke of Clarence executed for high treason (it is not Richard who has his own brother murdered) 1478: Edward IV has the Duke of Clarence executed for high treason (it is not Richard who has his own brother murdered) 1483: Edward IV dies at the age of 40, Edward V is only : Edward IV dies at the age of 40, Edward V is only 12

Richard III Richard’s mistakes: 1. The execution of Chamberlain Lord Hastings 2. Declaring the two sons of Edward IV illegitimate 3. Having the two princes murdered (James Tyrrell?) – the Duke of Buckingham’s revolt 1485: the Battle of Bosworth, Henry VII’s (Richmond’s) accession to the throne and marriage to Elizabeth of York

Shakespeare ’s historical distortions Factual mistakes Factual mistakes Invented events Invented events Upsetting the chronological order of events Upsetting the chronological order of events Shakespeare’s interpretation: 1. There was persistent bloodshed in England for decades 2. The conflict started as early as Richard III’s demonic figure – symbol of the whole ‘dark’ period