List of Characters 1 Henry IV

1 King Henry IV List of Characters

King Henry IV

He is the King of England who has just won the throne from Richard II. Throughout the play, Henry is politically shrewd but war-weary and personifies the role strong ruler in which contrast with his irresponsible son, Prince Harry. Henry has several main concerns in the course of the play: the uprisings of Hotspur and his allies, not having a reliable heir to the throne and his guilty feelings about his involvement in the murder of Richard II. He is in constant search of a ruling strategy because his claim to the throne is not entirely legitimate since he usurped the crown from Richard.

Historical: King Henry IV (1366-1413)

Henry IV was a strong ruler, but the Shakespeare compresses his reign, making it seem like a time of rebellion; the uprisings were actually further apart in time. Also known as Bolingbroke in Richard II.

Prince Harry

King Henry IV's eldest son, namesake and heir, titled Prince of Wales, called Hal by his friends, later to be Henry V. He is also referred to as "Harry" several times by his father and Hotspur. He is presented as a reckless and immature character, which hangs out in taverns with commoners. Hal plans to become and develops into a strong ruler over the course of the play. Hal develops as a character, rejecting his usual debauchery and his roguish friend Falstaff, and learns to become a king, defeating Hotspur in hand-to hand combat at the end of this transformation.

Historical: Prince Harry, later Henry V (1387-1422)

He was know to be wild and kept the company of commoners, and actually did become a responsible ruler after being crowned. Hal at the time that Shakespeare set this play was not an adult, but only 12 years old. He did not kill Hotspur, as Percy was even older than Henry IV. ·

Sir John Falstaff

He is Prince Hal's close friend. He is a model of the life of indulgence: fat, often drunk and wittingly hilarious. Falstaff serves as a model of a life of debauchery for Prince Hal in the play; one that Hal rejects.

***No historical information was available for this character.

Lord John of Lancaster

the younger son of Henry IV. He is loyal and a noble soldier.

Earl of Westmoreland

He is an ally of Henry IV. He helps to lead henry's forces.

Sir Walter Blunt

He is a loyal follower of Henry, a strong warrior and diplomat. He is killed by the Earl of Douglas while disguised as the king at the Battle of Shrewsbury.

Historical: Sir Walter Blunt(d. 1403)

He was a friend of John of Gaunt, Henry IV's father. He was one of Henry's advisors and was killed at the battle of Shrewsbury, but was not dressed as the king's decoy.

Hotspur

He is the son and heir of the Earl of Northumberland, and his real name is Henry Percy. Also called Harry or Percy. A rebel against the king, and rival to Prince Hal. He is presented as a strong soldier, a chivalric hero, but arrogant with a hot temper. Hal is compared to Hotspur because he lacks the military skills and pride needed to be a strong ruler. The Percy family helped King Henry IV to defeat Richard II, which they feel he is still indebted to them for their aid. Thus is the cause of Hotspur's uprising. He is married to Lady Percy or to him, Kate.

Historical: Henry Percy (1364-1403)

He was a celebrated warrior, was nicknamed Hotspur for his fiery temper. He was killed at the battle of Shrewsbury, but not by Hal.

Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland

He was once a supporter of Henry IV, now joins his son, Hotspur in rebellion. Abandons his son by feigning illness and does not help him in the battle of Shrewsbury.

Historical: Henry Percy, Earl of Nortumberland (1342-1408)

He was a supporter of Henry's father, John of Gaunt. Percy did rebel with Bolingbroke and then later against him, but was much older than Shakespeare presents him. Did not actually feign illness before battle or abandon his son.

Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester

He is the uncle of Hotspur and leader of the rebellion against Henry IV. Henry IV at the end of the play orders his execution.

Historical: Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester (1343-1403)

Was involved with the rebellion and was executed after the battle of Shrewsbury.

Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March

He is the brother of Lady Kate Percy, therefore Hotspur's brother in-law. Also married to Owen Glendower's daughter, Lady Mortimer. He is part of the Percy rebellion, as he was Richard II's designated heir. He can only speak to his wife through a translator, as she only speaks Welsh.

Historical: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March (1376-1409)

Two figures are the source for Shakespeare's Mortimer. The first was a supporter of Henry Bolingbroke and then the younger Mortimer rebelled against Henry IV.

Owen Glendower

He joins Percy rebellion, is the military leader of the Welsh rebels. Glendower is a superstitious character and uses Welsh traditional lore and according to him, magic.

Historical: Owen Glendower (c. 1359-1416)

He was involved in Hotspur's rebellion, but not at the battle of Shrewsbury. He led the most successful Welsh rebellion against the English, briefly uniting Wales until the English crushed his invasion.

Archibald, Earl of Douglas

He is the leader of the Scottish army, and conjoins with Hotspur's forces. Kills Sir Walter Blunt in the battle of Shrewsbury, and nearly kills Falstaff, who fakes his death. He is captured and then freed by Henry's forces at the end because of his valiance. He is the father of Mordake.

Historical: Archibald, Earl of Douglas (1369-1424)

Black Douglas was a famed soldier in Scotland, and was actually captured at Shrewsbury and not released until five years later.

Sir Richard Vernon

He is a follower of Hotspur, and is executed with Worcester at the end of the play.

Historical: Sir Richard Vernon (d. 1403)

He was captured and executed at the battle of Shrewsbury.

Archbishop of York

He is also known as Richard Scroop, was on the Percy side of the rebellion because Henry IV beheaded his brother. He predicts the downfall of Hotspur at Shrewsbury.

Historical: Richard Scroop (d. 1405)

He supported Henry IV until 1405, after the Percy rebellion, but revolted then because of taxes Henry imposed.

Lady Percy

She is Hotspur's wife and Lord Mortimer's sister. She worries about her husband's safety because he plans to go back to war against the King. The warmth of their relationship add a more human dimension to the rebel cause.

Historical: Lady Elizabeth Percy (1371-c.1444)

Lady Catherine Mortimer

She is the wife of Lord Mortimer and daughter of Owen of Glendower. She speaks only Welsh and must have her father translate in order to communicate with her husband. She is representative of the Welsh culture that Hotspur scorns throughout the play.

Historical: Lady Catherine Mortimer(1403-1409)

Ned Poins

He is a friend of Prince Harry's, who plans with Hal to rob Falstaff of his booty from a highway robbery. Poins is a jokester and party boy. He is representative of the commoners and ruffians Hal spends his time with at Boar's Head Tavern.