List of historical figures dramatised by Shakespeare

This list contains the biographies of historical figures who appear in the plays of William Shakespeare. (Note that it does not contain articles for characters: see instead .) It should be possible to cross-reference historical characters to their dramatic counterpart at List of Shakespearean characters.

In the following list, figures are listed by the name of the character, as it appears in Shakespeare's plays, and includes a narrative of the role of the character in the play: which may, or may not, reflect the role of the figure in history. The list contains duplicates: for example, Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland will be found listed under N and P.

A

*Lord Abergavenny (George Nevill, 5th Baron Bergavenny) is Buckingham's son-in-law in "Henry VIII".
*"For" "Aenobarbus" "(or AEnobarbus or Ænobarbus) see Enobarbus."
*Marcus Aemilius Lepidus is one of the Triumvirs, the three rulers of Rome after Caesar's death, in "Julius Caesar" and "Antony and Cleopatra".
*Agrippa (Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa), a follower of Caesar in "Antony and Cleopatra", proposes that the widowed Antony should marry Octavia.
*Alcibiades is a soldier who turns renegade when one of his junior officers is sentenced to death, and true friend of "Timon of Athens".
*The Duke of Alençon (John II of Alençon) is one of the French leaders in "Henry VI, Part 1".
*Alexander Iden kills Jack Cade in "Henry VI, Part 2".
*Anne:
**Anne Bullen (Anne Boleyn) is a maid of Honour to Katherine who later becomes King Henry's second wife, in "Henry VIII".
**Lady Anne (Anne Neville) is the widow of Prince Edward, wooed by Richard over the corpse of her late father-in-law (Henry VI) in "Richard III".
*Mark Antony "(Often just Antony, and sometimes Marcus Antonius)" turns the mob against Caesar's killers and becomes a Triumvir in "Julius Caesar". His romance with Cleopatra drives the action of "Antony and Cleopatra".
*Sir Anthony Denny (Anthony Denny) is a minor character in "Henry VIII", who brings Cranmer to the King.
*Archbishop:
**Archbishop of Canterbury:
***The Archbishop of Canterbury (Henry Chichele) is an important character in the first act of "Henry V". He expounds Henry's claim to the French throne.
***Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury (Thomas Cranmer) is a major character in the last act of "Henry VIII": hauled before the privy council by his enemies and threatened with imprisonment, but protected by the king.
***"See also Cardinal Bourchier, who was Archbishop of Canterbury at the time dramatised in "Richard III"."
**Archbishop of York:
***The Archbishop of York (1) (Richard le Scrope) is one of the rebel leaders in "Henry IV, Part 1" and "Henry IV, Part 2".
***The Archbishop of York (2) (Thomas Rotherham) assists Queen Elizabeth and the little Duke of York to obtain sanctuary in "Richard III".
*Queen Katherine of Aragon (Catherine of Aragon) is the first wife of King Henry in "Henry VIII". She falls from grace, is divorced and dies.
*Arthur (Arthur I, Duke of Brittany) is a child, the nephew of the king in "King John". He persuades Hubert not to put out his eyes, but dies in an attempt to escape captivity.
*Aumerle (Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York) is a companion of Richard in "Richard II".
*"For" "Duke of Austria" "see Limoges."

B

*Bagot is a favourite of Richard in "Richard II".
*Lord Bardolph (Thomas Bardolf, 5th Lord Bardolf) is a nobleman, one of the Percy faction, in "Henry IV, Part 2".
*The Bastard of Orleans (Jean de Dunois) is one of the French leaders in "Henry VI, Part 1".
*"For" Beaufort "see Bishop of Winchester".
*"For" Bedford "see Prince John of Lancaster, who was the Duke of Bedford."
*Lord Berkeley (Thomas de Berkeley, 5th Baron Berkeley) acts as messenger from York to Bolingbroke, in "Richard II".
*The Duke of Berry (John, Duke of Berry) is a French leader in "Henry V".
*Bishop:
**The Bishop of Carlisle (Thomas Merke) supports Richard in "Richard II".
**Bishop of Ely:
***The Bishop of Ely (1) (John Fordham) conspires with the Archbishop of Canterbury in the opening scene of "Henry V".
***The Bishop of Ely (2) (John Morton) ultimately shows his opposition to Richard, in "Richard III".
**The Bishop of Lincoln (John Longland) speaks in favour of Henry's divorce, in the trial scene of "Henry VIII".
**Bishop of Winchester:
***The Bishop of Winchester (Henry Cardinal Beaufort) (later "the Cardinal") is the chief enemy of Humphrey Duke of Gloucester in "Henry VI, Part 1" and "Henry VI, Part 2".
***"For" "The Bishop of Winchester" "in "Henry VIII", see Gardiner."
*Blanche (Blanche of Castile) is King John's niece, married (by arrangement among the kings, to seal an alliance) to the Dauphin.
*Blunt:
**Sir James Blunt is a supporter of Richmond in "Richard III".
**Sir John Blunt is a supporter of the king in "Henry IV, Part 2".
**Sir Walter Blunt is a soldier and messenger to the king in "Henry IV, Part 1". He is killed by Douglas while wearing the king's armour.
*Bolingbroke, later King Henry IV (Henry IV of England) leads a revolt against King Richard in "Richard II". He is the title character of Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2 which chart the rebellions against him by the Percy faction, and his difficult relationship with his eldest son, Hal.
*The Duke of Bourbon (John I, Duke of Bourbon) fights on the French side in "Henry V".
*Cardinal Bourchier (Thomas Bourchier) delivers the little Duke of York from sanctuary, and into the hands of Richard and Buckingham, in "Richard III".
*Boy (Edward, Earl of Warwick) in "Richard III" is the young son of the murdered Clarence (described in one speech as "little Ned Plantagenet").
*Brackenbury (Robert Brackenbury) is the Lieutenant of the Tower of London in "Richard III".
*The Duke of Britain (John VI, Duke of Brittany) is a French leader in "Henry V".
*Brutus:
**Decius Brutus (Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus) is one of the conspirators against Caesar in "Julius Caesar".
**Marcus Brutus (Marcus Junius Brutus) ("usually just" "Brutus") is a central character of "Julius Caesar", who conspires against Caesar's life and stabs him.
*Buckingham:
**The Duke of Buckingham (1) (Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham) is a Lancastrian in Henry VI, Part 2. His death is reported in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**The Duke of Buckingham (2) (Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham) is a Yorkist in "Henry VI, Part 3", and is a co-conspirator with Richard - although he is eventually rejected, then murdered on Richard's orders - in "Richard III".
**The Duke of Buckingham (3) (Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham), an enemy of Wolsey, falls from grace and is executed by Henry in "Henry VIII".
*Anne Bullen (Anne Boleyn) is a maid of Honour to Katherine who later becomes King Henry's second wife, in "Henry VIII".
*Burgundy:
**The Duke of Burgundy (1) (John the Fearless) brokers the peace treaty between the kings of France and England in the last act of "Henry V".
**The Duke of Burgundy (2) (Philip the Good) fights firstly in alliance with the English, and later in alliance with the French, in "Henry VI, Part 1".
*Bushy is a favourite of Richard in "Richard II".
*Doctor Butts (William Butts) is the king's physician in "Henry VIII". He alerts the king to Cranmer's humiliation in refused admittance to the council chamber.

C

*Caesar:
**Julius Caesar (Julius Caesar) is the title character of "Julius Caesar", an Emperor of Rome who is stabbed in the Capitol, on the Ides of March.
**Octavius Caesar (Caesar Augustus) is one of the Triumvirs - the three rulers of Rome after Caesar's death, in "Julius Caesar" and "Antony and Cleopatra".
*Caius:
**Caius Cassius (Caius Cassius Longinus) is a central character in "Julius Caesar". He incites the conspiracy against Caesar, and recruits Brutus to the conspirators' ranks.
**Caius Ligarius (Quintus Ligarius) is one of the conspirators against Caesar in "Julius Caesar".
**Caius Martius Coriolanus is the central character of "Coriolanus", who earns the tile "Coriolanus" in recognition of his skill at smiting Volscians in Coriolai.
**Doctor Caius (John Caius) is a French doctor in "The Merry Wives of Windsor". He challenges Parson Hugh to a duel.
*Calphurnia (Calpurnia Pisonis) is the wife of Caesar, whose dream predicts her husband's death, in "Julius Caesar".
*The Earl of Cambridge (Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge) is one of the three conspirators against the king's life (with Scroop and Grey) in "Henry V".
*Cardinal Campeius (Lorenzo Campeggio) is the papal legate at the trial of Katherine, in "Henry VIII".
*Canidius (Publius Canidius Crassus) is a follower of Antony in "Antony and Cleopatra".
*Canterbury:
**The Archbishop of Canterbury (Henry Chichele) is an important character in the first act of "Henry V". He expounds Henry's claim to the French throne.
**Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury (Thomas Cranmer) is a major character in the last act of "Henry VIII": hauled before the privy council by his enemies and threatened with imprisonment, but protected by the king.
**"See also Cardinal Bourchier, who was Archbishop of Canterbury at the time dramatised in "Richard III"."
*Lord Caputius (Eustace Chapuys) is an ambassador from the Holy Roman Emperor in "Henry VIII".
*Cardinal:
**Cardinal Bourchier (Thomas Bourchier) delivers the little Duke of York from sanctuary, and into the hands of Richard and Buckingham, in "Richard III".
**Cardinal Campeius (Lorenzo Campeggio) is the papal legate at the trial of Katherine, in "Henry VIII".
**Cardinal Wolsey (Thomas Cardinal Wolsey) orchestrates the fall from grace of Buckingham and Katherine, but himself falls from grace and dies, in "Henry VIII".
**"See also the Bishop of Winchester, who becomes a Cardinal in the course of "Henry VI, Part 1".
*The Bishop of Carlisle (Thomas Merke) supports Richard in "Richard II".
*Casca (Servilius Casca) is one of the conspirators against Caesar, in "Julius Caesar". He has an important role in the early parts of the play, reporting offstage events.
*Caius Cassius (Caius Cassius Longinus) is a central character in "Julius Caesar". He incites the conspiracy against Caesar, and recruits Brutus to the conspirators' ranks.
*Catesby (William Catesby) is a double agent - seemingly loyal to Lord Hastings but actually reporting to Buckingham and Richard - in "Richard III".
*The Lord Chamberlain, in "Henry VIII" (Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester & William Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys of the Vyne) is a conflation of two historical Lords Chamberlain, one of them Lord Sandys, who is also a character in the play.
*The Lord Chancellor (historically Sir Thomas More, although not identified as such in the play) is among the Privy Counsellors who accuse Cranmer in "Henry VIII".
*The Dauphin, later King Charles VII of France (Charles VII of France) leads the French forces, with Joan, in "Henry VI, Part 1".
*The Lord Chief Justice (William Gascoigne) is a dramatic foil to Falstaff in "Henry IV, Part 2".
*Christopher Urswick (Christopher Urswick) is a minor character: a priest acting as messenger for Lord Stanley, in "Richard III".
*Metellus Cimber (Tillius Cimber) is one of the conspirators in "Julius Caesar".
*Cinna:
**Cinna (Lucius Cornelius Cinna) is one of the conspirators against Caesar in "Julius Caesar".
**Cinna (Helvius Cinna) is a poet, mistaken for the conspirator Cinna in "Julius Caesar". Realising they have the wrong man, the mob "kill him for his bad verses".
*Clarence:
**George, Duke of Clarence (George, Duke of Clarence) is the younger brother of Edward and the elder brother of Richard in Henry VI, part 3 and "Richard III". He is often known as "perjured Clarence", having broken his oath to Warwick and fighting instead for his brother's faction. He is eventually drowned in a butt of malmesy wine.
**Thomas, Duke of Clarence (Thomas of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Clarence) is Hal's younger brother, who appears in "Henry IV, Part 2" and "Henry V".
*Cleopatra (Cleopatra VII) is the lover of Antony in "Antony and Cleopatra". She commits suicide using a poisonous asp.
*Clifford:
**Clifford (sometimes called Young Clifford) (John Clifford, 9th Baron de Clifford) is a staunch Lancastrian, and is the Yorkists most hated enemy — as the killer of Rutland — in "Henry VI, Part 2" and "Henry VI, Part 3".
**Old Clifford (Thomas Clifford, 8th Baron de Clifford), father of Clifford, is a Lancastrian leader in "Henry VI, Part 2."
*The Constable of France (Charles d'Albret) leads the French forces in "Henry V".
*Constance (Constance, Duchess of Brittany) is Arthur's mother in "King John": a fierce advocate for her son's right to the English throne.
*Caius Martius Coriolanus (Coriolanus) is the central character of "Coriolanus", who earns the tile "Coriolanus" in recognition of his skill at smiting Volscians in Coriolai.
*Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury (Thomas Cranmer) is a major character in the last act of "Henry VIII": hauled before the privy council by his enemies and threatened with imprisonment, but protected by the king.
*Thomas Cromwell (Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex) is secretary to Wolsey, and later to the Privy Council, in "Henry VIII".
*Cymbeline (Cunobelinus), the title character of "Cymbeline", is king of the Britons, and father to Imogen, Guiderus and Arviragus.

D

*Dauphin (sometimes "Dolphin" in older texts):
**The Dauphin (Louis, Dauphin of France (1397-1415)) is Henry's chief enemy in "Henry V".
**The Dauphin, later King Charles VII of France (Charles VII of France) leads the French forces, with Joan, in "Henry VI, Part 1".
**"See also Lewis".
*Decius Brutus (Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus) is one of the conspirators against Caesar in "Julius Caesar".
*Sir Anthony Denny (Anthony Denny) is a minor character in "Henry VIII", who brings Cranmer to the King.
*Lord Stanley, Earl of Derby (Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby) is a military leader who ultimately reveals his loyalty to the Richmond faction, in spite of his son being a hostage to Richard, in "Richard III".
*Doctor (title):
**Doctor Butts (William Butts) is the king's physician in "Henry VIII". He alerts the king to Cranmer's humiliation in refused admittance to the council chamber.
**Doctor Caius (John Caius) is a French doctor in "The Merry Wives of Windsor." He challenges Parson Hugh to a duel.
*Dorset (Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset) and Grey (Richard Grey), are the two sons of Queen Elizabeth from her first marriage, who are arrested and executed on the orders of Buckingham and Richard in "Richard III".
*Duchess:
**Duchess of Gloucester:
***The Duchess of Gloucester (Eleanor de Bohun) is the widow of Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester. His murder (before the play opens) drives much of the action of "Richard II".
***Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester (Eleanor Cobham) is the wife of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester in "Henry VI, Part 2", in which she dabbles in witchcraft with disastrous results.
**Duchess of York:
***The Duchess of York (1) (Isabella of Castile, Duchess of York) is a (partly comic) character in "Richard II", who must plead for the life of her son, Aumerle.
***The Duchess of York (2) (Cecily Neville) is the wife of Richard, Duke of York (1) in "Henry VI, Part 3". She outlives him to mourn the death of two of their sons in "Richard III".
*Duke:
**"For" "Duke of Austria" "see Limoges."
**"For" "Duke of Bedford" "see Prince John of Lancaster."
**The Duke of Berry (John, Duke of Berry) is a French leader in "Henry V".
**The Duke of Bourbon (John I, Duke of Bourbon) fights on the French side in "Henry V".
**The Duke of Britain (John VI, Duke of Brittany) is a French leader in "Henry V".
**Duke of Buckingham:
***The Duke of Buckingham (1) (Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham) is a Lancastrian in "Henry VI, Part 2". His death is reported in "Henry VI, Part 3".
***The Duke of Buckingham (2) (Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham) is a Yorkist in "Henry VI, Part 3", and is a co-conspirator with Richard - although he is eventually rejected, then murdered on Richard's orders - in "Richard III".
***The Duke of Buckingham (3) (Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham), an enemy of Wolsey, falls from grace and is executed by Henry in "Henry VIII".
**Duke of Burgundy:
***The Duke of Burgundy (1) (John, Duke of Burgundy) brokers the peace treaty between the kings of France and England in the last act of "Henry V".
***The Duke of Burgundy (2) (Philip III, Duke of Burgundy) fights firstly in alliance with the English, and later in alliance with the French, in "Henry VI, Part 1".
**Duke of Clarence:
***George, Duke of Clarence (George, Duke of Clarence) is the younger brother of Edward and the elder brother of Richard in" Henry VI, Part 3" and "Richard III". He is often known as "perjured Clarence", having broken his oath to Warwick and fighting instead for his brother's faction. He is eventually drowned in a butt of malmesy wine.
***Thomas, Duke of Clarence (Thomas of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Clarence)is Hal's younger brother, who appears in "Henry IV, Part 2" and "Henry V".
**Duke of Exeter:
***The Duke of Exeter (1) (Thomas Beaufort, 1st Duke of Exeter) is an uncle of Henry V. He acts as emissary to the French King in "Henry V". He has a more choric role in "Henry VI, Part 1".
***The Duke of Exeter (2) (Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter) is a Lancastrian leader in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**Duke of Gloucester:
***Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester) appears as a brother of Hal in "Henry IV, Part 2" and "Henry V". He is a much more important character as the protector in "Henry VI, Part 1" and "Henry VI, Part 2", in which he is murdered by his rivals.
***Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later Richard III (Richard III of England), brave but evil, is the third son of Richard, Duke of York (1). He is a fairly minor character in "Henry VI, Part 2", is more prominent in "Henry VI, Part 3", and is the title character - and murderer of many other characters - in "Richard III".
**Duke of Lancaster:
***John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster), uncle to King Richard and father to Bolingbroke, dies in "Richard II", having delivered his famous "This sceptred isle..." speech.
***"See also Bolingbroke, son to John of Gaunt, who claims the dukedom of Lancaster on his father's death."
**Duke of Norfolk:
***The Duke of Norfolk (John de Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk) is a supporter of the Yorkists in "Henry VI, Part 3".
***The Duke of Norfolk (John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk) is a supporter of Richard in "Richard III".
***The Duke of Norfolk (Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk & Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk) is an associate of Buckingham in "Henry VIII".
***Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk (Thomas de Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk) is Bolingbroke's enemy, exiled by Richard, in "Richard II".
**The Duke of Orleans (Charles, duc d'Orléans) fights on the French side in "Henry V".
**Duke of Somerset:
***The Duke of Somerset (1) (John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset) is a follower of King Henry in "Henry VI, Part 1".
***The Duke of Somerset (2) (Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset) appears among the Lancastrian faction in "Henry VI, Part 2". His head is carried onstage by Richard (later Richard III) in the opening scene of "Henry VI, Part 3".
***The Duke of Somerset (3) (Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset and Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset) is a conflation by Shakespeare of two historical Dukes of Somerset. He supports both factions at different stages of "Henry VI, Part 3".
**Duke of Suffolk:
***The Duke of Suffolk (Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk) is a courtier, cynical about the King's relationship with Anne Bullen, in "Henry VIII".
***The Duke of Suffolk (William de la Pole) (William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk) is a manipulative character, loved by Queen Margaret, in "Henry VI, Part 1" and "Henry VI, Part 2".
**The Duke of Surrey (Thomas Holland, 1st Duke of Surrey) accuses Aumerle of plotting Woodstock's death in "Richard II".
**Duke of York:
***The Duke of York (1) (Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York) is the uncle of both Richard and Bolingbroke in "Richard II".
***The Duke of York (2) (Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York) is a minor character, the leader of the "vaward" in "Henry V". (Historically this character is one and the same person as Aumerle.)
***Richard, Duke of York (1) (Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York) is a central character in "Henry VI, Part 1", "Henry VI, Part 2". and "Henry VI, Part 3". He is the Yorkist claimant to the throne of England, in opposition to Henry VI, and he is eventually killed on the orders of Queen Margaret.
***Richard, Duke of York (2) (Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York) is the younger of the two princes in the tower, murdered on the orders of Richard in "Richard III".

E

*Earl:
**Lord Stanley, Earl of Derby (Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby) is a military leader who ultimately reveals his loyalty to the Richmond faction, in spite of his son being a hostage to Richard, in "Richard III".
**The Earl of Essex (Geoffrey Fitz Peter, 1st Earl of Essex) is a minor character at the court of John in "King John".
**The Earl of Cambridge (Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge) is one of the three conspirators against the king's life (with Scroop and Grey) in "Henry V".
**The Earl of Huntingdon (John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter) is a non-speaking follower of the king in "Henry V".
**Earl of Northumberland:
***The Earl of Northumberland, Henry Percy, (Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland) is an important character in "Richard II", where he is Bolingbroke's chief ally, and in "Henry IV, Part 1" and "Henry IV, Part 2", in which he leads the rebellion against his former ally, who is now king.
***The Earl of Northumberland (Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland) fights for the Lancastrians in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**The Earl of Oxford (John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford) is a staunch Lancastrian, supporting Henry in "Henry VI, Part 3", and Richmond in "Richard III".
**Earl of Pembroke:
***The Earl of Pembroke (William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke), together with Salisbury and Bigot, fear for the life of young Arthur, and later discover his body, in "King John".
***The Earl of Pembroke (William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1468 creation)) is a non-speaking Yorkist in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**The Earl of Richmond, later King Henry VII (Henry VII of England) leads the rebellion against the cruel rule of "Richard III", and eventually succeeds him as king.
**Earl Rivers (Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers), is the brother to Queen Elizabeth in "Richard III". He is arrested and executed on the orders of Richard and Buckingham.
**Earl of Salisbury:
***The Earl of Salisbury (William de Longespee, 3rd Earl of Salisbury) delivers bad news to Constance, in "King John".
***The Earl of Salisbury (John Montacute, 3rd Earl of Salisbury) remains loyal to King Richard in "Richard II".
***The Earl of Salisbury (Thomas Montacute, 4th Earl of Salisbury) fights for the king in "Henry V". He is killed by the Master Gunner's Boy in "Henry VI, Part 1".
***The Earl of Salisbury (Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury) supports the Yorkists in "Henry VI, Part 2".
**Earl of Surrey:
***The Earl of Surrey is a supporter of the king in "Henry IV, Part 2".
***The Earl of Surrey (Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk) is a son-in-law of Buckingham in "Henry VIII".
**Earl of Warwick:
***The Earl of Warwick (1) (Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick) is a supporter of the kings in "Henry IV, Part 2", "Henry V" and "Henry VI, Part 1".
***The Earl of Warwick (2) (Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick) is an important player in the Wars of the Roses, firstly for the Yorkist party, and then for the Lancastrians. He appears in "Henry VI, Part 2" and "Henry VI, Part 3".
**Earl of Westmoreland:
***The Earl of Westmoreland (1) (Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland) is one of the leaders of the royal forces in "Henry IV, Part 1", "Henry IV, Part 2" and "Henry V".
***The Earl of Westmoreland (2) (Ralph Neville, 2nd Earl of Westmorland) fights for King Henry in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**The Earl of Worcester (Thomas Percy, 1st Earl of Worcester) is the brother of the Earl of Northumberland, and a leader of the rebel forces, in "Henry IV, Part 1".
*Edmund Mortimer (Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March) is a claimant to the English throne, and a leader of the rebel forces, in "Henry IV, Part 1" and explains the Yorkist claim to the crown to Richard, Duke of York (1), in "Henry VI, Part 1".
*Edward:
**Edward later King Edward IV (Edward IV of England) is the eldest son of Richard, Duke of York (1) in "Henry VI, Part 2" and "Henry VI, Part 3" - in which he becomes king. He dies in "Richard III".
**Prince Edward:
***Prince Edward (Edward of Westminster) is the son of Henry VI, who joins his mother Queen Margaret as a leader of the Lancastrian forces in "Henry VI, Part 3". He is killed by the three Yorks (Edward, George and Richard).
***Prince Edward of York later King Edward V (Edward V of England) is the eldest son of Edward IV and Queen Elizabeth. He appears in "Henry VI, Part 3", and is the elder of the two princes in the tower in "Richard III".
*Eleanor:
**Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester (Eleanor Cobham) is the wife of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester in "Henry VI, Part 2", in which she dabbles in witchcraft with disastrous results.
**Queen Eleanor (Eleanor of Aquitaine) is the mother of "King John". She takes a liking to Philip the Bastard, and recruits him to John's court.
*Queen Elizabeth (Elizabeth Woodville) is a suitor to, and then queen to, Edward IV in "Henry VI, Part 3" and "Richard III". She is a major character in the later play, and a foil to Richard.
*Ely:
**The Bishop of Ely (1) (John Fordham) conspires with the Archbishop of Canterbury in the opening scene of "Henry V".
**The Bishop of Ely (2) (John Morton) ultimately shows his opposition to Richard, in "Richard III".
*Enobarbus (Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus (consul 32 BC)), is a major character in "Antony and Cleopatra": a follower of Antony who later abandons him to join Caesar.
*Sir Thomas Erpingham (Thomas Erpingham) is the commander of the longbowmen at Agincourt in "Henry V".
*The Earl of Essex (Geoffrey Fitz Peter, 1st Earl of Essex) is a minor character at John's court in "King John".
*Exeter:
**The Duke of Exeter (1) (Thomas Beaufort, 1st Duke of Exeter) is an uncle of Henry V. He acts as emissary to the French King in "Henry V". He has a more choric role in "Henry VI, Part 1".
**The Duke of Exeter (2) (Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter) is a Lancastrian leader in "Henry VI, Part 3".

F

*Sir John Falstaff (Sir John Oldcastle and Sir John Fastolfe) is a central character of "Henry IV, Part 1", "Henry IV, Part 2", and "The Merry Wives of Windsor". In the Henry plays, he is "bad angel" to prince Hal, and is eventually rejected by him. He is the lecherous gull of the title characters in Merry Wives. His death is reported in "Henry V", although he is not a character in that play. He is (with Hamlet) one of the two most significant roles in Shakespeare.
*Sir John Fastolfe (John Fastolf) is a coward, stripped of his garter in "Henry VI, Part 1".
*Lord Fitzwalter (Walter FitzWalter, 5th Baron FitzWalter) is among those who challenges Aumerle in "Richard II".
*France:
**The Constable of France (Charles d'Albret) leads the French forces in "Henry V".
**The Dauphin, later King Charles VII of France (Charles VII of France) leads the French forces, with Joan, in "Henry VI, Part 1".
**The King of France (Charles VI of France) is henry's enemy in "Henry V".
**King Lewis XI of France (Louis XI of France), insulted by Edward IV's marriage to Lady Grey, allies himself with Warwick and Margaret in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**King Philip of France (Philip II of France) allies himself with Constance in support of Arthur's claim, but later makes peace with John in "King John".
**The Queen of France (Isabeau of Bavaria) appears in the last act of "Henry V".

G

*Gallus (Cornelius Gallus) is a follower of Caesar in "Antony and Cleopatra".
*Gardiner (Stephen Gardiner) is the King's secretary, and later Bishop of Winchester. He is Cranmer's chief enemy, in "Henry VIII".
*John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster), uncle to King Richard and father to Bolingbroke, dies in "Richard II", having delivered his famous "This sceptred isle..." speech.
*George, Duke of Clarence (George, Duke of Clarence) is the younger brother of Edward and the elder brother of Richard in "Henry VI, Part 3" and "Richard III". He is often known as "purjured Clarence", having broken his oath to Warwick and fighting instead for his brother's faction. He is eventually drowned in a butt of malmesy wine.
*Girl (Margaret Pole) in "Richard III" is the young daughter of the murdered Clarence.
*Owen Glendower (Owen Glendower), a warrior and magician who tries the patience of Hotspur, leads the Welsh forces in the rebellion in "Henry IV, Part 1".
*Gloucester:
**The Duchess of Gloucester (Eleanor de Bohun) is the widow of Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester. His murder (before the play opens) drives much of the action of "Richard II".
**Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester (Eleanor Cobham) is the wife of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester in "Henry VI, Part 2", in which she dabbles in witchcraft with disastrous results.
**Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester) appears as a brother of Hal in "Henry IV, Part 2" and "Henry V". He is a much more important character as the protector in "Henry VI, Part 1" and "Henry VI, Part 2", in which he is murdered by his rivals.
**Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later Richard III (Richard III of England), brave but evil, is the third son of Richard, Duke of York (1). He is a fairly minor character in "Henry VI, Part 2", is more prominent in "Henry VI, Part 3", and is the title character - and murderer of many other characters - in "Richard III".
*Matthew Gough is an enemy of Jack Cade's rebels in "Henry VI, Part 2".
*Governor:
**The Governor of Harfleur surrenders to "Henry V".
**The Governor of Paris has an oath of allegiance administered to him by Gloucester (but has no lines of his own) in "Henry VI, Part 1".
*John Gower (John Gower) is the "Presenter", a narrator, of "Pericles, Prince of Tyre".
*Green is a favourite of Richard in "Richard II".
*Grey:
**Grey (Richard Grey) and Dorset (Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset) are the two sons of Queen Elizabeth from her first marriage, who are arrested and executed on the orders of Buckingham and Richard in "Richard III".
**Sir Thomas Grey (Thomas Grey (1384-1415)) is one of the three conspirators against the king's life (with Cambridge and Scroop) in "Henry V".
**"For" Lady Grey "see Queen Elizabeth."
*Sir Henry Guildford welcomes guests to Cardinal Wolsey's party in "Henry VIII".

H

*Hal, later King Henry V (sometimes called "The Prince of Wales", "Prince Henry" or just "Harry") (King Henry V of England) is a central character in "Henry IV, Part 1" and "Henry IV, Part 2" and is the title character of "Henry V". He has a closer relationship with Falstaff than with his father (Henry IV), but he eventually ascends the throne, rejects Falstaff, and leads the English to victory at Agincourt.
*The Governor of Harfleur surrenders to "Henry V".
*Harry:
**Harry Percy - see Hotspur.
**"See also Hal, Bolingbroke.
**"See also "Henry".
*Lord Hastings (William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings) is the prime minister, beheaded on Richard's orders in "Richard III".
*Henry:
**Bolingbroke, later King Henry IV (Henry IV of England) leads a revolt against King Richard in "Richard II". He is the title character of "Henry IV, Part 1" and "Henry IV, Part 2" which chart the rebellions against him by the Percy faction, and his difficult relationship with his eldest son, Hal.
**King Henry VI (Henry VI of England), the title character of "Henry VI, Part 1", "Henry VI, Part 2", and "Henry VI, Part 3", is a weak and ineffectual king, and the plays chart the rebellions against him, leading to his overthrow and murder.
**The Earl of Richmond, later King Henry VII (Henry VII of England) leads the rebellion against the cruel rule of "Richard III", and eventually succeeds him as king.
**King Henry VIII (Henry VIII of England) is the central character of the play "Henry VIII", portrayed as a wise and strong ruler.
**The Earl of Northumberland, Henry Percy, (Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland) is an important character in "Richard II", where he is Bolingbroke's chief ally, and in "Henry IV, Part 1" and "Henry IV, Part 2", in which he leads the rebellion against his former ally, who is now king.
**Prince Henry (Henry III of England) appears towards the end of "King John", as successor to the title character.
**Sir Henry Guildford welcomes guests to Cardinal Wolsey's party, in "Henry VIII".
*Sir Walter Herbert is a follower of Richmond in "Richard III".
*Hotspur or Harry Percy (Henry Percy), brave and chivalrous but hot-headed and sometimes comical, is an important foil to Hal, and leader of the rebel forces, in "Henry IV, Part 1".
*Hubert (Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent) is a henchman in "King John". He resolves to put out Arthur's eyes, on John's orders, but eventually relents.
*Sir Hugh Mortimer is an uncle of Richard Duke of York (1) in "Henry VI, Part 3".
*Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester) appears as a brother of Hal in "Henry IV, Part 2" and "Henry V". He is a much more important character as the protector in "Henry VI, Part 1" and "Henry VI, Part 2", in which he is murdered by his rivals.
*The Earl of Huntingdon (John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter) is a non-speaking follower of the king in "Henry V".

I

*Alexander Iden kills Jack Cade in "Henry VI, Part 2".
*Queen Isabel (Isabella of Valois) is Richard's queen in "Richard II", exiled upon his deposition.

J

*Jack Cade leads a proletarian rebellion in "Henry VI, Part 2".
*Joan la Pucelle (Joan of Arc), leads the Dauphin's forces against Talbot and the English in "Henry VI, Part 1".
*John:
**John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster), uncle to King Richard and father to Bolingbroke, dies in "Richard II", having delivered his famous "This sceptred isle..." speech.
**John Gower is the "Presenter", or narrator, of "Pericles, Prince of Tyre".
**John Talbot (John Talbot, 1st Viscount Lisle) is the son of Sir John Talbot. They die together bravely in battle in "Henry VI, Part 1".
**King John (John of England) is the title character of "King John": a king whose throne is under threat from the claim of his young nephew, Arthur.
**Prince John of Lancaster (John, Duke of Bedford), the younger brother of Hal, would be a fairly minor character in "Henry IV, Part 1", "Henry IV, Part 2", and "Henry V", were it not for his central, unscrupulous, role in the "Gaultree Forest" episode of "Henry IV, Part 2". He is also the Duke of Bedford who is Regent of France in "Henry VI, Part 1".
**Sir John Blunt is a supporter of the king in "Henry IV, Part 2".
**Sir John Falstaff (Sir John Oldcastle and Sir John Fastolfe) is a central character of "Henry IV, Part 1", "Henry IV, Part 2", and "The Merry Wives of Windsor". In the Henry plays, he is "bad angel" to prince Hal, and is eventually rejected by him. He is the lecherous gull of the title characters in Merry Wives. His death is reported in "Henry V", although he is not a character in that play. He is (with Hamlet) one of the two most significant roles in Shakespeare.
**Sir John Fastolfe is a coward, stripped of his garter in "Henry VI, Part 1".
**Sir John Montgomery (historically "Thomas" Montgomery) is a minor Yorkist character in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**Sir John Mortimer is an uncle of Richard Duke of York (1) in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**Sir John Stanley supervises Eleanor's penance in "Henry VI, Part 2".
**Sir John Talbot (John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury) is the leader of the English forces in France, and therefore the chief enemy of Joan, in "Henry VI, Part 1".
*Julius Caesar is the title character of "Julius Caesar", an Emperor of Rome who is stabbed in the Capitol, on the Ides of March.
*The Lord Chief Justice (William Gascoigne) is a dramatic foil to Falstaff in "Henry IV, Part 2".

K

*Katharine/Katherine:
**Katharine (Catherine of Valois) is the French princess who marries Henry in "Henry V".
**Queen Katherine of Aragon (Catherine of Aragon) is the first wife of King Henry in "Henry VIII". She falls from grace, is divorced and dies.
*King:
**King of France:
***The King of France (Charles VI of France) is Henry's enemy in "Henry V".
***The Dauphin, later King Charles VII of France (Charles VII of France) leads the French forces, with Joan, in "Henry VI, Part 1".
***King Lewis XI of France (Louis XI of France), insulted by Edward IV's marriage to Lady Grey, allies himself with Warwick and Margaret in "Henry VI, Part 3".
***King Philip of France (Philip II of France) allies himself with Constance in support of Arthur's claim, but later makes peace with John in "King John".
**King Edward:
***Edward later King Edward IV (Edward IV of England) is the eldest son of Richard, Duke of York (1) in "Henry VI, Part 2" and "Henry VI, Part 3" - in which he becomes king. He dies in "Richard III".
***Prince Edward of York later King Edward V (Edward V of England) is the eldest son of Edward IV and Queen Elizabeth. He appears in "Henry VI, Part 3", and is the elder of the two princes in the tower in "Richard III".
**King Henry:
***Bolingbroke, later King Henry IV (Henry IV of England) leads a revolt against King Richard in "Richard II". He is the title character of "Henry IV, Part 1" and "Henry IV, Part 2".
***Hal, later King Henry V (sometimes called "The Prince of Wales", "Prince Henry" or just "Harry") (King Henry V) is a central character in "Henry IV, Part 1" and "Henry IV, Part 2" and is the title character of "Henry V".
***King Henry VI (Henry VI of England) is the title character of "Henry VI, Part 1", "Henry VI, Part 2", and "Henry VI, Part 3".
***The Earl of Richmond, later King Henry VII (Henry VII of England) leads the rebellion against the cruel rule of "Richard III", and eventually succeeds him as king.
***King Henry VIII (Henry VIII of England) is the central character of the play "Henry VIII", portrayed as a wise and strong ruler.
**King John (John of England) is the title character of "King John": a king whose throne is under threat from the claim of his young nephew, Arthur.
**King Richard:
***King Richard II (Richard II of England) is the title character of "Richard II": a king who is deposed and eventually murdered.
***Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III (Richard III of England), brave but evil, is the third son of Richard, Duke of York (1). He is a fairly minor character in "Henry VI, Part 2", is more prominent in "Henry VI, Part 3", and is the title character in "Richard III".

L

*Lady:
**Lady Anne (Anne Neville) is the widow of Prince Edward, wooed by Richard over the corpse of her late father-in-law (Henry VI) in "Richard III".
**Lady Bona (Bona of Savoy) is King Lewis's sister-in-law, whose hopes to marry Edward are thwarted, in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**Lady Northumberland (Margaret Neville, Countess of Northumberland) is the Earl of Northumberland's wife, who dissuades him from joining the rebels at Gaultree Forest in "Henry IV, Part 2".
**Lady Percy (sometimes called "Kate") (Lady Elizabeth Neville) is Hotspur's wife, later his widow, in "Henry IV, Part 1" and "Henry IV, Part 2".
*Lancaster:
**John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster), uncle to King Richard and father to Bolingbroke, dies in "Richard II".
**Prince John of Lancaster (John, Duke of Bedford), the younger brother of Hal, appears in "Henry IV, Part 1", "Henry IV, Part 2", and "Henry V". He is also the Duke of Bedford who is Regent of France in" Henry VI, Part 1".
**"See also Bolingbroke (Henry IV), Henry V, Henry VI, Queen Margaret, Prince Edward and Lady Anne, all of whom are either "Duke of Lancaster" or "of the House of Lancaster".
*Lepidus (Marcus Aemilius Lepidus) is one of the Triumvirs, the three rulers of Rome after Caesar's death, in "Julius Caesar" and "Antony and Cleopatra".
*Lewis:
**King Lewis XI of France (Louis XI of France), insulted by Edward IV's marriage to Lady Grey, allies himself with Warwick and Margaret in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**Lewis (Louis VIII of France) is the Dauphin in "King John". He marries John's niece, Blanche, to cement an alliance with England. Later he leads forces against John.
**"Note that "Lewis" in Shakespeare is equivalent to an historical "Louis"."
*Caius Ligarius (Quintus Ligarius) is one of the conspirators against Caesar in "Julius Caesar".
*Limoges (Leopold V, Duke of Austria) is the Duke of Austria in "King John". He is intimidated - and eventually beheaded in battle - by the Bastard.
*The Bishop of Lincoln (John Longland) speaks in favour of Henry's divorce, in the trial scene of "Henry VIII".
*The Lord Mayor of London is fooled by Richard and Buckingham, and supports Richard's succession, in "Richard III".
*The Lord Chamberlain, in "Henry VIII" (Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester & William Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys of the Vyne) is a conflation of two historical Lords Chamberlain, one of them Lord Sandys, who is also a character in the play.
*The Lord Chancellor (historically Sir Thomas More, although not identified as such in the play) is among the Privy Counsellors who accuse Cranmer in "Henry VIII".
*The Lord Chief Justice (William Gascoigne) is a dramatic foil to Falstaff in "Henry IV, Part 2".
*Sir Thomas Lovell (Thomas Lovell) is a courtier of King Henry, in "Henry VIII".
*"For" "Louis" "see Lewis."

M

*Maecenas (Gaius Maecenas) is a follower of Caesar in "Antony and Cleopatra".
*Marcus:
**Marcus Aemilius Lepidus is one of the Triumvirs, the three rulers of Rome after Caesar's death, in "Julius Caesar" and "Antony and Cleopatra".
**Marcus Brutus (Marcus Junius Brutus) ("usually just Brutus") is a central character of "Julius Caesar", who conspires against Caesar's life and stabs him.
**"See also Mark, especially in the context of the Roman plays, where the two are often interchangeable. Mark Antony, for example, was historically "Marcus Antonius"."
*Queen Margaret (Margaret of Anjou) is the only truly epic character in Shakespeare. She appears as a naive girl in "Henry VI, Part 1" and as an embittered old woman in "Richard III". She is a central character of the two intervening plays, "Henry VI, Part 2" and "Henry VI, Part 3", in which she is the wife of Henry VI, and a leader of his armies. In her most notable scene she supervises the murder/execution of Richard Duke of York.
*Mark Antony "(Often just Antony, and sometimes Marcus Antonius)" turns the mob against Caesar's killers and becomes a Triumvir in "Julius Caesar". His romance with Cleopatra drives the action of "Antony and Cleopatra".
*Marquess:
**The Marquess of Montague (John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu) is a follower of Warwick (his brother) in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**"For" Marquess of Suffolk "see Duke of Suffolk. William De La Pole held both titles during the period dramatised by Shakespeare."
*Caius Martius Coriolanus is the central character of "Coriolanus", who earns the tile "Coriolanus" in recognition of his skill at smiting Volscians in Coriolai.
*Matthew Gough is an enemy of Jack Cade's rebels in "Henry VI, Part 2".
**The Mayor of York reluctantly supports the Yorkists in "Henry VI, Part 3".
*Menas a follower of Pompey, suggests cutting loose the boat where the triumvirs are feasting, in "Antony and Cleopatra".
*Menecrates is a follower of Pompey in "Antony and Cleopatra".
*Metellus Cimber (Tillius Cimber) is one of the conspirators in "Julius Caesar".
*Sir John Montgomery (historically "Thomas" Montgomery) is a minor Yorkist character in "Henry VI, Part 3".
*Mortimer:
**Edmund Mortimer (Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March) is a claimant to the English throne, and a leader of the rebel forces, in "Henry IV, Part 1" and explains the Yorkist claim to the crown to Richard Duke of York (1), in "Henry VI, Part 1".
**Lady Mortimer, daughter of Glendower and wife of Edmund Mortimer (1), sings in Welsh in "Henry IV, Part 1".
**Sir Hugh Mortimer is an uncle of Richard Duke of York (1) in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**Sir John Mortimer is an uncle of Richard Duke of York (1) in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**"See also Jack Cade, who falsely claims to be one John Mortimer, a claimant to the throne.
*Mowbray:
**Lord Mowbray is a rebel leader in "Henry IV, Part 2".
**Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk is Bolingbroke's enemy, exiled by Richard, in "Richard II".

N

*Sir Nicholas Vaux (Nicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux of Harrowden) is a minor character in the scene leading to Buckingham's execution, in "Henry VIII".
*Norfolk:
**The Duke of Norfolk (John de Mowbray, 3rd Duke of Norfolk) is a supporter of the Yorkists in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**The Duke of Norfolk (John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk) is a supporter of Richard in "Richard III".
**The Duke of Norfolk (Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk & hist) is an associate of Buckingham in "Henry VIII".
**Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk is Bolingbroke's enemy, exiled by Richard, in "Richard II".
*Northumberland:
**Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland is Bolingbroke's chief ally in "Richard II"; in "Henry IV, Part 1" and "Henry IV, Part 2" he leads the rebellion against his former ally, who is now king.
**The Earl of Northumberland (Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland) fights for the Lancastrians in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**Lady Northumberland is the Earl of Northumberland's wife, who dissuades him from joining the rebels at Gaultree Forest in "Henry IV, Part 2".

O

*Octavia, sister of Octavius, marries Mark Antony when he is widowed in "Antony and Cleopatra". Their marriage causes great distress to Antony's lover, Cleopatra.
*Octavius Caesar (Caesar Augustus) is one of the Triumvirs, the three rulers of Rome after Caesar's death, in "Julius Caesar" and "Antony and Cleopatra".
*Old Clifford (Thomas Clifford, 8th Baron Clifford), father of Clifford, is a Lancastrian leader in "Henry VI, Part 2".
*The Duke of Orleans (Charles, duc d'Orléans) fights on the French side in "Henry V".
*Owen Glendower is a warrior and magician who tries the patience of Hotspur and leads the Welsh forces in the rebellion in "Henry IV, Part 1".
*The Earl of Oxford (John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford) is a staunch Lancastrian, supporting Henry in "Henry VI, Part 3", and Richmond in "Richard III".

P

*Pembroke:
**The Earl of Pembroke (William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke), together with Salisbury and Bigot, fear for the life of young Arthur, and later discover his body, in "King John".
**The Earl of Pembroke (William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1506-1570)) is a non-speaking Yorkist in "Henry VI, Part 3".
*Percy:
**Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland is Bolingbroke's chief ally in "Richard II"; in "Henry IV, Part 1" and "Henry IV, Part 2" he leads the rebellion against his former ally, who is now king.
**Lady Percy (sometimes called "Kate") is Hotspur's wife, later his widow, in "Henry IV, Part 1" and "Henry IV, Part 2".
**"For Thomas Percy, see Earl of Worcester."
**"See also Lady Northumberland."
*King Philip of France allies himself with Constance in support of Arthur's claim, but later makes peace with "King John".
*The Duke of Suffolk (William de la Pole) (William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk) is a manipulative character, loved by Queen Margaret, in "Henry VI, Part 1" and "Henry VI, Part 2".
*Pompey or Sextus Pompeius is the enemy of the Triumvirate in "Antony and Cleopatra".
*Portia (Porcia Catonis) is the wife of Brutus in "Julius Caesar".
*Prince:
**Prince Edward:
***Prince Edward (Edward of Westminster) is the son of Henry VI, who joins his mother Queen Margaret as a leader of the Lancastrian forces in "Henry VI, Part 3". He is killed by the three Yorks (Edward, George and Richard).
***Prince Edward of York later King Edward V (Edward V of England) is the eldest son of Edward IV and Queen Elizabeth. He appears in "Henry VI, Part 3", and is the elder of the two princes in the tower in Richard III.
**Prince Henry (Henry III of England) appears towards the end of" King John", as successor to the title character.
**Prince John of Lancaster (John, Duke of Bedford), the younger brother of Hal in "Henry IV, Part 1", "Henry IV, Part 2". and "Henry V". He is also the Duke of Bedford who is Regent of France in "Henry VI, Part 1".
**"For" Prince of Wales "see Hal, Prince Edward, Prince Edward of York."
*Proculeius is a follower of Caesar in "Antony and Cleopatra".
*Joan la Pucelle (Joan of Arc), leads the Dauphin's forces against Talbot and the English in "Henry VI, Part 1".

Q

*Queen:
**Queen Eleanor (Eleanor of Aquitaine) is the mother of the King in "King John". She takes a liking to Philip the Bastard, and recruits him to John's court.
**Queen Elizabeth (Elizabeth Woodville) is a suitor to, and then queen to, Edward IV in "Henry VI, Part 3" and "Richard III".
**The Queen of France (Isabeau of Bavaria) appears in the last act of "Henry V".
**Queen Gertrude is Hamlet's mother in "Hamlet". She has married Claudius.
**Queen Isabel (Isabella of Valois) is Richard's queen in "Richard II", exiled upon his deposition.
**Queen Katherine of Aragon is the first wife of King Henry in "Henry VIII". She falls from grace, is divorced and dies.
**Queen Margaret (Margaret of Anjou) appears as a naive girl in "Henry VI, Part 1" and as an embittered old woman in "Richard III". She is a central character of the two intervening plays, "Henry VI, Part 2" and "Henry VI, Part 3", in which she is the wife of Henry VI, and a leader of his armies. In her most notable scene she supervises the murder/execution of Richard Duke of York.

R

*Sir Richard Ratcliffe (Richard Ratcliffe) is a confidante of Richard in "Richard III".
*Reignier (René I of Naples) is the impoverished king of Naples and Jerusalem, and father to Queen Margaret, in "Henry VI, Part 1".
*Richard:
**King Richard II is the title character of "Richard II": a king who is deposed and eventually murdered.
**Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III, brave but evil, is the third son of Richard, Duke of York (1). He is a fairly minor character in "Henry VI, Part 2", is more prominent in "Henry VI, Part 3", and is the title character in "Richard III".
**Richard, Duke of York (1) (Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York) is a central character in "Henry VI, Part 1", "Henry VI, Part 2". and "Henry VI, Part 3". He is the Yorkist claimant to the throne of England, in opposition to Henry VI, and he is eventually killed on the orders of Queen Margaret.
**Richard, Duke of York (2) (Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York) is the younger of the two princes in the tower, murdered on the orders of Richard in "Richard III".
**Sir Richard Vernon is a follower of the rebel forces in "Henry IV, Part 1".
*The Earl of Richmond, later King Henry VII (Henry VII of England) leads the rebellion against the cruel rule of "Richard III", and eventually succeeds him as king.
*Earl Rivers (Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers), is the brother to Queen Elizabeth in "Richard III". He is arrested and executed on the orders of Richard and Buckingham.
*Lord Ross (William de Ros, 7th Baron de Ros) is a supporter of Bolingbroke in "Richard II".
*Rutland (Edmund, Earl of Rutland) is the youngest son of Richard Duke of York (1), killed in battle while still a boy, by Clifford, in "Henry VI, part 3". (Historically, Rutland was not the youngest of the four York brothers depicted in the plays. Shakespeare made him so using dramatic licence.)

*Salisbury:
**The Earl of Salisbury (William de Longespee, 3rd Earl of Salisbury) delivers bad news to Constance, in "King John".
**The Earl of Salisbury (John Montacute, 3rd Earl of Salisbury) remains loyal to King Richard in "Richard II".
**The Earl of Salisbury (Thomas Montacute, 4th Earl of Salisbury) fights for the king in "Henry V". He is killed by the Master Gunner's Boy in "Henry VI, Part 1".
**The Earl of Salisbury (Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury) supports the Yorkists in "Henry VI, Part 2".
*Lord Sandys (pronounced "sands") (William Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys of the Vyne) is a courtier in "Henry VIII".
*Lord Saye (James Fiennes, 1st Baron Saye and Sele) is an enemy of Jack Cade, killed by the rebels, in "Henry VI, Part 2".
*Lord Scales is an enemy of Jack Cade's rebels in "Henry VI, Part 2".
*Scroop:
**Lord Scroop is one of the three conspirators against the king's life (with Cambridge and Grey) in "Henry V".
**Scroop supports Richard in "Richard II".
**"See also Archbishop of York."
*Seleucus is Cleopatra's treasurer, in "Antony and Cleopatra".
*Sextus Pompeius or Pompey is the enemy of the Triumvirate in "Antony and Cleopatra".
*Seyward:
**Seyward is the Earl of Northumberland in "Macbeth".
**Young Seyward is the son of the Earl of Northumberland in "Macbeth".
*Somerset:
**The Duke of Somerset (1) (John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset) is a follower of King Henry in "Henry VI, Part 1".
**The Duke of Somerset (2) (Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset) appears among the Lancastrian faction in "Henry VI, Part 2". His head is carried onstage by Richard (later Richard III) in the opening scene of "Henry VI, Part 3".
**The Duke of Somerset (3) is a conflation by Shakespeare of two historical Dukes of Somerset (Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset and Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset). He supports both factions at different stages of "Henry VI, Part 3".
*Southwell, with Hume, Jourdain and Bolingbroke, are the supernatural conspirators with Eleanor Duchess of Gloucester in "Henry VI, Part 2".
*Stafford:
**Lord Stafford is a non-speaking Yorkist in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**Sir Humphrey Stafford is an enemy of Jack Cade in "Henry VI, Part 2".
**Stafford's Brother is an enemy of Jack Cade in "Henry VI, Part 2".
*Stanley:
**Lord Stanley, Earl of Derby (Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby) is a military leader who ultimately reveals his loyalty to the Richmond faction, in spite of his son being a hostage to Richard, in "Richard III".
**Sir John Stanley supervises Eleanor's penance in "Henry VI, Part 2".
**Sir William Stanley (William Stanley (Battle of Bosworth)), the historical brother of Lord Stanley from "Richard III", is a minor character of the Yorkist faction in "Henry VI, Part 3".
*Suffolk:
**The Duke of Suffolk (Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk) is a courtier, cynical about the King's relationship with Anne Bullen, in "Henry VIII".
**The Duke of Suffolk (William de la Pole) (William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk) is a manipulative character, loved by Queen Margaret, in "Henry VI, Part 1" and "Henry VI, Part 2".
*Surrey:
**The Duke of Surrey (Thomas Holland, 1st Duke of Surrey) accuses Aumerle of plotting Woodstock's death in "Richard II".
**The Earl of Surrey is a supporter of the king in "Henry IV, Part 2".
**The Earl of Surrey (Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk) is a son-in-law of Buckingham in "Henry VIII".
*A Surveyor to the Duke of Buckingham gives evidence of his (alleged) treachery, in "Henry VIII".

T

*Talbot:
**John Talbot is the son of Sir John Talbot. They die together bravely in battle in "Henry VI, Part 1".
**Sir John Talbot (John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury) is the leader of the English forces in France, and therefore the chief enemy of Joan, in "Henry VI, Part 1".
*Tamora is the evil queen of the Goths who marries Saturninus in "Titus Andronicus".
*Taurus (Titus Statilius Taurus) is a follower of Caesar in "Antony and Cleopatra".
*Thidias is a follower of Caesar in "Antony and Cleopatra", sent with messages to Cleopatra and to Antony.
*Timon is the central character of "Timon of Athens". His over-generosity leads him into poverty, and his friends abandon him.
*Trebonius is one of the conspirators against "Julius Caesar".
*Sir James Tyrrell is employed to murder the princes in the tower in "Richard III"

V

*Sir Thomas Vaughan (Thomas Vaughan (soldier)) is executed, alongside Rivers and Grey, in "Richard III".
*Vaux:
**Sir Nicholas Vaux (Nicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux of Harrowden) is a minor character in the scene leading to Buckingham's execution, in "Henry VIII".
**Vaux is a minor character of the Lancastrian party in "Henry VI, Part 2".
*Ventidius (Publius Ventidius Bassus) is a follower of Antony in Antony and Cleopatra.
*Sir Richard Vernon is a follower of the rebel forces in "Henry IV, Part 1".
*Virgilia is the title character's wife in "Coriolanus".
*Volumnia is the title character's mother in "Coriolanus". She persuades her son not to attack Rome, leading to his destruction.

W

*Earl of Warwick:
**The Earl of Warwick (1) (Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick) is a supporter of King Henry in "Henry IV, Part 2".
**The Earl of Warwick (2) (Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick) is an important player in the Wars of the Roses, firstly for the Yorkist party, and then for the Lancastrians. He appears in "Henry VI, Part 1", "Henry VI, Part 2", and "Henry VI, Part 3".
*Earl of Westmoreland:
**The Earl of Westmoreland (1) (Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland) is one of the leaders of the royal forces in "Henry IV, Part 1", "Henry IV, Part 2", and "Henry V".
**The Earl of Westmoreland (2) (Ralph Neville, 2nd Earl of Westmorland) fights for King Henry in "Henry VI, Part 3".
*Willoughby (William Willoughby, 5th Baron Willoughby de Eresby) is a supporter of Bolingbroke in "Richard II".
*Winchester:
**The Bishop of Winchester (Henry Cardinal Beaufort) (later "the Cardinal") is the chief enemy of Humphrey Duke of Gloucester in "Henry VI, Part 1" and "Henry VI, Part 2".
**"For" "The Bishop of Winchester" "in Henry VIII, see Gardiner."
*Cardinal Wolsey (Thomas Cardinal Wolsey) orchestrates the fall from grace of Buckingham and Katherine, but himself falls from grace and dies, in "Henry VIII".
*Woodville:
**Woodville is Lieutenant of the Tower of London in "Henry VI, Part 1".
**"See also Queen Elizabeth, Rivers, Dorset and Grey, all of whom are of the Woodville clan."
*The Earl of Worcester (Thomas Percy, 1st Earl of Worcester) is the brother of the Earl of Northumberland, and a leader of the rebel forces, in "Henry IV, Part 1".

Y

*York:
**Archbishop of York:
***The Archbishop of York (1) (Richard le Scrope) is one of the rebel leaders in "Henry IV, Part 1" and "Henry IV, Part 2".
***The Archbishop of York (2) (Thomas Rotherham) assists Queen Elizabeth and the little Duke of York to obtain sanctuary in "Richard III".
**Duchess of York:
***The Duchess of York (1) is a (partly comic) character in "Richard II", who must plead for the life of her son, Aumerle.
***The Duchess of York (2) (Cecily Neville) is the wife of Richard, Duke of York (1) in "Henry VI, Part 3". She outlives him to mourn the death of two of their sons in "Richard III".
**Duke of York:
***The Duke of York (1) (Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York) is the uncle of both Richard and Bolingbroke, and the father of Aumerle, in "Richard II".
***The Duke of York (2) (Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York) is a minor character, the leader of the "vaward" in "Henry V". (Historically this character is one and the same person as Aumerle.)
***Richard, Duke of York (1) (Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York) is a central character in "Henry VI, Part 1", "Henry VI, Part 2", and "Henry VI, Part 3". He is the Yorkist claimant to the throne of England, in opposition to Henry VI, and he is eventually killed on the orders of Queen Margaret.
***Richard, Duke of York (2) (Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York) is the younger of the two princes in the tower, murdered on the orders of Richard in "Richard III".
**The Mayor of York reluctantly supports the Yorkists in "Henry VI, Part 3".
**Prince Edward of York later King Edward V (Edward V of England) is the eldest son of Edward IV and Queen Elizabeth. He appears in "Henry VI, Part 3", and is the elder of the two princes in the tower in "Richard III".
**"See also Edmund Mortimer, Aumerle, Queen Elizabeth and Lady Anne, all of whom are "of the House of York" directly or through marriage.

ee also

* List of Shakespearean characters

References