Sadly, his death ended the period of political stability, and England soon found itself in civil war once again.Īs a history play, Henry V draws considerably on events prior to it, as well as the fact that the outcome is known ahead of time.
Contrary to the public perception of him as a wastrel, he soon commanded the utmost respect and proved himself a brilliant leader. At the end of 2 Henry IV, the King dies and his son Hal ascends the throne as Henry V. The next two plays concern themselves with Henry IV, who struggled to maintain peace in spite of traitorous allies and a son who mingled with thieves. The first of the four details the defeat of Richard II by Henry Bolingbroke, who was subsequently crowned Henry IV. The next set of four plays were set prior to this period, and covered the years 1398 to 1420. The first four plays dealt with the Wars of the Roses from 1422 to 1485.
Henry V is the last of the eight great history plays dealing with medieval English history. It it likely that it was also dramatized before Shakespeare wrote his version of the story in 1599. The story of Henry V soon became a favorite English story, and was chronicled by Raphael Bolinshed and Edward Hall. Having won the battle, he then forced the King of France to make him his heir and marry him to his daughter.
He laid claim to the French throne in 1414 by invoking an English royal claim, and managed to win the Battle of Agincourt the following year against seemingly impossible odds. Henry V was probably the greatest military leader that England ever had.
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