Henry V:
1387-1413-1422
Henry V was a member of the House of Lancaster and spent most of his reign campaigning in France.
Henry VI:
1421-1422-1461 & 1470-1471
Henry was crowned king of England and France when he was an infant, but went insane at 32. He recovered and took his throne back in 1470.
Edward IV:
1442-1461-1470 & 1471-1483
He was the first king of England from the House of York, and was very violent.
Edward V:
1470-1483-1483
Edward was supposed to be king when he was 12, but was put in the Tower, was declared illegitimate, and was killed.
Richard III:
1452-1483-1485
He possibly had his nephews killed, and there were 2 rebellions against him in 2 years.
Henry VII:
1457-1485-1509
Henry was the first English King from the House of Tudor and made England's political system more stable.
Part II
Why did Shakespeare portray Richard III the way he did?
Shakespeare portrayed Richard III as a villain, which is mainly because of the Queen of England at the time. Elizabeth the I was queen, and she was descended from the Tudor line. The Tudors considered Ricard III a greedy murderer for his imprisonment of Prince Richard and Edward V. He married his brother's wife in order to gain the crown, and was the last king from the House of York. When the Tudors write about him, they make him out to be a deformed hunchback only interested in moving himself forward in the race for the crown. Shakespeare only knew a villainous version of Richard, so that was how he portrayed Richard III.
Traditionalist- Traditionalists want to stick to what they know and oppose change. They would not like the change of power from the Yorks to the Tudors in the time shortly after Richard III.
Revisionist- Revisionists wanted change, and didn't necessarily stick to the opinion of those around them.
Lancastrian- Lancastrian sources would support the Lancastrian viewpoint during the War of the Roses.
Ricardian- A Ricardian source was usually someone from the House of York, as they believed that Richard III was a good king and wanted to protect his reputation.
Documents
Vergil, Polydore. Anglica Historia, Books 23-25. London: J. B. Nichols, 1846.
This document is a Lancastrian source.
"Richard having by this meane obtaynyd almost his hartes desire, convaighed his nephewys from the bysshop of Londons howse unto the Towr;"- This is saying that in order for Richard to "gain his heart's desire" (the Crown) he had his nephews put in the Tower.
"This doone, Richerd, whose mynde partly was enflamyd with desire of usurping the kyngdom, partly was trubblyd by guyltynes of intent to commyt so haynous wickednes (for a guiltie conscience causeth thoffendor to have dew punishment alway in imagination before his eyes), thowght aftireward nothing better than to mollyfy the multitude with largesse and lyberalytie, than to wyn the hartes of his adversaryes with gyftes, rewardes, and promyses"- Richard is showed that he wants to get the throne bad enough to bribe people.
"Wherfor, burning with rage incredible to bring to effect the thing which in mynd was resolvyd, he drew a plot for the lord Hastinges as foloweth: he placyd pryvyly in a chamber adjoyning to that with himself and other lords sat usually in cownsayll a sort right ready to do a mischiefe, geaving them in charge that when he showld geave a signe they showld suddaynly rushe owt, and, compassing about them who should syt with him, to lay handes specyally uppon William lord Hastinges, and kill him forthwith."- This shows a plot of Richard's to murder someone who stands in his way.
Horace Walpole (1768)
This document is a Ricardian source.
"The old countess of Desmond, who had danced with Richard, declared he was the handsomest man in the room except his brother Edward, and was very well made. But what shall we say to Dr. Shaw, who in his sermon appealed to the people, whether Richard was not the express image of his father's person, who was neither ugly nor deformed?"- They are defending Richard's appearance, which is supposed to create a better image of him in general.
"What feature in this portrait gives any idea of a monster? Or who can believe that an eye-witness, and so minute a painter, would have mentioned nothing but the inequality of the shoulders, if Richard's form had been a compound of ugliness?"- Walpole is trying to give the idea that Richard was handsome, and therefore couldn't be a bad person.
Part III
"Wherfor, burning with rage incredible to bring to effect the thing which in mynd was resolvyd, he drew a plot for the lord Hastinges as foloweth: he placyd pryvyly in a chamber adjoyning to that with himself and other lords sat usually in cownsayll a sort right ready to do a mischiefe, geaving them in charge that when he showld geave a signe they showld suddaynly rushe owt, and, compassing about them who should syt with him, to lay handes specyally uppon William lord Hastinges, and kill him forthwith."- This shows a plot of Richard's to murder someone who stands in his way.
Horace Walpole (1768)
This document is a Ricardian source.
"The old countess of Desmond, who had danced with Richard, declared he was the handsomest man in the room except his brother Edward, and was very well made. But what shall we say to Dr. Shaw, who in his sermon appealed to the people, whether Richard was not the express image of his father's person, who was neither ugly nor deformed?"- They are defending Richard's appearance, which is supposed to create a better image of him in general.
"What feature in this portrait gives any idea of a monster? Or who can believe that an eye-witness, and so minute a painter, would have mentioned nothing but the inequality of the shoulders, if Richard's form had been a compound of ugliness?"- Walpole is trying to give the idea that Richard was handsome, and therefore couldn't be a bad person.
Part III
Although I was born in 1452
My life had not yet begun.
For the crown I so desperately wanted
My older brother, Edward had won.
In 1483, though
My luck had changed its path
My dear older brother
Into death had passed
His heir was to be Prince Edward
And after that Richard of York
But I had a cunning plan
Around my nephews I would lurk[1]
I’ll lock them in the Tower
Never for them to escape
They wouldn’t even suspect
Their lives I soon would take
With them out of the way[2]
There’d only be one more thing
To see Queen Elizabeth in white
Upon my wedding day[3]
Change the date by just two years
And a battle has begun to unfold
Henry Tudor has brought his men
And his attitude was bold
I had wanted this kingdom since birth
And this Henry was in for a fight
He thought that he could beat me
But I’d go at him with all my might
My vanguard was the best
But they just weren’t good enough
Against Henry’s army
They were blown away like fluff
Henry heard the news
By my knights I’d been left alone
His men were immediately near
You’d think that they had flown
I was quickly surrounded
They had me in a corner
I saw my life flash before my eyes
Much to my great horror
I knew that my death was drawing near
Such a tragic end
I wished I could’ve ruled for longer
Farewell now, my dear friend[4]
Henry Tudor is my name
I’ll say it loud, and without shame!
I know that the crown is mine to take
A better king than Richard I’ll make
Across the English Channel I came
Through Wales I travelled to make a claim
I am the rightful king, I say
Richard will accept without delay[1]
I wish I could keep those men alive
But with responsibility must come drive
I must surround Richard, he has to die
It pained me to kill him, I cannot lie[2]
Now that I’m king, my reign will begin
A whole new age of Lancastrians!
Elizabeth will be my queen
The Tudor lines will stay pure and clean[3]
Really nice job; especially with the poem.
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