Henry IV
Who's Who in Henry IV

One of the greatest challenges in reading Shakespeare's history plays is keeping track of all the names and relationships between people: the plays are crammed with major and minor players. And some of these people seem to have several names. That's because aristocratic characters in Shakespeare are sometimes referred to by the name of the piece of land they hold title to (i.e.,Bollingbroke or Northumberland), as well as by their family or given name, or their nickname (i.e., Henry, Harry, Hal).

To compound matters in Henry IV, all three of the main characters are named Henry. Fortunately, the names they usually go by are distinct. This guide aims to help you identify and place these and other major figures. Also, note that in Henry IV, there are a lot of different factions, but everyone pretty much falls on one of two sides at any given moment: that of King Henry IV, or that of the rebellion led by the Percy family.

KING HENRY IV - The ruling King of England. He is not actually all that old, but at the time this play opens, he has been worn down before his time by worries and by a mysterious disease (some said it was leprosy, and some claimed his illness began with his illicit deeds to win the throne). He won his throne through a civil war that deposed the former King (Richard II), and he nurses guilty feelings about that. Also, there has continued to be internal strife, which erupts in this play into an even bigger civil war. Finally, he's vexed by the irresponsible antics of his oldest son, Prince Hal.

PRINCE HAL - His real name is Henry (eventually, he will become King Henry V), and his title is "Prince of Wales," but all of the prince's friends call him Hal. He is also sometimes called Harry by his father, King Henry, or Harry Monmouth, because he was born at a place called Monmouth. Hal is a young man, but he is also the heir to the throne of England, and it upsets his father the king that Hal spends all his time hanging around on the bad side of town, wasting his time with highwaymen, robbers and whores.

HOTSPUR - The real name of the son and heir of the Earl of Northumberland is Henry Percy, but he's earned the name Hotspur because of his fierceness in battle and his hastiness of action. Sometimes he is also called Harry, Percy, or Harry Percy. Hotspur is a member of the powerful Percy family of the north, a family that brought King Henry IV to power but now feels that the king has forgotten his debt to them. Hotspur's uncle is the Earl of Worcester; he is married to Lady Percy, a.k.a. Kate. In Shakespeare's account, he is the same age as Prince Hal, and becomes his archrival.

SIR JOHN FALSTAFF - Falstaff is (in simplest terms) a fat old man who hangs around in taverns on the wrong side of London and makes his living as a thief, highwayman, and mooch. He is Prince Hal's closest friend, and seems to act as a sort of mentor to him, even surrogate father, instructing him in how to live life, rather than posture for image, like King Henry.

EARL OF WESTMORELAND - A military leader who is a close companion and valuable ally of King Henry IV. He is Henry's "Chief of Security". Be sure not to confuse him with the Earl of Worcester, Hotspur's uncle, who fights on the opposite side.

LORD JOHN OF LANCASTER - King Henry's younger son, and the younger brother of Prince Hal. He proves himself wise and valiant in battle, despite his youth.

SIR WALTER BLUNT - A loyal and trusted ally of the king. The King's "right hand man" and image consultant. He's killed by the Earl of Douglas at the battle of Shrewsbury, while acting as a decoy for the king.

THOMAS PERCY, EARL OF WORCESTER - Hotspur's uncle. He is really the only politically savvy member of the Percy family, and is the mastermind behind the Percy rebellion. King Henry has him executed at the end of the play after the rebellion has been defeated.

HENRY PERCY, EARL OF NORTHUMBRELAND - Hotspur's father (that's why they share the same name, Henry Percy). He conspires and raises troops on the Percy side, but he gets "sick" before the battle of Shrewsbury and does not actually bring his troops into the fray.

EDMUND MORTIMER, EARL OF MARCH - Hotspur's brother-in-law (that is, the brother of his wife), and son-in-law to the Welsh rebel Owen Glendower. He is a conflation of two different historical figures, but for Shakespeare's purposes, he matters because he had a strong claim to the throne of England before King Henry overthrew the last king, Richard II.

OWEN GLENDWER - The leader of the Welsh rebels, he joins with the Percys in their insurrection against King Henry. Glendower is the father of Mortimer's wife, Lady Mortimer, a beautiful Welshwoman who does not speak any English. Well-read, educated in England, and very capable in battle, he is also steeped in the traditional lore of Wales and claims to be able to command great magic. He is mysterious and superstitious, and sometimes acts according to prophecies and omens.

ARCHIBALD, EARL OF DOUGLAS - Usually called The Douglas (a traditional way of referring to a Scottish clan chief, at least in Shakespeare's universe), he is the leader of the large army of Scottish rebels against King Henry, and fights on the Percy side. A deadly and fearless fighter, he kills Sir Walter Blunt and nearly succeeds in killing both Falstaff and King Henry himself.

SIR RICHARD VERNON - A relative and ally of the Earl of Worcester, who helps him lead his troops and who is executed with him at the end of the play.

NED POINS, PETO, BARDOLPH - Criminals and thieves, these are friends of Falstaff and of Prince Hal, who drink and party with them in the Boar's Head Tavern, and accompany them in highway robbery. Poins is probably Hal's closest friend (besides Falstaff). Bardolph is made fun of by the others for his red nose and complexion (a result of too much drinking). Peto seems to be the "robber in training" of the bunch, eager to play with the boys but still not sure if it's the life for him.

GADSHILL - Another highwayman friend of Hal, Falstaff, and the rest. Gadshill is the set up man for the gang of thieves, and in fact seems to be nicknamed after the place on the London road -- called Gad's Hill -- where he has set up many robberies.

MISTRESS QUICKLY - Hostess of the Boar's Head Tavern, a seedy dive in Eastcheap, London. Her name has vaguely obscene connotations in Renaissance English.