This page includes family trees for 8 of Shakespeare's history plays. Click the
buttons below to view them as printable PDF documents.
The History Plays
A series of four related dramatic works is called a tetralogy. Early in Shakespeare's career, he wrote a tetralogy of plays about the English kings:
These plays cover the span of events from 1422 to 1485, and are referred to collectively as the first tetralogy. Some time later (though still early in his career), Shakespeare wrote another tetralogy of plays about the English kings:
These were set earlier, from 1399 to 1415. This was the second tetralogy. If that's confusing, just think Star Wars. The second tetralogy is a prequel series.
- King Henry the Sixth, Part One
- King Henry the Sixth, Part Two
- King Henry the Sixth, Part Three
- King Richard the Third
These plays cover the span of events from 1422 to 1485, and are referred to collectively as the first tetralogy. Some time later (though still early in his career), Shakespeare wrote another tetralogy of plays about the English kings:
- King Richard the Second
- King Henry the Fourth, Part One
- King Henry the Fourth, Part Two
- King Henry the Fifth
These were set earlier, from 1399 to 1415. This was the second tetralogy. If that's confusing, just think Star Wars. The second tetralogy is a prequel series.