This page includes family trees for 8 of Shakespeare's history plays. Click the
buttons below to view them as printable PDF documents.
The Story (spoilers)
King Edward III had seven sons. The eldest predeceased him, so when Edward died in 1377, the royal title passed to his grandson, now crowned Richard II. After Edward's fourth son (the Duke of Lancaster) died in 1399, his son raised an army to claim his inheritance from Richard, but ended up being crowned Henry IV. The Mortimer family, descended from a daughter of Edward's third son, fought for years to take their crown back from Henry, to no avail. In 1406, Anne Mortimer married into the York family, who now could take up the claim.
Henry's son was crowned Henry V in 1413 and conquered France. His son was then crowned Henry VI in 1422 and lost it. The Duke of York challenged Henry VI, and the conflict ultimately led to violent civil wars. We call them the Wars of the Roses (largely thanks to Shakespeare), because the emblems we associate with the two houses were roses, white for York and red for Lancaster. York died in the wars, but his side won, and his son was crowned Edward IV.
Edward's younger brother (as per Shakespeare) took power by unscrupulous means, and was crowned Richard III in 1483. He was defeated in battle by Henry Tudor, a Lancaster. Henry married Elizabeth of York, and was crowned Henry VII in 1485 under the Tudor Rose, which had both red and white petals.
Henry's son was crowned Henry V in 1413 and conquered France. His son was then crowned Henry VI in 1422 and lost it. The Duke of York challenged Henry VI, and the conflict ultimately led to violent civil wars. We call them the Wars of the Roses (largely thanks to Shakespeare), because the emblems we associate with the two houses were roses, white for York and red for Lancaster. York died in the wars, but his side won, and his son was crowned Edward IV.
Edward's younger brother (as per Shakespeare) took power by unscrupulous means, and was crowned Richard III in 1483. He was defeated in battle by Henry Tudor, a Lancaster. Henry married Elizabeth of York, and was crowned Henry VII in 1485 under the Tudor Rose, which had both red and white petals.