The Shakespeare Book

120

E

ngland and France prepare

for war. Robert Falconbridge

quarrels with his brother,

Philip. They both claim to be

the heir to their father’s estate.

Robert insists that his brother

is the illegitimate son of Richard I,

“the Lionheart.” Queen Eleanor

recognizes her son’s features in

Philip and renames him Sir Richard

Plantagenet, although he continues

to be known as the Bastard.

Outside the city of Angers (in

France, but owned by the English),

the French and English kings

demand that the gates be opened

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF KING JOHN

to them. A battle is waged, with

both sides claiming victory. Peace

is made by the marriage of the

dauphin to John’s niece, Blanche,

with all of England’s French

territories, except Angers, as her

dowry. The arrival of Cardinal

Pandolf, the Pope’s legate, causes

renewed conflict. When King John

defies the Pope’s authority, Pandolf

excommunicates him. King Philip

breaks his allegiance with England.

The Bastard decapitates the

Duke of Austria (who had killed

his father, Richard I), and rescues

Queen Eleanor. Arthur is taken

DRAMATIS

PERSONAE

King John King of

England. He is vain,

cruel, and indecisive.

Queen Eleanor King

John’s mother.

Philip the Bastard

Illegitimate son of

John’s eldest brother,

Richard I. He is later renamed

Sir Richard Plantagenet

King Philip of France

He backs Arthur’s claim

to the English throne.

Louis the Dauphin King

Philip’s son.

Lady Blanche of Spain

Niece of King John.

Cardinal Pandolf

Papal legate.

Duke of Austria Previously

killed Richard I, now defender

of Arthur.

Arthur Son of John’s elder

brother, Geoffrey, later he

becomes Duke of Brittaine.

Lady Constance Arthur’s

mother.

Prince Henry John’s son,

later King Henry III.

Hubert A loyal follower of

King John.

Earl of Pembroke, Earl of

Salisbury Nobles who rebel

against John.

Lady Falconbridge Philip

the Bastard’s mother.

Robert Falconbridge

Lady Falconbridge’s

legitimate son.

3.1

3.2

1.1

2.1

3.3

Cardinal Pandolf

excommunicates

King John for his

defiance of the Pope.

King Philip breaks

their alliance.

King Philip of France

challenges King John to

renounce his throne in

favor of Arthur, but John

defies him.

The French and

English fight an

inconclusive battle

before the gates of

Angers. Peace is

made by the

marriage of Blanche,

John’s niece, to King

Philip’s son, Louis.

The English side is

victorious. John orders

Hubert to murder Arthur.

In the battle with the French,

Philip the Bastard beheads

the Duke of Austria and

rescues Queen Eleanor after

she is captured by the French.

Act 1 Act 2 Act 3