GRAMMAR & EDITING PRACTICE
The War of the Roses & Shakespeare | A Real Soap Opera of the 1450’s
Like many artists, Shakespeare was itching to speak his mind about the hot news items of his day. TMZ and gossip columns around just yet, so somebody had to step up. Current headlines included tidbits like the Irish and Northern Rebellions, and the ongoing war with Spain.
The English were also getting a little nervous about the country’s future, since Elizabeth I was hardly a spring chicken, and had no in the on deck circle.
There was plenty of good material here for a dramatic play, right?
But the plot thickened when Her Majesty banned all political commentary. Darn censorship! So, how do you make witty observations about current affairs when your axe-happy ruler is breathing down your neck? The answer is to go back to a similarly period in history the War of the Roses.
Sure, it sounds like a catfight at a garden party, but it was more like a really bloody game of “Tug of War” over the crown of England. It was a game of thrones long before George R. R. Martin even wrote his book series!
The House of Lancaster and the House of York were having a major disagreement over should be the rightful ruler of England. Both “Houses” were actually related two branches of the same Plantagenet Family Tree. Instead of agreeing to disagree, therea flurry of army-gathering, king-capturing, drawing-up of evil plans, and of Roman numerals.
This cloud did have one warm and fuzzy lining; the two factions had a rose as each of . White was for York supporters and red was for Lancaster… made it the prettiest-sounding war ever.
Thirty years andlots of dead noblemen later, a future playwright had his cast of characters. That was easy! Going back in time was a good way for Shakespeareto weasel out of Queen Elizabeth’s gag order, but it was also a way to lay some knowledge on the masses.
I bet thinking, “So, what was that knowledge?”
Well, you asked for it!
Henry VI was a Lancaster and the King of England in the middle of the 1400s, but England was not at peace and rumors flying that king was mentally unstable and would have breakdowns that rendered him unable to rule. When these happened, his wife Margaret of Anjou would take over. That, of course, was unacceptable as she was a and everyone knew that brains are not as powerful as men’s brains.
In response, the leader of the “I should be King of England! Let’s fight.” They fought and Richard lost his head… literally. Margaret of Anjou had it cut off and put on a stake for everyone to see. I guess she was of the size of his brain.
Anyway, the late Duke Richard of York’s sons took up where father left off. Off to battle they went! Soldiers with red roses fought against those carrying white roses. Led by the oldest son of York, Edward, the York army massacres the Lancastrian army at the Battle of Towton in 1461. It is said to be the bloodiest battle on English soil and for 6 miles the blood could be seen in the snows of the month of March.
Boom! England had a new ruler, King Edward IV. He was young, smart, tall, and cute, . Everything should be smooth sailing from now on, right?
Wrong.
There was always drama.
King Edward IV, while traveling across England fighting those pesky rose-wearing Lancastrians, fell in love with a beautiful woman named Elizabeth Woodville and secretly married her! (Gasp!) She was a with two sons. (Double Gasp!) She was a regular woman and not of royal blood. (Triple Gasp!) Needless to say, the and the advisors were not pleased. This thwarts the chances that their newly crowned monarchwould be securing political alliances through marriage. They thought, “What a waste to marry for love. You should only marry for money and power! Now, let’s eat more giant turkey legs with our hands!”
King Edward IV and Elizabeth go on to have ten children. That’s right, ten. Since only boys mattered, you only need to remember Eddie Jr. and Richard. However, in this soap opera, you better also remember his eldest daughter was named after her mother, Elizabeth. (You will soon notice that the English only used about 10 names over and over and over and over. It makes things very clear and easy to understand. I kid, I kid. terrible. What were they thinking? Men must have been choosing the names.)
Out of the blue, King Edward IV got deathly ill. said his son Eddie Jr. should be king once he is old enough. But, until then, the king’s brother should be the Lord Protector. Edward IV then died, Eddie Jr. was named king, and Uncle Richard York became “Lord Protector”. Uncle Richard then began taking his role a bit seriously, rumors were flying about the legitimacy of Eddie Jr., and therefore Uncle Ricky becomes convinced that he should actually be the king.
Richard put Edward V and his brother in the Tower of London for “safekeeping” and claimed the throne for himself. The young princes were never seen again. Never. We have never even found their bones.
Now, England again had another new king: Richard III. Richard III invited his niece, Elizabeth of York, to live at the castle. Do remember her? I know she was a girl and all, but I told you earlier to remember her. She’s the daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. The rumor was that Richard III had fallen in love with Elizabeth of York.
Anyway, as you could imagine, the Lancastrians were watching everything in disgust and with discerning eyes as they were looking for a time to grab back the crown. They put their hope in a man named Henry Tudor had a claim to the throne through his mother, Margaret Beaufort.
Henry Tudor then raises an army and invaded England. War began again on soil as the red rose of the Lancastrians rides again in pursuit of the throne. The two met at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. King Richard III rode into battle, sword in his hand and fierceness in his heart. Henry Tudor stood behind his army and never even lifted his sword. Richard was offered a horse to flee battle, but refused. “God forbid I yield one is reported to have said. “This day I will die as king or win.” Richard spotted Henry Tudor’s flags and decided to charge towards him, wearing the crown on his armor’s helmet.
King Richard was killed by a blow to the head within feet of the invader Henry Tudor. Once Henry heard that King Richard III had fallen, he rode to the dead king’s body and literally took the crown off of his head and put it on his own. Thus proclaiming himself England’s newest monarch, King Henry VII. Richard was then placed on the back of a horse and his dead body put on public proving to all that England’s king had fallen and someone new would sit upon the throne.
Richard only thirty-two years old, and the last King of England to die in battle.With the death of King Richard III, the War of the Roses was over and the Tudor Dynasty was born.
As time went on, Richard III’s body was lost. For over 500 years, no one knew exactly where it buried. It was lost… until it was found. In 2013, the last Plantagenet King’s body was found under a parking lot in Leicester, England; cementing him as the “Hide & Seek World Record Holder.” Get it, “cement-ing” him…
As you may have gathered, the 16th and 17th had little in the way of media outlets, Twitter, or Google News alerts. If you wanted to brush up on your history, you couldn't turn to the Biography Channel or ask Siri a question.Sure, there were books , but those were for rich people who could, you know… read.
Shakespeare’s plays had plenty of entertainment value, but some ticketholders may have been watching for educational purposes. Shakespeare’s plots took some liberties here and there… ...but many of the characters in his War of the Roses plays were legit. When folks packedinto a theatre for Richard III or one of those never-ending Henry ...they learned a little about kings and queens of long ago. came away with some prettycool new insults, to boot.
Oh, before we go, do you remember Elizabeth of York? I told you to remember . She was the daughter of Edward IV and the love interest of her uncle, King Richard III.
Well, ol’ Henry VII the invader was enough to realize he needed to unite England. So, he married Elizabeth of York in order to finally unite the York House and Lancaster House under the TUDOR DYNASTY!
King Henry VII and Elizabeth went on to have children, one of which was named Henry. You’ll get to know that fella pretty well next week. He always single, but he was ALWAYS ready to mingle.