Those Wacky Plantagenents

I just realized that I spent all of last week studying up on the Kings of England by watching movies and didn’t even know it.

In chronological order: Becket (Henry II–first man to be called “King of England” instead of just “King of the English”), Robin Hood (King Richard I the Lionhearted and Prince –later King– John Lackland) , Braveheart (King Edward I Longshanks), Medieval Lives(In the episode “The Kings,” discusses how very different Richard I, II &  III actually were from the mythology which surrounds them)– and at Antaeus, our Company studies King Richard II on their Company Shakespeare Night.

What I learned that I didn’t know or things I connected:

Prince John is the King John of Shakespeare

Richard II killed his father Henry II so he would become King instead of his younger brother John.  Prince John did try to usurp his brother but when King Richard I died without issue, Prince John took over and ended up ruling for quite a while and doing a pretty nice job.

Henry II is the grandson of William the Conqueror, who is always known for the Battle of Hastings in 1066 (that date does stick out from my memory of world history class).

King Edward I Longshanks’s son Edward II was very much as portrayed in Braveheart, wimpy, and his reign was self-proclaimed : disastrous”

I’m learning much more, obviously, the further into this newfound game that I travel.  I’ve just spent too long working on classical theater to allow my ignorance of the Kings of England to go any further.  You just have to hunker down and really pay attention, like learning a new language, and apply it frequently so you don’t forget.  Plus, it’s fascinating to watch or read these stories and connect the dots, understand characters knowing the different versions and the playwrights’ relationship with the King of his time. I think that understanding the source material and all of the versions can really help with character choices.  Trying to figure out how to leap into the Henrys and rest of the Richards.  Open to suggestions!

It’s a dramaturgy wet dream.