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Edmund Blackadder is the single name given to a collection of fictional characters who appear in the BBC mock-historical comedy series Blackadder, each played by Rowan Atkinson. Although each series is set within a different period of British history, each character is part of the same familial dynasty and is usually called Edmund Blackadder. Each character also shares notable personality traits and characteristics throughout each incarnation; while each individual incarnation may be found in different circumstances, they are usually considered to be the same character.
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Common characteristics
Although each Blackadder is positioned in a different place in British society over each series, generally falling in class over the centuries, there are certain common characteristics that each Blackadder shares. Throughout each series, Blackadder is a self-serving, cynical opportunist concerned solely with increasing his own influence and status within his society (and, usually, gaining a lot of money and sex along the way) rather than serving any idealistic goals.
With the exception of the first Blackadder incarnation, Prince Edmund, each Blackadder is generally witty, charming and intelligent. While he is beset by bad luck, he is usually very capable of manipulating his way out of a crisis and in securing for himself some degree of prestige and fortune. Blackadder is also usually one of the few intelligent people present at any given time and usually is surrounded by incompetent, stupid and at times mad servants, equals and superiors. As a result, he possesses a scathing wit and is usually prepared with numerous sarcastic put-downs.
He is frequently present at some of the defining moments of British history, but usually views his contemporaries with unbridled contempt, regardless of their historical importance or interest. In particular, he tends to comment sardonically on what might, to modern eyes, be considered the more ludicrous follies of history (from the injustice of the medieval witchhunts, to the petty whims and stupidities of various British monarchs, to the pointless butchery of World War I). As a result, he is something of a modern perspective placed in past societies. He is also generally dismissive of the contemporary arts and culture in the various eras in which he lives, such as medieval folk pageants, Shakespeare, Georgian Romanticist poetry and Charlie Chaplin movies.
Each Blackadder is also surrounded by various other figures who reappear over the series. Most, such as his repulsive manservant Baldrick and the various imbecilic aristocrats with whose company he is lumbered (such as Lord Percy Percy or George), are usually hindrances to him of whom he is repeatedly incapable of ridding himself. There is also usually another main character who is on a par with him in terms of intelligence and serves as someone for him to play games of one-upmanship with, such as Lord Melchett and Captain Darling, but these characters are typically sycophantic toadies who suck up to their (much less intelligent) superiors like Queenie and General Melchett, whom Blackadder himself is also forced to reluctantly serve.
Main Blackadders
In this section, brief descriptions of the various Edmund Blackadders who have appeared in their own series or in another notable Blackadder production are provided.
Prince Edmund (Medieval England)
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It has been suggested that Prince Edmund (Blackadder) be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) |
Prince Edmund is the first man in the dynasty to refer to himself as 'the Black Adder' (although in Blackadder: Back and Forth, a centurion in Roman Britain also possesses a similar name, but before this Lord Blackadder mentions how the time machine is spewing out their (his and Baldrick's) DNA). He appears in the first series, The Black Adder, set shortly after The Wars of the Roses, and is the second son of the fictional King Richard IV of England, whom we are told at the beginning was cast from all historical references by his successor, Henry Tudor. He is a drastically different character from what his descendants turn into; he is incompetent and slow in the uptake, and when he carries out something Machiavellian he is shown to be either half-hearted or to regret it afterwards, as demonstrated in the first episode when, after accidentally cutting off the king's head, he later returns to haunt him in a Macbeth-like scene at the banquet. He does, however, maintain his ascendants' wit on occasion, and is just as creative when insulting someone. His primary concern is to seize the English throne and become King. He is named after the treacherous Prince Edmund from Shakespeare's King Lear.
Edmund, Lord Blackadder (Elizabethan England)
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Edmund, Lord Blackadder is the next-seen member of the dynasty, appearing in Elizabethan England. He is the central character of Blackadder II, and is a nobleman in the court of Elizabeth I of England. Although his 'great-grandfather' was Prince Edmund, he is much more intelligent, charming, handsome and witty than his ancestor. His main concerns are pleasing his Queen, depicted here as a childish, spoiled tyrant, and in outwitting his various contemporary rivals, usually in the form of Lord Melchett, for her favour.
Mr. Edmund Blackadder (Regency Britain)
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Mr. Edmund Blackadder, Esquire is the Blackadder appearing in the Regency period of British history. His family having fallen on hard times, he is reduced to a life of servitude, a fall made even more insufferable by his position as butler to the oafish and uncouth George, the Prince Regent. Despite this, he remains keenly intelligent (by far sharper than most of the people he associates with), and is usually found stealing from his employer. This is the only one of the main four incarnations not to be killed onscreen (the first two are murdered, whilst the fourth dies in battle); this time out, he's mistaken for the Prince of Wales by a befuddled George III and taken "home" to the royal court.
MacAdder (Regency Scotland)
MacAdder is the Scottish Cousin of Mr. E. Blackadder. He is known as being the "maddest man to wear a skirt in Europe". He is apparently a skilled swordsman, but also a kipper salesman and married to a woman named Morag back in Scotland though he initiates in an affair with Mrs. Miggins. He had two children, a boy named Jamie and girl Angus. Edmund Blackadder wants him to take his place in the duel with the Iron Duke of Wellington to which MacAdder replies: "Why don't I take the place of the Duke of Wellington and kill the Prince?" Edmund Blackadder tells MacAdder that if he does this he will incur the wrath of the bailiffs. MacAdder thereby declines and leaves for Scotland with Miggins, foiling Blackadder's plan.
Ebenezer Blackadder (Victorian London)
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Ebenezer Blackadder, the Victorian Blackadder, appears in Blackadder's Christmas Carol. Unlike his miserly, cynical ancestors, he is by repute the nicest man in Victorian England. Unfortunately, this only serves to make him a target for the cynical crooks and cheats he is surrounded by, and a Christmas Carol-like encounter with a Ghost of Christmas Past sees him greatly inspired by his snide-yet-triumphant ancestors.
Captain Edmund Blackadder (World War One)
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Captain Edmund Blackadder appears in Blackadder Goes Forth, and is an officer in the British Army during World War I. Characteristically reluctant to meet his end in the mud of the trenches of the Western Front, this Blackadder's sole goal is to escape his inevitable fate.
Lord Edmund Blackadder V (Modern)
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Lord Edmund Blackadder is the modern representative of the Blackadder family. He intends to play a turn-of-the-millennium-prank on his friends by claiming that he has a time machine - only to be unpleasantly surprised that the device that Baldrick has actually built (following Leonardo da Vinci's instructions to the letter, except for marking values on the instrument display) actually is a working time machine.
Other Blackadders
Although not appearing within their own series or one-off special, various other Blackadders have appeared or been alluded to over the course of the series. Most prominently is Sir Edmund Blackadder, who appears in the Comic Relief special Blackadder: The Cavalier Years. Set after the English Civil War, Sir Edmund is (apparently) a loyal royalist and friend of Charles I of England. This Blackadder also appeared in an introductory sequence for Charles, Prince of Wales' fiftieth birthday Gala Performance, in which he was supposedly organising a similar show for King Charles' birthday.
Several relatives of the Blackadder family include the Puritan Whiteadders, and the Highlander clan of MacAdder.
Various one-off specials have introduced other Blackadders throughout history, from the Roman Centurion Blaccadicus, to a Grand Admiral Blackadder in the distant future who becomes ruler of the universe.
In 2002, during the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II trailers for the Party at the Palace featured the Keeper of Her Majesty's Lawn Sprinklers, Sir Osmond Darling-Blackadder, who was against the idea. Sir Osmond also co-hosted the light-hearted documentary on the celebrations Jubilee Girl. He is notable for being one of the few members of the family not to be named Edmund, and also for his double barrelled name, suggesting a family connection to Kevin Darling.
The Blackadder Dynasty
- Centurion Blaccadicus - Roman Britain (Blackadder Back And Forth)
- Lord Blackadder - Medieval - First name unknown, a contemporary of Robin Hood (timeperiod visited in Blackadder Back And Forth)
- Prince Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh, the Black Adder - Middle Ages (The Black Adder)
- Prince Edmund, Duke of York - 400 years ago (The Black Adder pilot)
- Natheniel Whiteadder - Elizabethan - apparent grandson to Prince Edmund.
- Lord Edmund Blackadder - Elizabethan (Blackadder II)
- Blackadder (Shakespeare's agent) - Elizabethan
- Sir Edmund Blackadder - Stuart, English Civil War (Blackadder: The Cavalier Years)
- Lord Edmund Blackadder, Privy Counsellor - Stuart, 1680 (Blackadder And The King's Birthday )
- Mr. E. Blackadder - Regency (Blackadder the Third)
- MacAdder - Regency - cousin of Blackadder (Blackadder the Third)
- Mr Ebenezer Blackadder - Victorian (Blackadder's Christmas Carol)
- Captain Edmund Blackadder - First World War (Blackadder Goes Forth)
- Lord Edmund Blackadder - 1999 (Blackadder Back And Forth)
- King Edmund III - 1999 (Blackadder Back And Forth) (alternate)
- Lord Edmund Blackadder, Captain In Her Royal Highness' Regiment of Shirkers - 2000 (Blackadder: The Army Years )
- Sir Osmond Darling-Blackadder, 'Keeper of the Lawn Sprinklers' - 2002 (BBC Golden Jubilee advert and Jubilee Girl)
- Grand Admiral Blackadder of the Dark Segment - Distant Future (Blackadder's Christmas Carol)
See also
Note that:
Of interest to fans of twentieth century humour is the fact that "George Buchanan, her chief traducer, tells us, with lipsmacking relish, in his Rerum Scoticarum Historia - 'William and Edmund Blaccader, Edward Robertson and Thomas Dickson, all Bothwell's men and notorious pirates' [accompanied Mary Queen of Scots on her journey to Alloa Tower in 1566]". (Queen Mary at Alloa Tower, 1566 by David Angus, Forth Naturalist and Historian, email c/o www.stir.ac.uk/departments/naturalsciences/Forth naturalist)
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