Which histories plays did william shakespear write?

Answer 1

William Shakespeare's plays are commonly categorised as Histories, Comedies and Tragedies. These categories were given in the first, official published versions of the plays known as "The First Folio" published some years after his death.

The Histories were:

King John,

Richard II,

Henry IV part 1,

Henry IV part 2,

Henry V,

Henry VI part 1,

Henry VI part 2,

Henry VI part 3,

Richard III and

Henry VIII.

They are all based on the lives of English Kings and apart from the first and last, describe the events in English History leading up to, during and the end of The Wars of the Roses.

Answer 2

Shakespeare wrote ten history plays, called King John, Richard II, Henry IV Part I, Henry IV Part II, Henry V, Henry VI Part I, Henry VI Part II, Henry VI Part III, Richard III and Henry VIII. Some people think he may have written a historical play called Edward III early in his career, but most people think that was someone else (maybe George Peele).

Answer 3

The "Histories" are plays based on English post-1066 history, and so do not include the plays about Roman or Scottish history, or those based on the legendary English kings Cymbeline and Lear. There are 10 of these, generally named after the kings whose reigns are involved, although these kings may not be the main character in the play. The 10 histories are King John, Richard II, Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2, Henry V, Henry VI Part 1, Henry VI Part 2, Henry VI Part 3, Richard III, Henry VIII. They were not, of course, written in that order.