The Sad Death of Kings will cover our kings from King John to Henry VIII. A little bit about the life of each one and then a detailed look at the curious, interesting, grisly, and 'orrible ways in which they died. As a bonus, and as we are in Stratford, it will include a reference to how Shakespeare deals with their deaths on stage and how those ends compare with what we believe really happened.

John Richards was born in Wales and attended Aberystwyth University. He worked for 20 years as a fireman in the London and West Glamorgan fire services while completing a part-time degree in Ancient History and Classics. He has worked in museums and on archaeological digs including the Dig for Shakespeare on the site of Shakespeare’s house – New Place. He ran his own business for 20 years teaching history, archaeology and drama, and in 2024 John was made a Fellow of the Historical Association.

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Report of the Talk

This evening, John Richards entertained us with a canter through the lives and deaths of the kings from John to Henry VIII, along with comments on the portrayal of these deaths in Shakespeare’s plays, compared with the reality.

John (c.1166-1216) became king in 1199. He was the youngest brother of Richard 1, but the middle brother, Arthur, died first, locked up then stabbed to death by John! John’s reign is considered to be a ‘mess’ compared with the hero Richard the Lionheart. John’s imperious ways made him unpopular with his barons, who rebelled and forced Magna Carta on him in 1215 in an attempt to kerb his powers. They even invited the Dauphin, Louis, of France, to replace him. While John’s army attempted to fight his forces, they were caught in the tide of the estuary of the Wash in Cambridgeshire. The Crown Jewels and his treasure were lost in the waters, and they have never been found. John died in Newark Castle in Nottingham in October 1216. The cause of death is questionable - dysentery has been suggested, also, poison, but John Richards suggests that a perforated ulcer fits the known symptoms. Shakespeare opts for poison in his play!

Henry III (1207-1272) succeeded his father to the throne aged only nine. There was no crown now (lost in the tidal Wash), so he wore his mother’s gold circlet on his head. A French princess was brought over to marry him, with whom he had five children. However, he was something of a tyrant and not popular. Simon de Montfort (who was married to Henry’s sister) attempted to take his power away. At the Battle of Lewes in 1264 the royal army was defeated. In a battle in 1265 the rebels were defeated by an army led by Henry’s son Edward. John Richards believes that Henry III probably died of a stroke.

Edward I (1239-1307) succeeded Henry III and engaged in wars with the Scots and the Welsh. He had a number of castles built in Wales to enforce his rule. He also had ambitions for crusades in the holy land. He died in Carlisle fighting the Scots. It was said that he died of the ‘bloody flux’, probably bowel cancer. His body was boiled down to be carried into later battles!

Edward II (1284-1327) succeeded his father in 1307. He too was married to a French princess, Isabella, with whom he had four children. However, he also had a close relationship with Piers Gaveston, whom he loved above all, much to his wife’s disapproval. After Gaveston was locked up in Warwick Castle, Edward had another lover, Hugh Despenser. Isabella raised an army and Edward was forced to abdicate and was finally confined to Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire. His was an horrific death, loud screams were heard. Apparently, he was pinned down, a hollow cow’s horn was inserted in his rectum, through which a red-hot roasting spit was inserted. This is a reference to his sexuality, and it also left no visible marks. Shakespeare did not write about him, but Marlowe wrote a play - the death takes place off-stage!

Edward III (1312-1377) succeeded to the throne in 1327. He too was married to a French princess and had a lot of children. He embarked on what became known as the 100 Years’ War with France, and he also had to deal with the problems associated with the Black Death, during which around a third of the population died. He was considered to be a good king and he reigned for a long time - 50 years. It is believed that he died of a stroke. His oldest son, the Black Prince had already died, so the latter’s son, Richard of Bordeaux, became Richard II.

Richard II (1367-1400) reigned from 1377 to 1399 when he was forced to abdicate. As he was young when he became king, he was under the influence at first of his mother, Joan of Kent, and John of Gaunt, his uncle. He had no heirs. He was not a popular king; he dealt badly with the Peasants’ Revolt (1381) and upset the nobles. He had disinherited Bolingbroke, Gaunt’s son, who later rose against him and became King Henry IV after the abdication. Richard died in prison, possibly of poison, or starvation. In Shakespeare’s play he died in a fight with armed men who poleaxed him. In the seventeenth century his tomb was opened and there was no evidence of a violent death.

Henry IV (1367-1413) was a reluctant king, and Shakespeare’s play, Henry IV Part 1, shows that ‘uneasy lies the head that wears a crown’. His reign was full of revolts and difficulties. He also had a skin complaint, maybe caused by nephritis, a kidney complaint, and he died peacefully in bed (also in Shakespeare’s play), despite a troubled reign.Henry V (1386 or 1387-1422), popularly known as Prince Hal, ascended the throne in 1413. He is most famous for his battles against the French, in particular, his victory at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. He married a French princess in 1420 and they had one son. He died in France, but not in battle. Dysentery, the Bloody Flux or bowel cancer are all possible reasons, however, Shakespeare’s play ends after the Battle of Agincourt and the wedding.

Henry VI (1421-1471) was only nine months old when he became king. His reign was considered to be a disaster due to the struggles amongst the nobles over who should have power. This was the time of the Wars of the Roses, between the House of York and the House of Lancaster, with their symbols of White and Red Roses. Henry VI had two periods of rule, with Edward IV (son of Henry VI’s cousin, Richard of York) and briefly Edward V (aged 12, and not actually crowned) in between. Henry VI died while imprisoned in the Tower of London and was probably stabbed. Shakespeare wrote three plays about the turbulent times of Henry VI.

Richard III (1452-1485) came into the story as Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who, reputedly, cleared the way to his reign through the deaths of his nephews, the so-called Princes in the Tower – Edward V (aged 12) and his brother, Richard, Duke of York (aged nine), the sons of Edward IV. They were declared illegitimate and imprisoned and then died mysteriously. Thomas More suggested that they had been smothered. In Shakespeare’s play of Richard III their deaths take place off-stage.Richard reigned only two years, but, as Duke of Gloucester and as king, he had a reputation as a good ruler at the time. However, the Wars of the Roses were not over, and Henry Tudor had a claim to the throne through his Lancastrian ancestor, Edward III. He mounted an invasion from France, and he and Richard III met at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Richard died on the battlefield, the last English King to do so. Shakespeare gave no details, but we know that it was a very violent death from the physical evidence of his body, when recently found. (See John Richards’ previous talk about him).

Henry VII (1457-1509) was the first Tudor king. He is regarded as having been a good king, especially in fiscal policy. He brought together the warring factions by marrying Elizabeth of York (Edward VI’s daughter) and they had eight children. His heir, Arthur, died prematurely, possibly of TB, as he had chest complaints, so his second son became king when Henry VII died. Shakespeare did not write a play about Henry VII.

Henry VIII (1509-1547) is famous for being flamboyant and unsavoury, and for having six wives. He broke with the Church of Rome, becoming the Head of the Church of England, through his desire for a divorce, although he remained a Catholic. He took the wealth of the monasteries and had minor wars with France, during which the Mary Rose flagship sank; she was raised from the Solent in 1982.

Henry’s wives dominate the history of his reign. He married his brother’s widow, Catherine of Aragon; she produced only one live child, Mary, and, as his eye wandered to Ann Boleyn, he began to believe that his marriage was cursed, as the Bible seemed to forbid the incestuous marriage, even though Catherine said that her previous marriage was not consummated. However, Ann also produced only a daughter (later Queen Elizabeth I), and she was executed for treason, being accused of adultery. His marriage to Jane Seymour was a success, in that she produced the longed-for son, but sadly, she died shortly after the birth. Anne of Cleves was his fourth wife, married following a painting that belied her plain looks. It is painted full face, which hid her long nose! Apparently, she also had poor hygiene and Henry did not fancy her. The marriage was not consummated and was annulled. His next wife, Catherine Howard, also managed to displease the king and was accused of adultery and treason and executed. His last wife, Catherine Parr, nursed him in his dotage and outlived him. Technically he was only legally married to two of his wives, Jane Seymour and Catherine Parr.

Henry VIII’s death: syphilis has been suspected but not proven and it was not passed on to his children. Mercury poisoning, from the treatment, is also possible. He also suffered from injuries, possible oxygen starvation, when too long under water once, and concussion from jousting, causing brain damage, after which his character changed. He may have had Cushing’s Syndrome from pituitary gland problems, and he also had a painful ulcerated leg. He over-ate, became very immobile and he became very thirsty, one sign of diabetes. Shakespeare’s play about him ended with the birth of the future Queen Elizabeth.

John ended the talk with a quote from Richard II (Act 3, Scene 2): ‘For God’s sake, let us sit upon the ground, And tell sad stories of the death of kings.’

There were a number of questions

• Why were there so many marriages to French princesses? Presumably to make peace with the ‘enemy’
• Is there any pattern in the ages of the kings’ deaths? There is quite a variation from Edward V at 12 to Edward III at 64
• Was there collaboration between Marlowe and Shakespeare on Edward III (as suggested in the Guardian newspaper of 20 October 2026)? There are a number of views about this
• John de Stratford suggested that Edward II founded the navy. The first charter, for the Royal navy, was issued by Henry VIII
• As recalled from the book, 1066 and All That it was said that King John died from, ‘A surfeit of Lampreys’. No, that was actually Henry I.

The talk was much appreciated by a large audience, who was entertained ‘royally’.

Report by Helen Elliott, Publicity Secretary.