Henry IV, Part I

Henry IV Part 1 is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed written no later than 1597. It is the second play in Shakespeare’s tetralogy dealing with the successive reigns of King Richard II, King Henry IV (two plays, including Henry IV Part 2), and King Henry V. Henry IV Part 1 depicts a span of history beginning with Hotspur’s battle at Homildon in Northumberland against Douglas late in 1402 and ends with the defeat of the rebels at Shrewsbury in the middle of 1403. From the start it has been an extremely popular play both with the public and critics.