- King Henry IV
- feels guilty about having won his throne through civil war against Richard II
- worries about civil war
- vexed by irresponsible eldest son, Prince Harry
- Prince Harry/ Prince of Wales/ Hal/ Harry Monmouth
- will eventually become Henry V
- spends time hanging around highwaymen, robbers and whores, but eventually reveals noble qualities
- Hotspur/ Henry Percy
- son and heir of Earl of Northumberland, nephew of Earl of Worcester
- nicknamed Hotspur from fierceness in battle and hastiness of action
- becomes archrival of Prince Harry
- Sir John Falstaff
- Prince Harry's closest friend
- fat old man who makes his living as a thief, highwayman and mooch
- instructs Prince Harry in the ways of vagabonds and criminals
- Earl of Westmoreland
- nobleman who is close companion and ally of King Henry IV
- Lord John of Lancaster
- younger son of King Henry and younger brother of Prince Harry
- Sir Walter Blunt
- ally of King
- Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester
- Hotspur's uncle
- mastermind behind Percy rebellion
- Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland
- Hotspur's father
- conspires to rebel but does not actually bring his troops to the Battle of Shrewsbury
- Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March
- Owain Glyndwr's son-in-law
- conflation of both the historical figures of Mortimer and the Earl of March
- has claim to the throne before King Henry overthrew Richard II
- Owain Glyndwr
- leader of Welsh rebels
- joins Percys in rebellion
- mysterious and superstitious and sometimes acts according to prophecies and omens
- Archibald, Earl of Douglas
- leader of Scottish rebels in Percy rebellion
- usually called "The Douglas", traditional title for Scottish clan chief
- Sir Richard Vernon
- relative and ally of Earl of Worcester
- Archbishop of York a.k.a. Richard Scrope
- has grievance against King Henry and thus is on the side of the Percys
- Ned Poins, Bardolph and Peto
- criminals and highwaymen
- friends of Falstaff and Prince Harry who go with them to war
- Gadshill
- another highwayman
- Mistress Quickly
- hostess of Boar's Head Tavern where Falstaff and friends go to drink
Plot summary:
- Henry IV has 2 main plots - first, the strained relationship between King Henry IV and his son, Prince Harry; and second, the rebellion plotted by the Percys who are angry because King Henry refuses to acknowledge his debt to them
- The play opens with the news that the Welsh rebel Glyndwr has defeated King Henry's army in the South and Hotspur is refusing to send soldiers to the king whom he has captured in the North
- Meanwhile, Prince Harry, King Henry's son, is drinking in a bar with criminals and highwaymen. Harry claims that this is actually part of a plan to impress the public when he eventually changes his ways.
- Poins arrives at the bar and announces his plans to rob a group of wealthy travellers. Harry initially refuses to participate but Poins explains to him that he is actually playing a practical joke on Falstaff.
- Hostpur arrives at court and reveals that his family is displeased with the king as they had helped Henry overthrow Richard II without receiving favors in return. Hotspur's family members explain their plan to build an alliance to overthrow the king.
- Harry and Poins successfully carry out their plan to dupe Falstaff. In the middle of this a messenger summons Harry back to court with news of civil war brewing.
- The alliance which the Percys have formed with other nobles and rebels from Scotland and Wales begins to falter, which necessitate them going to war at once.
- Harry returns to court and is chided by his father. He decides to prove himself by vanquishing Hotspur in battle and accompanies his father to the battlefront.
- At The Battle of Shrewsbury, Harry saves his father's life in battle and wins back his father's approval. Harry also defeats Hotspur in single combat. Most of the Percy family are put to death.
- However, powerful rebel forces remain in Britain and King Henry sends his sons to deal with them. Henry IV II begins where this play finishes.
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