Henry IV Part 1 is a history play—a work that portrays events and characters from England's past. Like Shakespeare’s other history plays, Henry IV Part 1 centers upon the life and reign of a monarch whose personality, temperament, and decisions shaped English history. Further, Henry IV Part 1 is part of a series of works often referred to as the Henriad, a sequence of four history plays by Shakespeare that constitute a “tetraology”: Richard II, Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2, and Henry V. The “Henriad” was not a term used during Shakespeare’s own lifetime, but rather, was coined by modern literary scholars who group these plays together because they follow each other chronologically, develop similar themes, and occasionally feature the same characters.
As its title suggests, Henry IV Part 1 focuses on events in the reign of King Henry IV, offering a window into the political, social, and cultural context of its setting. It delves into the aftermath of the deposition of King Richard II and the subsequent tensions and conflicts within the English monarchy. As with many of Shakespeare's history plays, Henry IV Part 1 strikes a balance between historical accuracy and creative expression. While the play draws inspiration from actual historical events and individuals, Shakespeare also exercises artistic freedom and invents characters with no specific historical counterpart.
In writing Henry IV Part I, Shakespeare turned to the historical chronicles written by Raphael Holinshed, incorporating real figures from the early 15th century, such as King Henry IV, Henry Percy (Hotspur), Prince Hal (the future King Henry V), and other noble and common individuals.
