Shakespeare and the Royal Court

Shakespeare had a long literary association with the monarchy. His history plays covered the Wars of the Roses and the period leading up to, and including, the Tudor dynasty. He had developed the fictionalized characters of some of England’s most famous monarchs, including Queen Elizabeth I’s father, Henry VIII. When Shakespeare was born in 1564, Elizabeth I had already been on the throne for five years and over half of his plays were written after her death. However, the queen played an important role in Shakespeare’s ascendancy as an established playwright. This guide will explore Shakespeare’s literary output under Elizabeth I and the transition from an Elizabeth to a Jacobean court.

Key Dates & Events

• 1559 - The coronation of Elizabeth I in Westminster Abbey.
• 1564 - William Shakespeare was born; Elizabeth I had already been on the throne for five years.
• 1601 - It is believed that Elizabeth I commissioned Twelfth Night as part of the festive celebrations at court.
• March 1603 - Theatre performances temporarily suspended while Queen Elizabeth I’s life hung in the balance. She died shortly after.
• 1603 - The Tudor era came to an end with the succession of James I (James VI of Scotland) to the English throne.
• 1603 - James I became the new patron of Shakespeare's theatre company and they changed their name to The King's Men.
• 1605 - The attempt by a group of English Catholics (led by Robert Catesby) to blow up James I and the House of Lords is foiled. This was subsequently known as the Gunpowder Plot. Shakespeare is believed to have written Macbeth the following year.
• 1616 - Shakespeare died in his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon.