Shakespeare’s King Lear is based on the semi-legendary ancient King Leir of Britain. He is written of in Holinshed’s Chronicles, a source that Shakespeare is known to have used as a resource in writing many of his plays. King Leir is also mentioned in the 12th century Historia Regum Brittaniae, written by Geoffrey of Monmouth. In Monmouth’s account, Leir’s daughter, Cordelia, survives, restores Leir to the throne and succeeds him after her father’s death. Some of the inspiration for Cordelia’s more tragic end in Shakespeare’s King Lear might possibly come from the figure of Cordelia in
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King Lear guide sections
