Henry 6, Part 3 Characters & Descriptions
King Henry VI, head of the Lancastrian party, is Margaret’s husband, Prince Edward’s father, and the desperately peace-loving monarch of a war-torn country.
Prince Edward, of the Lancastrian party, is the son of Henry VI and his Queen, Margaret. He is very much his mother’s son, haughty, stubborn, and quick to insult.
Lewis the Eleventh is the King of France, the son of the Dauphin of Henry VI, Part One.
The Duke of Somerset, first of the Yorkist and then of the Lancastrian party, is the son of the Somerset of Henry VI, Part Two, whose head is carried in by Richard in the first scene.
The Duke of Exeter, first of the Lancastrian and then of the Yorkist party, is at first a strong supporter of King Henry, but has to admit that the Duke of York’s claim to the throne is unanswerable.
The Earl of Oxford, of the Lancastrian party, is a supporter of King Henry who follows Queen Margaret to France.
The Earl of Northumberland, of the Lancastrian party, is a powerful Northern supporter of King Henry. Though he despises the Duke of York, he ends up moved by his suffering.
The Earl of Westmorland begins as a strong supporter of King Henry, but he is disgusted at what he sees as the latter’s defeatism and weakness and abandons him.
Lord Clifford, of the Lancastrian party, is the Young Clifford of Henry VI, Part Two. He is an angry and vindictive man, bent only on revenging his father’s death at Yorkist hands, and determined to slaughter the entire family of York.
Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, head of the Yorkist party, is the same character as in Henry VI, Part One and Part Two.
Edward, Earl of March, of the Yorkist party, is later Duke of York and King Edward IV; he is the same as the Edward of Henry VI, Part Two.
Edmund, Earl of Rutland, of the Yorkist party, is the Duke of York’s youngest son, a boy still being tutored and too young to fight.
George (Duke of Clarence), first of the Yorkist party, then of the Lancastrian, then of the Yorkist again, is the Duke of York’s second son.
Richard (Duke of Gloucester), of the Yorkist party, is the Duke of York’s third son. Particularly close to his father, he is the most intelligent and ruthless of the Duke’s sons.
The Duke of Norfolk, of the Yorkist party, is one of the Duke of York’s supporters. He stays loyal after York breaks his oath and after his death, joining Edward.
Marquess Montague, first of the Yorkist and then of the Lancastrian party, is Warwick’s brother and a strong Yorkist supporter, who helps convince York to break his oath and go back to war.
The Earl of Warwick, first of the Yorkist and then of the Lancastrian party, is the Duke of York’s great supporter and friend, and later the chief power behind the throne to King Edward, then the instrument of his dethroning.
The Earl of Pembroke [mute role], of the Yorkist party, is a supporter of King Edward’s, who is sent to raise an army when the King hears of Warwick’s rebellion.
Lord Hastings, of the Yorkist party, is a supporter of King Edward’s who believes that the only defense England needs against France is the English Channel, and that therefore considerations of foreign policy have nothing to do with the King’s marriage.
Lord Stafford [mute role], of the Yorkist party, is a supporter of King Edward, sent to raise an army to fight the rebellious Warwick.
Sir Hugh Mortimer [mute role], of the Yorkist party, is the Duke of York’s uncle.
Henry, Earl of Richmond [mute role] is a young boy in whom King Henry sees great promise. He grows up to be the Richmond of Richard III.
Lord Earl Rivers, of the Yorkist party, is the Lady Gray’s brother, raised to the nobility after his sister becomes Queen.
Sir William Stanley [mute role], of the Yorkist party, is a knight loyal to the Yorkist cause, who helps Richard arrange Edward’s escape.
Sir John Montgomery, of the Yorkist party, is a loyal Yorkist who, hearing of King Edward’s return, raises a troop and goes to join him at York.
Sir John Somervile, of the Lancastrian party, is a follower of Warwick’s, sent to call Clarence for help.
A Tutor, of the Yorkist party, is the Earl of Rutland’s teacher, a deeply loyal man.
The Mayor of York is a peace-loving old man who does not wish to disturb matters.
The Mayor of Coventry [mute role] is present as Warwick gathers his forces against Edward, and opens the gates of his city to all of Warwick’s supporters and their armies.
The Lieutenant of the Tower is charged with caring for King Henry when he is imprisoned, and treats the royal captive well.
A Nobleman, of the Yorkist party, comes to inform King Edward that King Henry has been captured.
A Son That Has Killed His Father, of the Lancastrian party, was forced into serving in King Henry’s army.
A Father That Has Killed His Son fought hard in the battle of Towton and is intent on getting all the riches off his victim’s body when he discovers that the dead man is his son.
Queen Margaret, of the Lancastrian party, is King Henry’s wife, the mother of his son Prince Edward, and the strongest defender of his cause.
Lady Gray, of the Yorkist party, is a very attractive widow who has lost her lands when her husband was killed fighting on the Yorkist side.
Lady Bona is King Lewis’s sister, and a valuable pawn in the political marriage game.
The First Yorkist Messenger comes to warn the Duke of York that Queen Margaret has raised an army and is leading it against him.
The Second Yorkist Messenger witnesses the capture and torment of the Duke of York, and runs to tell the York brothers that their father's head is on top of the gates of York and their younger brother has been killed.
A Norfolk Messenger, of the Yorkist party, is sent by his master to ask Warwick for help against Queen Margaret and her army.
The First Lancastrian Messenger brings news to Queen Margaret and her commanders that the Yorkist army is on the march and that the Duke of York is being proclaimed King.
The Second Lancastrian Messenger brings Queen Margaret and her commanders the news that Edward and his army are nearby and prepared for battle.
The First Gamekeeper is out hunting deer with his fellow when they come across King Henry.
The Second Gamekeeper is out hunting deer with his fellow when they come across King Henry.
A Post brings over the mail from England to the French court, and is sent back to tell King Edward just how it was received, and to bring the combined defiance of the French, Margaret, and Warwick to him. He is scared of losing his head for repeating their messages to Edward.
The First Watchman, of the Yorkist party, leads the sentries guarding King Edward as he sleeps in his tent.
The Second Watchman, of the Yorkist party, is one of the sentries guarding King Edward as he sleeps in his tent.
The Third Watchman, of the Yorkist party, is one of the sentries guarding King Edward as he sleeps in his tent.
A Huntsman, of the Lancastrian party, is charged with guarding King Edward in his captivity, even as they go hunting.
Warwick's Messenger brings his master news that King Edward has escaped from custody.
A Yorkist Soldier reads out the official proclamation of Edward’s claim to the throne at the gates of York.
An Oxford Messenger, of the Lancastrian party, lets the Earl of Warwick know where his master and his forces are.
A Montague Messenger, of the Lancastrian party, lets the Earl of Warwick know where his master and his forces are.
Nurse Bess [mute role] carries the infant son of King Edward (also named Edward) when the King has his brothers pledge loyalty to his heir.
Lord Bourbon [mute role] is King Lewis’s admiral, sent by the latter to help Margaret and Warwick invade England.
Aldermen of York [mute roles] accompany the Mayor as he debates with the returning Edward.
Prince Edward (Ned) is a newborn baby, King Edward’s son, confusingly enough called Edward as well. His fate can be discovered in Richard III.