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Shakespeare and my Ancestors
(Prepared by Neil F. Stafford on 02/02/2003) |
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| Approx. Dates of Lifespan |
9 Stafford Family Ancestors and
Forebears who are characters in Shakespearean Plays |
Name of William Shakespeares Plays (8 Plays)
|
Character Name in Play
|
| 1402-1460 | Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham | Henry VI | Buckingham |
| 1424-1458 |
Humphrey Stafford 7th Earl of Stafford |
Henry VI | Lord Stafford son of Buckingham |
| 83 bc-30 bc |
Mark Anthony III A.k.a. Marcus Antonius |
Anthony and Cleopatra | Mark Anthony |
| 83 bc-30 bc |
Mark Anthony III |
Julius Caesar | Mark Anthony |
| 1454-1483 |
Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham |
Richard III | Buckingham |
| 1478-1521 |
Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham |
Henry VIII | Buckingham |
| 1013-1040 | Duncan I "the gracious" King of Scotland |
Macbeth | Duncan |
| 1364-1403 |
Sir Henry Hotspur Percy Ancestor of Alionore
Percy the wife of Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham |
Henry IV | Hotspur |
| Born: ?bc Died:17 ad |
King Kimberline of Britain A.k.a. Cymbeline Cynfelyn (Cunobelinus) | Cymbeline | Cymbeline |
| Notes:
· I suspect there are more Stafford family Ancestors or forebears in additional plays by William Shakespeare. But the above eight ancestors are the only ones I have noticed to date. I am not an expert regarding the plays of Shakespeare. [I purposely left out the questionable legendary Celtic character King Llyr (Lear).] · Regarding Hotspur Brian Tompsett of Hull University reports that Hotspur was buried at Whitchurch disinterred, his head sent to York, and his quarters sent to Newcastle, Bristol, and Chester- then to his widow. (I guess you could say Hotspur was a well-traveled man!) · Regarding Humphrey Stafford the first Duke of Buckingham In the Play, an excited and happy young warrior proclaims that when he encountered the Duke in battle I split his beaver with my sword, he is either slain or wounded dangerously; here is his blood on my sword a beaver was a nickname for the metal helmets worn by knights in battle at the time. · Regarding the Dukes son Humphrey Stafford the 7th Earl of Stafford One happy young warrior claims he saw him slain by swords when he charged a front line of common soldiers. · Regarding the Duke and his son, Shakespeare clearly implies that they were both killed at the First Battle of St. Albans on May 22, 1455 (during the war of the Roses) In fact they were both battle casualties during this battle; But, they were not Battle Fatalities at that time. This error by Shakespeare confused many Genealogists and historians including the prominent English Historian Dugdale (a very big fan of Shakespeare). In fact Duke Humphrey Stafford the leader of the Lancastrian forces was killed in battle 5 years later in 1460 at the battle of Northampton. His son Lord Humphrey died 3 years later of the plague in the year 1458. · Regarding King Duncan I of Scotland He was murdered by Macbeth on August 14, 1040 at: Iona, Near Elgin, Scotland. Duncan was the grandfather of Matilda "Atheling" Princess of Scotland; she was the wife of Henry I, Beauclerc, King of England. Thus when Lady Macbeth moans and cries out, Out Damn spot! She is verbally abusing Stafford family DNA! · Regarding Mark Anthony III, there were three prominent men named Mark Anthony (all my ancestors); the one referred to here was a member of the second Triumvirate, along with Octavian Augustus Caesar. · Regarding King Kimberline he was the father of Arvirgaus King of Britain. Many old characters seemed to possess many names, due to various spellings in English, Latin or Welsh records and histories. |
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The document above was created by Neil F. Stafford and pemission given for personal use only! |
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