# Hotspur — Henry IV, Part I character guide > Hotspur in Henry IV, Part I by William Shakespeare. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Harry Percy, Lord Percy, Lord Harry Percy, Hotspur Revolted Mortimer **First appearance:** 0000-henry-iv-part-i ## Snapshot A warrior so hungry for glory he cannot sit still through a map-reading, whose reckless temper threatens to undo the rebellion he anchors. ## Who they are Hotspur is the North's blazing star, a man who kills Scots by the dozen before breakfast and treats diplomacy as an interruption to fighting. He clashes with Glendower over the Welshman's mystical pretensions and with Worcester over strategy, his impatience making him both the rebellion's greatest weapon and its greatest liability. His obsession with honor — and his contempt for the calculating Prince Hal — sets up the rivalry that gives the play its spine. ## Relationships ### [King Henry IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/characters/king_henry_iv) _rivalry_ Hotspur is a proud, hot-tempered rebel who defies King Henry's authority and leads a rebellion against him. ### [Worcester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/characters/worcester) _family_ Worcester is Hotspur's uncle and chief political advisor, who fuels his nephew's rebellion while often manipulating him. ### [Prince Hal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/characters/prince_hal) _rivalry_ Hotspur is Hal's primary rival and foil, a valiant but impulsive rebel whom Hal ultimately kills in single combat. ### [Lady Percy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/characters/lady_percy) _family_ Hotspur is married to Lady Percy, and their relationship is affectionate but strained by his obsessive focus on war and honor. ### [Lady Percy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/characters/lady_percy) _family_ Hotspur is married to Lady Percy, and their relationship is affectionate but strained by his obsessive focus on war and honor. ### [Worcester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/characters/worcester) _family_ Worcester is Hotspur's uncle and chief political advisor, who fuels his nephew's rebellion while often manipulating him. ### [King Henry IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/characters/king_henry_iv) _rivalry_ Hotspur is a proud, hot-tempered rebel who defies King Henry's authority and leads a rebellion against him. ### [Prince Hal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/characters/prince_hal) _rivalry_ Hotspur is Hal's primary rival and foil, a valiant but impulsive rebel whom Hal ultimately kills in single combat. ### [Prince Hal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/characters/prince_hal) _rivalry_ Hotspur is Hal's primary rival and foil, a valiant but impulsive rebel whom Hal ultimately kills in single combat. ### [Worcester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/characters/worcester) _family_ Worcester is Hotspur's uncle and chief political advisor, who fuels his nephew's rebellion while often manipulating him. ## In the story ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i) Mentioned as the victor at Holmedon, holding prisoners and defying the king by keeping them for his own use. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iii) Hotspur vehemently refuses to hand over his prisoners and vows to oppose King Henry, revealing his impulsive and honor-driven nature. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iii) Reads a letter criticizing the rebellion, angrily defends the plot, and prepares to leave for war despite Lady Percy's pleas. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i) Hotspur mocks Glendower's claims of supernatural birth, quarrels over the map's division of land, and shows impatience with poetry and ceremony. He is chided by Worcester for his wilfulness. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii) Praised by the King for his military victories against Douglas; becomes the benchmark for Prince Hal's redemption. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i) Leads the rebel camp, reacts with frustration to news of his father's sickness and Glendower's delay, but remains fiercely determined to fight. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iii) Argues for immediate battle, recounts the Percy family's role in helping King Henry gain the throne, and refuses the king's offer of peace. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iv) Mentioned as Lord Harry Percy, the rebel leader whose forces are judged too weak by the Archbishop. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii) Eager for battle, dismisses Vernon's praise of Hal, and delivers a passionate speech about honor and the shortness of life. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii) Corrects Douglas about Blunt's identity and urges him to continue fighting. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iv) Fights Prince Hal, is mortally wounded, and dies lamenting the loss of his youth and titles. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/characters/hotspur - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_iv_part_i_se/characters