# King Henry VI — Henry VI, Part III character guide > King Henry VI in Henry VI, Part III by William Shakespeare. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Henry, Harry, King Henry **First appearance:** 0002-act-i-scene-i ## Snapshot A gentle, pious king who would rather pray than fight, Henry watches his crown seized by rebels while his fierce queen fights in his name. ## Who they are Henry VI sits uneasily on a throne his grandfather won at Agincourt, a man of conscience surrounded by lords who measure him only in weakness. His mildness — patience he urges on others even as York plants himself in the chair of state — is both his virtue and his political undoing, and it throws the realm into the hands of Margaret and Warwick alike. His famous image of himself as a feather blown by whichever gust is greater captures the tragedy at the play's center: a king whose crown, he says, is 'content,' and who matters because his helplessness is what everyone else is fighting over. ## Relationships ### [Queen Margaret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/characters/queen_margaret) _family_ Margaret is Henry's fiercely loyal wife who fights to protect his crown and their son's inheritance. ### [Lord Hastings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/characters/lord_hastings) _rivalry_ Hastings is a Yorkist supporter who opposes Henry and later helps Edward IV maintain power. ### [Richard, Duke of Gloucester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/characters/richard_duke_of_gloucester) _rivalry_ Richard of Gloucester is a Yorkist prince who ultimately murders Henry VI in the Tower of London. ### [Prince Edward of Westminster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/characters/prince_edward_of_westminster) _family_ Prince Edward is Henry's beloved son and heir, whose death in battle devastates Henry and ends the Lancastrian line. ### [Lady Bona](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/characters/lady_bona) _social_ Lady Bona is a French princess briefly considered as a bride for Edward IV, but Henry is only tangentially involved in the diplomatic negotiations. ### [George, Duke of Clarence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/characters/george_duke_of_clarence) _rivalry_ Clarence is a Yorkist prince who switches sides to the Lancastrians temporarily, but ultimately remains an enemy to Henry's cause. ### [Queen Margaret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/characters/queen_margaret) _family_ Margaret is Henry's fiercely loyal wife who fights to protect his crown and their son's inheritance. ### [Lord Hastings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/characters/lord_hastings) _rivalry_ Hastings is a Yorkist supporter who opposes Henry and later helps Edward IV maintain power. ### [Richard, Duke of Gloucester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/characters/richard_duke_of_gloucester) _rivalry_ Richard of Gloucester is a Yorkist prince who ultimately murders Henry VI in the Tower of London. ### [George, Duke of Clarence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/characters/george_duke_of_clarence) _rivalry_ Clarence is a Yorkist prince who switches sides to the Lancastrians temporarily, but ultimately remains an enemy to Henry's cause. ### [Prince Edward of Westminster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/characters/prince_edward_of_westminster) _family_ Prince Edward is Henry's beloved son and heir, whose death in battle devastates Henry and ends the Lancastrian line. ### [Lord Hastings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/characters/lord_hastings) _rivalry_ Hastings is a Yorkist supporter who opposes Henry and later helps Edward IV maintain power. ## In the story ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i) Confronts York in Parliament, reluctantly agrees to disinherit his son and name York heir, then faces Margaret's wrath. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii) Reluctant to fight, troubled by the sight of York's head, and ultimately persuaded to stay on the field. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-v) Sits alone on a molehill, lamenting the war and wishing for a shepherd's peaceful life; witnesses the tragic parricides; is urged to flee by Margaret and Exeter. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i) Disguised and wandering in the forest, Henry reflects on his deposition, his queen and son's mission to France, and Warwick's diplomatic efforts, before being apprehended by keepers. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii) Reported captured and brought as a prisoner to the palace gate. ### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-vi) Restored to the throne, he resigns active rule to Warwick and Clarence, orders Margaret and Prince Edward sent for, and prophesies greatness for young Richmond. ### [Scene VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-viii) Henry plans defense against Edward, reflects on his merciful reign, and is captured by Edward's forces. ### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/chapters/act-v-scene-vi) Confronts Richard in the Tower, delivers a prophetic condemnation, and is murdered. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/characters/king_henry_vi - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/characters