# Philip Faulconbridge (the Bastard) — King John character guide

> Philip Faulconbridge (the Bastard) in King John by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Bastard, Richard, Philip, Plantagenet, young Plantagenet, sir Richard, good Philip, Bastard Hubert, Bastard The French, Bastard The Dauphin, Bastard Philip, Bastard Ha, Bastard Go, Bastard Bell, Bastard Brother, Bastard James Gurney, Bastard Saint George

**First appearance:** 0002-act-i-scene-i

## Snapshot

A landless knight reborn as Richard Plantagenet, trading a brother's inheritance for a king's blood and a sharp tongue.

## Who they are

Summoned to court over a petty inheritance dispute, he cheerfully concedes he is likely Richard the Lionheart's bastard son, and Elinor claims him as her grandchild on the spot. Newly knighted and newly landless, he mocks the hollow rituals of rank even as he learns to climb them, promising to study the 'sweet poison' of flattery without quite practicing it. His running commentary gives the audience its clearest eyes, and his loyalty to John will be tested as the political ground shifts.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i)

Claims his brother's land but is revealed as the illegitimate son of Richard the Lionheart; renounces his claim and is knighted as Sir Richard Plantagenet; soliloquizes on the nature of new-made honor.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i)

Accompanies King John; mocks the kings and proposes a joint attack on Angiers, then a battle between them.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Mocks Austria and is sent by King John to gather the English forces for battle.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii)

Enters with Austria's head, reports rescuing Queen Elinor.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii)

Is sent to England to seize Church treasures and bids farewell to the Queen and King.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii)

Returns from collecting church funds, reports popular unrest and brings the prophet Peter of Pomfret; is sent to reconcile with the rebellious lords.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iii)

Confronts the lords and Hubert, condemns the murder, and laments the state of England.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i)

Reports that Kent has yielded and London has received the Dauphin; urges John to fight rather than accept a shameful peace.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii)

Sent as King John's envoy, delivers a fiery speech condemning the rebel lords and challenging the French to battle.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii)

Sends a messenger to advise the king to leave the field and reports the wreck of French supplies.

### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/chapters/act-v-scene-vi)

Meets Hubert in the night, learns of the king's poisoning, and reports the loss of his army in the Lincoln Washes.

### [Scene VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/chapters/act-v-scene-vii)

Arrives breathless with news of his army's loss in the Wash and the Dauphin's approach, then learns of the peace and pledges loyalty to Prince Henry.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/characters/the_bastard
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/characters