What does Henry want in The Lion in Winter?

Henry wants his youngest son, the future King John, to inherit his throne, while his estranged and imprisoned wife, Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine, temporarily released from prison for the holidays, favors their eldest surviving son, the future King Richard I.

Which king was the lion in winter?

king Henry II
The Lion in Winter takes place at Chinon, a French residence of English king Henry II, during Christmas 1183.

What is the Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter?

The play is the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine, estranged wife of Henry II of England, who in 1183 is brought home from prison to celebrate another kind of imprisonment: a miserable Christmas with her husband and sons, all four locked in a struggle over the succession to the throne that each knows may precipitate the …

Why did Richard not marry Alais?

At any rate, Richard refused to marry the French princess after he succeeded Henry in 1189, supposedly because she was not chaste, but possibly because she was his estranged father’s choice; he later married Berengaria of Navarre .

Is Lion in Winter a true story?

Historical accuracy The Lion in Winter is fictional, and none of the dialogue and actions is historical. There was not a Christmas Court at Chinon in 1183, but the events leading up to the story are generally accurate.

How does lion in winter end?

In the end, everything is as it was in the beginning. Eleanor is headed back to prison, the three princes are still squabbling over who shall be king, Alais is caught in the middle, and Henry still has no clear successor.

How does The Lion in Winter end?

Who was Rosamund in The Lion in Winter?

Rosamund Clifford (before 1150 – c. 1176), often called “The Fair Rosamund” or the “Rose of the World” (rosa mundi), was famed for her beauty and was a mistress of King Henry II of England, famous in English folklore.

Who are the main characters in the Lion in winter?

His clear favorite for his successor is his son, John, but his main desire is to keep his kingdom together after his death. Alais Capet: The sister of Philip Capet, Alais is of the royal blood of France and would thus, through a contracted marriage with Richard, ally the two strong countries of France and England.

Where does the Lion in winter take place?

Set during Christmas 1183 at Henry II of England ‘s castle in Chinon, Anjou, Angevin Empire, the play opens with the arrival of Henry’s wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, whom he has had imprisoned since 1173.

Who is the king of France in the Lion in winter?

Meanwhile, King Philip II of France, the son and successor of Louis VII of France, Eleanor’s ex-husband, has given his half-sister Alais, who is currently Henry’s mistress, to the future heir, and demands either a wedding or the return of her dowry . Katharine Hepburn as Eleanor of Aquitaine, a role for which she won an Oscar.

What are some quotes from the Lion in winter?

I know you know I know. We know Henry knows, and Henry knows we know it. We’re a knowledgeable family.” β€œHe came down from the North to Paris with a mind like Aristotle’s and a form like mortal sin. We shattered the Commandments on the spot.”