When Does "Henry V" (1599) Take Place?
"The Cronicle History of Henry the Fift" (often released simply as "Henry V") is a historical fiction stageplay written by William Shakespeare and performed as early as June 1599 (according to most scholars). So when is "Henry V" set?
It takes place in the year:
We know this because in act 2 the real-world King Henry V (1386-1422) learns about a plan for his own assassination at the hands of the real-world Earl Richard of Conisburgh and resolves the situation. This has become known as the Southampton Plot and was uncovered on July 31st, 1415 AD and all was solved by early August of 1415 AD in the real world. So act 2 must take place over late July and early August of 1415 AD.
1415 AD - 1420 AD
We know this because in act 2 the real-world King Henry V (1386-1422) learns about a plan for his own assassination at the hands of the real-world Earl Richard of Conisburgh and resolves the situation. This has become known as the Southampton Plot and was uncovered on July 31st, 1415 AD and all was solved by early August of 1415 AD in the real world. So act 2 must take place over late July and early August of 1415 AD.
Then, during act 3 the Siege of Harfleur, which was fought from August 18th, 1415 AD to September 22nd, 1415 AD in the real world. So it's probably late August of 1415 AD to late September of 1415 AD during these events in the story.
Furthermore, act 4 depicts the famous and tragic Battle of Agincourt, which happened on October 25th, 1415 AD in the real world. So it is certainly October of 1415 AD at this point of the narrative.
Later, during act 5 characters discuss the signing of the Treaty of Troyes, which occurred on May 21st, 1420 AD in the real world. So it must be during or after May of 1420 AD at the end.
It is the chronological fourth play in the Henriad universe (one of Shakespeare's only two series) and can be read at its timeline point after the previous play, "Henry IV Part 2" (1599).
It was adapted to film in 1944, to television in 1951, 1953, 1957, 1960, 1979, to film again in 1989, to audio-drama in 1990 as "Henry V – A Shakespeare Scenario", for dance in 2004 as "Dancing Henry Five", another film in 2007, to television a final time in 2012, to music in 2015 as "O For a Muse of Fire", and partially as a film in 2019 titled "The King".
