Just finished The Hollow Crown, at long last; somewhat swing-and-miss at times with certain elements or casting choices, but still enjoyable, esp. the two Richards (Cumberbatch in particular was an outstanding choice) and the first Henry IV. Given that all of these, and Richard III in particular, were written with the aim of presenting the House of Lancaster in the best light (whether because of genuine belief in/loyalty to pro-Lancaster takes on history, or simple deference to the Lancastrian-descended Elizabeth I), watching the series led me to wonder the following:
*If Richard III had won at Bosworth Field and cemented Yorkist rule up to the late 16th century or beyond, how might Shakespeare (presuming he's not butterflied away) have presented him in his plays?
*Would it be safe to write the Henriad plays, even ones more favorable towards the House of York, in an England ruled by Richard III's descendants?
*Would any of Shakespeare's other works revolving around the overthrow of kings and tyrants (Macbeth, Lear, Hamlet, Caesar, and whichever others I'm missing) likely be written under a Yorkist-descended monarch, with a possible still-lingering stigma of usurpation hanging over the dynasty despite "winner's history" prevailing?
Other questions:
*Presuming his victory at Bosworth, who would be the likeliest heir to Richard III, given his son Edward of Middleham's death in 1484? I know about John de la Pole being apparently groomed for this position, but were there other contenders that Richard III might have chosen?
*What are some of the most plausible actions, domestic and foreign, that a victorious Richard III have taken in however long he realistically would live/endure on the throne?
*If Richard III had won at Bosworth Field and cemented Yorkist rule up to the late 16th century or beyond, how might Shakespeare (presuming he's not butterflied away) have presented him in his plays?
*Would it be safe to write the Henriad plays, even ones more favorable towards the House of York, in an England ruled by Richard III's descendants?
*Would any of Shakespeare's other works revolving around the overthrow of kings and tyrants (Macbeth, Lear, Hamlet, Caesar, and whichever others I'm missing) likely be written under a Yorkist-descended monarch, with a possible still-lingering stigma of usurpation hanging over the dynasty despite "winner's history" prevailing?
Other questions:
*Presuming his victory at Bosworth, who would be the likeliest heir to Richard III, given his son Edward of Middleham's death in 1484? I know about John de la Pole being apparently groomed for this position, but were there other contenders that Richard III might have chosen?
*What are some of the most plausible actions, domestic and foreign, that a victorious Richard III have taken in however long he realistically would live/endure on the throne?