!!As the plays are OlderThanSteam and based on historical events, and as most twists in Shakespeare's plots are now [[ItWasHisSled widely known]], all spoilers on this page are [[Administrivia/SpoilersOff unmarked]].

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->''"I am the Prince of Wales, and thinke not ''Percy'',\\
To share with me in glory any more:\\
Two Starres keepe not their motion in one Sphere,\\
Nor can one England brooke a double reigne,\\
Of ''Harry Percy'', and the Prince of Wales."''

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[[folder: See '''''Theatre/Henry IV Part1''''' and '''''Theatre/Henry IV Part2''''' for summaries and example lists of the plays. ]]


''Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2'' are a duology of history plays by Creator/WilliamShakespeare, describing the transformation of Prince Hal (the future Theatre/HenryV) from a mischievous scoundrel to a [[SeriousBusiness Serious King]] [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Who Is Serious.]] His transformation is catalyzed by a series of rebellions: Hal's father, the titular Henry IV, usurped the English throne from Theatre/RichardII, and a number of his nobles--including Harry "Hotspur" Percy, set up as a {{Foil}} to Hal--find it politically convenient to be unhappy about this.

Hal's companion in scoundrelhood, Sir John Falstaff, is one of Shakespeare's most beloved characters.

Adaptations of these plays are sadly rare and hard to find; most of them seem to focus on Falstaff. These include:
* ''Film/ChimesAtMidnight'', an Creator/OrsonWelles movie
* ''Falstaff'', a Verdi opera (based on Falstaff-centric spinoff ''The Merry Wives of Windsor''.)
* ''Film/MyOwnPrivateIdaho,'' a modern-language adaptation, with rentboys
* The BBC series ''Series/TheHollowCrown'' adapts both parts, as well as ''Richard II'' and ''Henry V''.
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