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List of characters

• King Henry the Fourth of England. The character is based on the historical King Henry IV of England. He is also known in the play as "Bullingbrook" or "Bolingbroke" after his place of birth in Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire. He is also called "Lancaster" by Glendower, because he was Duke of Lancaster before becoming king.
• Prince Henry, eldest son of Henry IV. The character is based on the future Henry V of England. He is nicknamed "Hal" or "Harry", and is sometimes called "Harry Monmouth" after his birthplace.
• The Earl of Worcester is based on Thomas Percy, 1st Earl of Worcester. The leader of the rebel cause against the King, he is sly, treacherous and self-centered willing to sacrifice anything, including his nephew, if it means victory.
• Lord John of Lancaster is a small role. The character, based on John, Duke of Bedford, is represented in the play as the King's second son, although he was actually the third. He is called "John" by Hal but has "Lancaster" for a speech heading (confusingly, since Glendower uses this name for his father).
• The Earl of Westmorland is based on Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland.
• Sir Walter Blunt.
• The Earl of Northumberland is based on Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland.
• Hotspur is the nickname of Henry Percy, Northumberland's son
• Kate, Lady Percy, is Hotspur's wife
• Edmund Mortimer, called Earl of March
• Lady Mortimer
• Owen Glendower, leader of the Welsh, and Lady Mortimer's father
• The Earl of Douglas is based on Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas
• Sir Richard Vernon
• Richard Scroop, Archbishop of York
• Sir Michael, a member of the Archbishop's household
• Sir John Falstaff is a cowardly fat knight who befriends Prince Hal. He is a fictional character, but was originally called "Oldcastle" and distantly based on Sir John Oldcastle. King's Men actors who played the part of Falstaff included John Heminges, John Lowin, and Charles Hart.^[6]
• Edward "Ned" Poins, a companion of Prince Hal
• Bardolph, a companion of Prince Hal
• Peto, a companion of Prince Hal
• Mistress Quickly, hostess of a tavern where Hal and his friends congregate
• Francis, a drawer at the tavern
• Vintner
• Gadshill
• Carriers, Chamberlain, Ostler, Travellers, Sheriff, Messengers, Servant, Lords, Soldiers