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Historical Plays
The histories—along with those of contemporary Renaissance playwrights—help define the genre of history plays.
Richard III by William Shakespeare
It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of King Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified as such.
Edward II by Christopher Marlowe
It is one of the earliest English history plays, and focusses on the relationship between King Edward II of England and Piers Gaveston, and Edward's murder on the orders of Roger Mortimer.
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