List of Historical Figures Dramatised By Shakespeare - D

D

• Dauphin (sometimes Dolphin in older texts):
  • The Dauphin is Henry's chief enemy in Henry V.
  • The Dauphin, later King Charles VII of France leads the French forces, with Joan, in Henry VI, Part 1.
  • See also Lewis.
  • Decius Brutus is one of the conspirators against Caesar in Julius Caesar.
• Sir Anthony Denny is a minor character in Henry VIII, who brings Cranmer to the King.
• Lord Stanley, Earl of Derby is a military leader who ultimately reveals his loyalty to the Richmond faction, in spite of his son being a hostage to Richard, in Richard III.

For Doctor (title) see William Butts or John Caius.

• Dorset and Grey are the two sons of Queen Elizabeth (wife of Edward IV) from her first marriage, who are arrested and executed on the orders of Buckingham and Richard in Richard III.
• Duchess:
  • Duchess of Gloucester:
    • The Duchess of Gloucester (1) is the widow of Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester. His murder (before the play opens) drives much of the action of Richard II.
    • The Duchess of Gloucester (2) is the wife of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester in Henry VI, Part 2, in which she dabbles in witchcraft with disastrous results.
  • Duchess of York:
    • The Duchess of York (1) (unnamed) character in Richard II, a composite of Isabella of Castile, Duchess of York, died 1392, the mother of Aumerle, and Joan Holland, who bore no children
    • The Duchess of York (2) is the wife of Richard, Duke of York (1) in Henry VI, Part 3. She outlives him to mourn the death of two of their sons in Richard III.

For Duke see Duke of Austria (under Limoges), Duke of Bedford (under Prince John of Lancaster), Duke of Berry, Duke of Bourbon, Duke of Britain (or Brittany), Duke of Buckingham, Duke of Burgundy, Duke of Clarence, Duke of Exeter, Duke of Gloucester, Duke of Lancaster, Duke of Norfolk, Duke of Orleans, Duke of Somerset, Duke of Suffolk, Duke of Surrey or Duke of York.