Claim: Henry V is adapted from a play.

Henriad is a common title used by scholars for Shakespeare 's second historical tetralogy , comprising Richard II ; Henry IV , Part 1 ; Henry IV , Part 2 ; and Henry V . The plays depict the destabilising effects of the violation of political continuity with the overthrow of Richard II of England followed by the growth of Henry V of England from a wild youth to a great war leader in Henry V. Although it was the second tetralogy to be written and performed , the subject matter comes chronologically before the first tetralogy comprising the three Henry VI plays and Richard III . The term `` Henriad '' derives from the Classical epics the Iliad and Aeneid .   References to these four plays as the Henriad can be found widely in literature on them . The scope of the term Henriad , however , is up for debate ; that is , some scholars include Shakespeare 's first tetralogy , comprising plays Henry VI , Part 1 ; Henry VI , Part 2 ; Henry VI , Part 3 ; and Richard III in the Henriad . Though The Merry Wives of Windsor is set in the same period of history and includes many of the Henriad characters , it does not include Henry himself , and is typically seen as a separate work . The first four are sometimes called the minor tetralogy , and the second the major tetralogy .