In November 1605 a band of conspirators attempted to blow up Parliament, and the King of England along with it.
It became known as the Gunpowder Plot...
The cast of characters
King James I, the target
King of England and Scotland at the time of the plot. During his reign he'd faced a number of kidnap attempts and plots against him. James replaced Queen Elizabeth I on the throne in 1603.
Robert Catesby, the ringleader
Catesby organised the plot and recruited the main conspirators. No stranger to political campaigns against the monarch, Catesby had previously been arrested and imprisoned because he was believed to be a threat to Queen Elizabeth I.
Guy Fawkes, the most famous plotter
Guy Fawkes was a soldier with excellent military knowledge and skill. He was also known as 'Guido', a nickname he picked up while fighting in the Spanish army. He was recruited especially for his knowledge of explosives.
Thomas Winter, recruiter and chief digger
Winter introduced Guy Fawkes to the conspiracy and helped recruit others at various times during the plot. He was also in charge of digging a secret tunnel intended for transporting the deadly gunpowder.
Thomas Percy, a source of funds
Percy leased a house for the plotters near to the Houses of Parliament. He also rented a cellar directly below the House of Lords where gunpowder could be planted. A skilled swordsman, he had a dangerous reputation.
John Wright, friend of Catesby
One of the first to join the conspiracy, Wright had been arrested on several occasions for being a threat to national security.
Francis Tresham, half-hearted plotter?
Tresham joined the plot late in September 1605. It seems he was not initially enthusiastic about the plot and offered Robert Catesby money to abandon it before he was persuaded to join them.
Lord Monteagle, friend of the king
Lord Monteagle was married to the sister of one of the plotters. His connection to the king's inner circle proved important in the unravelling of the Gunpowder Plot.
Sir Thomas Knyvett, Justice of Westminster
Sir Thomas discovered the gunpowder meant for James I.