William Shakespeare's play Richard II portrays another dethroned monarch who mourns his loss of authority and prestige. Written just a year after Marlowe's play, Richard II showcases Marlowe's influence on his contemporary. Pay close attention to the similarities between the speeches of the two kings as they relinquish their crowns.

The Renaissance play Edward III—potentially authored by Shakespeare, Marlowe, or both (scholars remain divided)—continues the narrative into the next generation, focusing on young Edward III, also known as the Confessor, who rules during the Black Plague.

The 1995 film Braveheart, directed by and starring Mel Gibson, depicts the conflict between England and Scotland just before the events of Edward II. In Braveheart, Scottish commoner William Wallace rallies Scotland to rebel against Edward I (Longshanks), the father of Edward II, who enforces the ancient right of Prima Nocta, the "right" to be the first to sleep with a new bride. The film features realistic (and graphic) portrayals of Medieval warfare.

Niccolò Machiavelli's Il Principe (The Prince, 1505) influenced Marlowe's shaping of Mortimer's character. This work has been interpreted to support a wide range of values and remains a compelling read.