The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England orchestrated by a group of provincial English Catholics. Their goal was to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament, aiming to eliminate Protestant rule. The plot's discovery led to severe repercussions for Catholics in England and has since been commemorated annually on Guy Fawkes Night, symbolizing resistance against oppression.

The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 reinforced anti-Catholic sentiment in England, influencing the political and religious subtext of Jacobean drama and poetry. Works by Shakespeare and Jonson explored themes of treason and divine right, reflecting the tumultuous political climate.