The Tragical Reign of Selimus as a Hybrid Tragedy

Abstract

This essay re-evaluates Robert Greene’s The Tragical Reign of Selimus (1594) as a pioneering hybrid tragedy that synthesizes historical, Senecan, and Elizabethan dramatic traditions. Through close textual analysis, the study demonstrates how Greene interweaves the political intrigue of Ottoman history with Senecan motifs of vengeance and spectacle, while engaging emergent Elizabethan conventions of psychological depth and moral complexity. The play’s protagonist, Selimus, embodies this fusion: his Machiavellian ascent to power reflects historical chronicles of Sultan Selim I, his ruthless ambition channels Senecan furor, and his introspective soliloquies align with Elizabethan explorations of human frailty. Greene uses the Ottoman setting's exoticism to condemn despotism and ambition while captivating modern viewers. The essay argues that Selimus exemplifies early modern drama’s adaptability, merging classical rhetoric, historical allegory, and innovative character studies to interrogate power’s corrupting nature. This hybridity not only enriches the play’s thematic resonance—revealing the cyclical violence of unchecked authority—but also positions it as a transitional work bridging late medieval morality traditions and Renaissance tragic forms. Ultimately, Selimus emerges as a vital, if overlooked, contribution to Elizabethan theatre, reflecting the era’s fascination with global politics and the moral ambiguities of leadership.