By Tim Lambert
Lady Jane Grey was Queen of England for just nine days. She was born in 1537 (the exact date is not known). Her father, Henry, was the Marquess of Dorset. Her mother, Frances Brandon, was the daughter of Henry VIII’s sister Mary. So Lady Jane was Henry VIII’s granddaughter. At first, she lived in Bradgate in Leicestershire.
Like other upper-class girls at that time Lady Jane was taught by tutors. She was a clever girl and learned languages such as Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. She also learned Italian and French.
In 1547 when she was about 10 Lady Jane was sent to live with the household of Thomas Seymour. (It was common in the 16th century for children to be sent to live with another household). However, Seymour was executed for treason in 1549 and Jane returned to Bradgate in Leicestershire.
In May 1553 Lady Jane married Lord Guildford Dudley, the son of the Duke of Northumberland. (In those days marriages were normally arranged).
At that time the King was Edward VI. His father Henry VIII had made himself supreme head of the Church of England but he mostly kept the old doctrines of the Catholic Church. However, under his son Protestant doctrines were introduced. Lady Jane herself was a devout Protestant.
Edward had two half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth. Mary the oldest was a devout Catholic and Protestants were afraid that if Edward died and Mary became queen she would reintroduce Catholicism. They hoped that the Protestant Lady Jane Grey, the granddaughter of Henry VIII could be made queen instead, even though Mary had a much better claim to the throne. King Edward was seriously ill and he changed his will to make Lady Jane his heir.
King Edward died on 6 July 1553. On 10 July 1553 Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen of England but she was reluctant to accept the title.
However, Mary had a great deal of popular support and she raised an army and marched on London. Support for Lady Jane Grey melted away and Mary was proclaimed queen on 19 July 1553.
Lady Jane and her husband were arrested and taken to the Tower of London. On 13 November 1553, both of them were tried for treason. Both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to death. However, both were reprieved. Queen Mary was reluctant to execute them.
Yet in January-February 1554 Wyatt’s rebellion, against Queen Mary. Lady Jane had nothing to do with the rebellion, which was quickly defeated. But Mary felt it was too dangerous to allow Jane to live. There was always a risk that a future rebellion could use her as a rallying figure. So both were executed. Lady Jane was beheaded in the Tower of London, shortly after her husband on 12 February 1554. Both were buried in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula (St Peter in Chains) in the Tower of London.
