As the heir to the throne of Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey ruled for nine days. The tragic and short reign of the young queen is just another part of the Tudor drama.
Should Lady Jane Grey be considered a Tudor monarch? She did, after all rule for nine days. The story of Lady Jane’s short life is overlooked even though in her rested the hopes of a young dying king and a power-hungry duke.
Childhood and Education
Born in October 1537, Jane began her education early, probably around the time she was three years old. She seemed to be quite intelligent and mature for her age.
Her love of learning and study was a credit to her school master, whom she praised as very kind and gentle. According to the lady herself, her parents were incredibly strict and she had to keep to rigid rules or risk punishment, whereas with her tutor, she could relax and be herself.
Triple Marriages
It was revealed to Lady Jane in the beginning of May 1553 that she would marry Guildford Dudley, the son of the Duke of Northumberland, John Dudley. Though she initially protested with a claim that she was promised to Edward, Lord Hertford (which may or may not have been the case) the matter was already settled.
In May 1553 on either the 22nd or 25th, Lady Jane Grey became the wife of Guildford Dudley. The marriage took place in London alongside two others: her sister, Lady Katherine married Lord Herbert, the son of the Earl of Pembroke and Northumberland’s daughter, also named Katherine, married Lord Hastings.
Northumberland’s Plans
In June 1553, Lady Jane moved to Durham House, the residence of the Dudley family. The Duchess of Northumberland told young Jane that she must be close at hand in case the King (Edward VI) should need her. Jane took this statement very lightly and attached only her mother in law’s vanity to the idea.
Meanwhile, Northumberland had succeeded in convincing Edward VI that he must keep his Catholic sister, Mary from the throne if he were to honor all the work of his father. Edward wrote a new will in which his cousin, Lady Jane Grey was named his heir. Conveniently for Northumberland, he was to be the father in law of the queen of England, a very powerful position to be in.
Becoming Queen
When Jane received the news that King Edward was dead and she would be the queen, she fainted from the shock and claimed that she did not want the crown. Her parents pressured her to accept. She accepted the situation as God’s will and faithfully assumed the office of the Queen of England.
Her coronation procession marched through London on July 10, 1553 and one wonders what her thoughts were. Nine days later, when her father received word from Mary, who had escaped captors with the help of her Catholic supporters, and who demanded Jane renounce her title, Jane gladly did so. She stated that her only reason for assuming the throne was out of reverence to her parents.
The End
While Jane and her husband were tried and sentenced to death for treason, it is likely that Queen Mary had little intention of carrying out the execution. It was not until after a second revolt attempt that Mary signed the order for the executions to take place.
On February 12, 1554, the sentences were carried out.
Lady Jane Grey, while not among the famous Tudor monarchs, was one nonetheless. Her reign was the result of a legal will of a king. She was only deposed because Henry VIII’s will dictated that Mary would succeed Edward and Mary had a great number of supporters at her disposal. Jane’s tragic life is one which adds to the drama that is the Tudor dynasty.
Halligan, Jennifer. Lady Jane. http://www.britannia.com/history/ladyjane/janefram.html.
Lady Jane Grey: Queen for Nine Days. http://tudorhistory.org/jane
