Lady Jane Grey

Lady Jane Grey (October 12?, 1537–February 12, 1554), was a great granddaughter of Henry VII of England, and was proclaimed Queen of England for nine days in 1553. Her status as a monarch is controversial; her succession contravened an Act of Parliament, but so did the succession of several other monarchs. However, after her rule ended, her proclamation as Queen was revoked. She was also known as one of the most learned women of her day, described by the historian Alison Weir as one of “the finest female minds of the century.”

Claim to the Throne

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Her claim to the throne was through her mother, Lady Frances Brandon, who was the daughter of Mary Tudor (a daughter of King Henry VII of England) and her second husband, Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. Frances was still living but renounced her claim on the throne in favour of her daughter.

Related Topics:
Lady Frances Brandon - Mary Tudor - Henry VII of England - Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk

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According to the notion of male primogeniture, the Suffolks (Brandons and later Greys) were the junior branch of the heirs of Henry VII. The 1544 Act of Succession restored both Mary and Elizabeth to the line of succession even though neither had been re-legitimized. Furthermore, this act authorized Henry VIII to alter the succession by his will. His last will reinforced the succession of his three children, and then declared that should none of his three children leave heirs, the Throne will pass to the heirs of his younger sister, Mary, The French Queen. His will completely ignored the claims of the heirs of his elder sister, Margaret Tudor, which were superior to those of the Suffolks.

Related Topics:
Primogeniture - Act of Succession - Margaret Tudor

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The question of the succession had arisen as a result of the religious unrest that had prevailed during the reign of King Henry VIII of England. When Henry's Protestant successor Edward VI died at an early age, the next in line to the throne was his Roman Catholic half-sister, Mary.

Related Topics:
Henry VIII of England - Protestant - Edward VI - Roman Catholic - Mary

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Several Protestant nobles had become wealthy since Henry VIII closed the Catholic monasteries and divided the lands and possessions among his suppoerters. John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, was the foremost among them, having been the regent during the reign of Henry's son, Edward VI. Fearing a return to Catholicism, and the prospect of losing his wealth and power, Northumberland led a faction who, when it became clear Edward was dying, would ensure the accession of a Protestant instead of the Catholic Mary Tudor. Northumberland hastily arranged for his son Guilford Dudley to marry Jane, hoping through him to gain control over his daughter-in-law and the reins of England.

Related Topics:
John Dudley - Guilford Dudley

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At the time of Edward VI's death, Jane was fourth in line to the Throne, after Mary, Elizabeth, and Frances. Jane's claim to the throne was therefore obviously weak, and Northumberland's other sons John, Ambrose, Henry and Robert were all subsequently imprisoned but later pardoned for their part in their father's scheme.

Related Topics:
John - Ambrose - Henry - Robert

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