Lady Jane Grey
Royalty
Lady Jane Grey is a famous sidelight to British royal history. At age 15 she was married to Lord Guilford Dudley as part of a plot to control the English throne after the death of her cousin, the boy king Edward VI (son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour). On 10 July 1553, four days after Edward's death, Lady Jane's supporters proclaimed her to be Queen. It soon became clear that Edward's half-sister Mary Tudor had far greater support, and after a "reign" of nine days Lady Jane Grey relinquished the crown. She and her husband were charged with high treason, and in 1554 they were beheaded.Extra credit: Lady Jane Grey was succeeded by Queen Mary (daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon) and then by Elizabeth I (daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn).
Jane Grey joins William Henry Harrison and Pope John Paul I in our loop on One-Reign Wonders.
Four Good Links
Jane the Quene
Multi-lingual fan page with a detailed biography, portraits and links
Lady Jane Grey
Another fine page, slightly more academic; includes her correspondence
British Monarchy: Lady Jane Grey
The story of the tussling Tudors from the official site of the Royal Family
Encarta: Lady Jane Grey
Basic encyclopedia entry touches on the key points
Vital Stats
Birth
October 1537
Birthplace
Death
12 February 1554
(beheading, age 16)
Best Known As
The nine-day Queen of England
