JANE (Jane Grey) - Archontology
JANE (Jane Grey)

Jane

b. Oct 1537, Bradgate Manor, Leicestershire
d. 12 Feb 1554, London

Title: Dei Gracia Anglie, Francie et Hibernie Regina, Fidei Defensor, et in terra ecclesie Anglicane et Hibernice supremum caput (By the Grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and of the Church of England and also of Ireland in Earth Supreme Head)
Term: 6 Jul 1553 - 19 Jul 1553
Chronology: 6 Jul 1553, succeeded Edward VI by virtue of "Letters Patent for the Limitation of the Crown" (dated 21 Jun 1553)
  10 Jul 1553, Jane proclaimed queen in London; not crowned
  19 Jul 1553, Mary I proclaimed queen in London; Queen Jane relinquished the crown
Names/titles: Original name: Lady Jane Grey; Lady Jane Dudley [from 21/25 May 1553]
Biography:

Lady Jane was the daughter of Henry Grey Duke of Suffolk and 3rd Marquess of Dorset, and the great-granddaughter of King Henry VII through her mother, Lady Frances Brandon. On 21 (or 25) May 1553 [1] Lady Jane was married to Guildford Dudley, the son of John Dudley Duke of Northumberland, who exercised considerable power in the minority of King Edward VI. She was designated heir to the throne of England in "Letters Patent for the Limitation of the Crown" signed by Edward VI on 21 Jun 1553, although the parliamentary acts of the reign of Henry VIII provided for a different order of succession.

The death of Edward VI was kept secret until 9 Jul 1553, when Jane was informed about the demise of the crown and was paid homage at the ceremony in the Syon House, the home of the Duke of Northumberland. The next day, 10 Jul 1553, Jane was taken from Syon to the Tower of London and publicly proclaimed queen. However, Edward's half-sister, Princess Mary, refused to recognize Jane as queen. On 14 Jul 1553 Northumberland and his army left for Cambridge to suppress Mary's supporters. However, Mary won the support of the populace and was recognized the rightful queen in Norwich, Colchester, Devon, Oxfordshire and other places. While Northumberland was out of London, most of the members of the Privy Council deserted Jane and proclaimed Mary queen on 19 Jul 1553. The same evening Jane's father convinced her to relinquish the crown and himself joined the proclamation of Mary. The deposed queen was soon imprisoned and later executed along with her husband on 12 Feb 1554. [2]


[1] Jane's biographers are divided over the exact date of her wedding.
[2] Handbook of British Chronology (1986)
  Image: engraving of Lady Jane Grey done by Willem and Magdalena van de Passe, probably from a portrait by Hans Holbein which has since been lost.