A Quick, Messy, and Tragic Reign

Lady Jane Grey never wanted to be queen. A young, well-educated noble, she fancied reading and learning languages. But fate had bigger plans for her, crowning her queen in history’s shortest, and saddest, reign. 

Paul Delaroche on Wikimedia

1. She Was the Eldest Daughter

Historians believe that Lady Jane was born between May 1536 and February 1537 to her parents Henry Grey, the 1st Duke of Suffolk, and his wife Frances. She was the eldest daughter of three girls; her two younger sisters were Lady Katherine and Lady Mary. 

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2. “...So Cruelly Threatened”

Rumor had it that Lady Jane was quite the accomplished youngster, though that didn’t make living with her parents any easier. She’s alleged to have complained about their cruelty throughout childhood, once telling a fellow student that they demanded perfection “or else I am so sharply taunted, so cruelly threatened, yea presently sometimes with pinches, nips and bobs.”

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3. Grade-A Student

Despite the mistreatment, she remained one of the most educated young women of her time. She enjoyed Plato’s work, spoke several languages, and devoted herself to her studies. She also preferred the company of books over popular pastimes like hunting. 

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4. She Narrowly Dodged Marriage

Jane was nearly ten years old when she went to live with Thomas Seymour and his wife, Catherine Parr. It was common for children of the time to be fostered by higher-class families, and with Seymour the 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley, Jane had access to better education. However, he was arrested in 1549 on a slew of treason charges, one of which included trying to marry Jane to his nephew, the king, Edward VI when they came of age. He was charged and executed before it could happen.

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5. Doomed to Power

However, a well-educated Protestant from a powerful family had more than enough to offer—and ambitious men knew it. John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland and head of King Edward VI’s Regency Council, recognized the power in Lady Grey’s name and what it would mean for his son should they marry. He also knew what needed to be done about the current young heir. So, by 1553 Lady Grey and Dudley’s son, Lord Guildford Dudley, wed and set the Duke’s plan into motion. 

Andries Scheerboom on Wikimedia

6. A Family Torn Apart

Edward VI may not have been very old, but he still held an important distinction over some family members—he was Protestant. Duke Dudley was too. But Edward VI’s half-sister Mary wasn’t, and when the king fell sick in 1553 both Edward VI and the Duke worried that Mary would swoop in to reestablish Catholicism. Thus began a shift in power and Lady Grey’s incoming role. 

Attributed to William Scrots (active 1537-1553) [1] on Wikimedia

7. The Shift in Power

Edward VI’s health only worsened and by 1553 he worked with Dudley to successfully remove both his half-sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, from power. He named his cousin Lady Grey the incoming heir before passing away that summer, thereby making her queen, but more importantly, putting Dudley’s son in line to become king. 

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8. Good News Travels Quickly 

Lady Grey had no intention of inheriting the throne, allegedly fainting upon the news. She even tried to specify that Mary was the rightful heir, crying that she didn’t want the role. But the deed was done and she was proclaimed queen four days after her cousin’s passing on July 10.

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9. The Reluctant Queen

Though she wasn’t thrilled, her parents and nobles prodded Lady Grey into submission. In the meantime, her husband, Lord Guildford Dudley, wanted to become king but Grey intercepted the ambition and only made him Duke of Clarence, an unsatisfying title he eventually accepted. 

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10. Mary Makes Her Moves

Mary may not have been present but she was kept aware of her brother’s condition, and alerted of his passing. It didn’t take long for her to garner support from forces and powerful nobles to put her on the throne, some of whom reneged their allegiance to Lady Grey by joining Mary instead. However, she didn’t realize the difficulties in obtaining her title. 

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11. A Play for Power

Once big names and their men rallied behind her, Mary sent a letter not only declaring that she was queen, but also for the council’s obedience—a letter that arrived the same day of Lady Grey’s proclamation. The council quickly fluffed off Mary’s words, claiming that they’d already had a queen and that her so-called supporters weren’t enough to sway their decision. 

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12. A Storm on the Horizon

Lady Grey’s family saw the writing on the wall. The council may not have been impressed, but it was reported that Mary’s letter instilled fear throughout the new royals, particularly Grey’s mother and mother-in-law. Mary, on the other hand, wouldn’t go down without a fight. 

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13. War Breaks Out

Grey’s mother-in-law, the Duchess of Northumberland, grew increasingly worried about Mary’s letter and what would happen if she secured the throne. So, on July 14, 1553, Duke Dudley led nearly one thousand men to Cambridge in an attempt to capture Mary—a decision that caused the entire family’s downfall.

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14. Things Quickly Fall Apart

It only took a few days for things to completely fall apart on the battlefield and eventually back home. The cause remains unclear, but historians know that on July 18, Duke Dudley expected reinforcements. Instead, he retreated and lay stranded in Cambridge. Possible reasons could have been desertion or the size of Mary’s army, but no one knows for sure, and it hardly mattered in the end. By July 20, the council back home flipped their allegiance to Mary and sent word to Dudley that they proclaimed her queen, shortly before he and his sons were arrested. 

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15. Court of Public Opinion

Public opinion about the duke quickly swayed. When he was brought back to the Tower of London, the people had turned on him. They claimed he poisoned the king. They called him a devil. By the time he made it to prison on July 25, poor Lady Grey was already stripped of her title and behind bars. 

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16. Onslaught of Charges 

The future was grim. Grey, her husband, his brothers, the duke, and even the former archbishop were charged with high treason. All were also found guilty and sentenced to death. However, despite the initial ruling, Mary understood how little a part Grey truly played and tried to treat her well in prison, even going so far as to nearly spare her life—nearly. 

James Heath on Wikimedia

17. Mary the (Almost) Merciful

Once again, through no fault of her own, Lady Grey was punished for others’ actions. While Mary initially planned to set her free, Grey’s father joined Wyatt’s Rebellion, an unsuccessful rebellion against Queen Mary’s marriage to Philip of Spain. Mary didn’t want to end her cousin’s life, but Lady Grey’s very presence proved an unending threat to Mary’s reign, and the somber decision was soon finalized.  

Nicolas de Larmessin and Esme de Boulonois on Wikimedia

18. Dark Day in History

On February 12, Lady Grey and her husband set their chins upon the block. As if the day wasn’t depressing enough, a blindfolded Grey had trouble locating the block, asking where it was before being gently guided down. She recited the bible. She refused a final meeting with her husband. Then she was executed. W Holl 1753 on Wikimedia

19. A Short, Memorable Reign

Lady Grey and her husband are buried in the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula. A tablet there has their names engraved. The decision to end her life was met with upset, even then, and she forever lives as the Nine-Day Queen. 

James Basire on Wikimedia

20. How She’s Remembered

To this day, her tragic story is remembered and retold in various art forms including paintings and poems. Most popular perhaps is the famous painting, The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche, which depicts the young blindfolded girl trying to find the block in front of her. Several songs throughout history were also written about her. 

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