Lady Jane Grey

The Nine Days' Queen and a Pawn of Power

Lady Jane Grey

Lady Jane Grey, known as the "Nine Days' Queen," was a young English noblewoman who found herself at the center of a deadly political and religious power struggle in 16th-century England. Jane was a pawn in the ongoing battle between supporters of the Catholic and Protestant faiths during the Tudor dynasty.

She is yet another teenage victim of her unscrupulous relatives. She too lost her head to the executioner's block, like Catherine Howard and Anne Boleyn before her. Unscrupulous adults, indifferent to their faith, used these women as pawns in a ruthless game of thrones.

Despite being queen for only nine days, Jane Grey's story continues to fascinate us today.

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The Early Life of Lady Jane Grey

Born around 1537, Lady Jane Grey wasn't royalty but held a lineage that would make her a pawn in a deadly game.
She was a great-granddaughter of Henry VII. Her father, Henry Grey married Lady Frances Brandon, who was the daughter of Mary Tudor.

Jane's grandmother Mary Tudor was a sister of Henry VIII. She had first been married to the king of France, but after he died she married Charles Brandon. They had 3 daughters, one of them being Frances, Jane's mother.

Jane was a granddaughter of Mary Tudor, great-granddaughter of Henry VII and Henry VIII's great-niece.

This connection to the Tudors made Jane highly interesting to ambitious figures like John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland.

House of Tudor Family tree

When Jane was growing up Edward VI was King of England. He was the only son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, only nine years old when his father died and he became king of England.

While Edward VI ruled England, the real power resided with regents. At first Edward’s uncle, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset was the 'protector' of the underaged king.

In 1549 Seymour was overthrown and executed. John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland became the new puppet master of the King.

John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland

Edward VI and Northumberland were both devoted Protestants. When the young king became ill in 1553 they had intense conversations about the succession. Next in line to the throne of England was Edward's half-sister Mary. She was the daughter of Catherine of Aragon, and a Catholic.

Northumberland came up with a plot to consolidate the English Reformation, which was Edward's greatest desire. A nice side-effect for Northumberland would be for him to maintain his own powerful position.

Enter Lady Jane Grey. A brilliant student, Jane received an exceptional education. She mastered Greek, Latin, French, Hebrew, and Italian, showcasing her intelligence and potential. Devoted to Protestantism, she carried her prayer book everywhere.

Witnesses claim that she was even carrying it with her on her way to the execution block. This digitised prayerbook can be found on the British Library website.

Fascinating are the letters that Jane wrote in the margins of the book. She wrote these while captivated in the Tower of London. One of these letters is to her father, and reads:

‘The Lorde comforte your grace, and that in his worde whearein all creatures onlye are to be comforted. And thoughe it hath pleased God to take awaye 2 of your children: yet thincke not, I most humblye beseech youre grace, that you haue loste them; but truste that we, by leafinge this mortall life, haue wunne an immortal life. And I, for my parte, as I haue honoured your grace in this life, wyll praye for you in another life. Youre gracys humble daughter, Jane Duddley'

Lady Jane Grey's prayerbook

This reproduction of The Lady Jane Grey's Prayer Book depicts each page of the original volume in full colour and at actual size. Each image is accompanied by a precise transcription of its text together with a rendering of that text in modern English. The volume also includes an Introduction by Dr J. Stephan Edwards, an academic expert on Lady Jane Grey.

When she was nine years old, Jane went to live in the household of Queen Catherine Parr, the widow of King Henry VIII. When Catherine died in September 1548 Jane stayed in the employment of Catherine’s fourth husband, Thomas Seymour. Thomas even planned a marriage between Jane and his nephew, the young king Edward VI. Unfortunately, as was often the case in those days, Seymour lost his head in 1549 for treason, before his plans were completed. Jane returned to her parents at Bradgate House where she continued her studies.

Marriage with Lord Guildford Dudley

By May 1553, with Edward VI visibly deteriorating from tuberculosis, John Dudley orchestrated a strategic move: Jane's marriage to his son, Lord Guildford Dudley. This union solidified Jane's position as a potential heir and secured Northumberland's grip on power.

Embed from Getty Images

Soon after King Edward died in July 1553 Northumberland and his supporters proclaimed Jane Queen of England on 10 July 1553.

Jane fainted and was reluctant at first, but her in-law's and her own family persuaded her to accept the crown.

Within days it became clear that the supporters of Mary Tudor, Edward's Catholic sister, by far outnumbered those of Northumberland. Even Jane's own father proclaimed Mary the rightful queen, probably in an attempt to save his own head.

I only took nine days, when on 19 July, Mary was proclaimed rightful Queen. This meant of course that Jane was a usurper and traitor.

Northumberland, the architect of Jane's rise, was arrested and executed a month later. His son Guildford Dudley and Lady Jane Grey were also brought to the Tower. They were both tried for treason and sentenced to the death penalty.

At firs,t it looked like Queen Mary I would pardon Jane. After all, Mary and Jane were related and Jane was just a teenager of 15 or 16 years old. Again it was a guy who sealed Jane's faith; her own father this time.

He thought it necessary to take part in Sir Thomas Wyatt’s rebellion in 1554. This uprising, provoked by Queen Mary's plan to marry Prince Philip of Spain, was considered a direct attack to the new Queen. The rebel leaders were committed Protestants and considered traitors. The outcome was evident, they were all convicted of high treason, and executed.

As a result, Jane and her husband were no longer protected by the Queen. They were beheaded on February 12, 1554; Jane's father was executed 11 days later.

Traces of Lady Jane Grey

Lady Jane Grey's short but significant life left traces in several locations across England. Here's a glimpse into some of these historical sites:

Bradgate House (Leicestershire) , the Grey's family estate.

Lady Jane Grey was probably born at Bradgate House in c. 1537. and spend her childhood there. Her father's family had lived there for centuries.

Though demolished in 1926, the ruins are undergoing excavation, offering a glimpse into Jane's early life. Public access to the ruins within Bradgate Park is free. You can read more about the Ruins of Bradgate House in Bradgate Park here.

Bradgate House, By NotFromUtrecht - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Bradgate Park is a public park nowadays in Charnwood Forest, in Leicestershire.
Public access into the ruins of Bradgate House is free of charge. For opening days and hours you can visit
the Bradgate Park Visitor Centre.

Sudeley Castle (Gloucestershire)

While Living with Katherine Parr

Katherine Parr was a very rich lady who owned several mansions. When Jane first went to live with her they resided in Chelsea Place, a riverside mansion in London which Katherine inherited when Henry VIII died. It no longer exists.

In the summer of 1548 the household moved to Sudeley Castle where Katherine gave birth to a daughter. She died a few days later on September 5th. She was buried on the castle grounds.

Sudeley Castle By Wdejager - File:Aerial photo of Sudeley Castle.jpg, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

Sudely Castle is a privately owned castle that is open to the public. You can visit the castle, hire it or have your wedding there. They also have 16 Sudeley Castle cottages for rent. For more information you can visit the website

The New Inn, Gloucester

The New Inn by John Britton (1771–1857)

This hotel-restaurant is interesting because Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen of England here on 10 July 1553. Nowadays this 600-year-old building is the most complete surviving example of a medieval courtyard-inn with galleries in Britain.

For information and booking a room, you can go to booking.com or Tripadvisor.

Tower of London

Jane settled into the royal apartments at the Tower of London when she was proclaimed Queen. But not soon after she found herself in another part of the building, imprisoned after being tried for treason.

Lady Jane was beheaded at Tower Hill on 12 February 1554 and buried at the Chapel of Saint Peter-ad-Vincula, together with her husband and father.

Bringing Lady Jane Grey to Life: Films and Series

Lady Jane Grey's story has captivated audiences for centuries, inspiring various adaptations for the screen. Here's a look at some films and series featuring the Nine Days' Queen:

Lady Jane (1986): This British miniseries delves into Jane's life, highlighting her intelligence, piety, and tragic fate. (Drama)

The Forgotten Martyr: Lady Jane Grey (2011): This documentary explores the historical context surrounding Jane's life and execution. (Documentary)

England's Forgotten Queen: The Life And Death of Lady Jane Grey (2018): This documentary series offers a deeper look at Jane's life and legacy. (Documentary)

The Spanish Princess (2019-2020): This series focuses on Catherine of Aragon's daughters, including Mary Tudor, Jane's half-sister who eventually became queen. Jane appears as a supporting character. (Historical Drama)