Lady Jane Grey

Lady Jane Grey, also known as Lady Jane Dudley after her marriage, was the great-granddaughter of Henry VII through his daughter Mary Tudor. Born in the autumn of 1537 to the Marquess of Dorset and Lady Frances Brandon, Jane was raised in a rigorously Protestant and academic household. She entered the household of Queen Katherine Parr, the final wife of Henry VIII, around age ten, where she received a top-tier humanist education and developed a reputation as a learned and devout Protestant.

In 1551, Jane’s father was elevated to Duke of Suffolk, and Jane began appearing at court. In May 1553, she was married to Lord Guildford Dudley, the son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland—Edward VI's regent and a fervent Protestant. With Edward dying and fearful of the Catholic Mary Tudor ascending to the throne, Northumberland convinced Edward to alter the succession. Mary and Elizabeth were declared illegitimate, and Jane and her male heirs were named as successors.

Edward died on 6 July 1553, and Jane was proclaimed queen on 10 July. However, support for Mary rapidly grew, and Jane's father abandoned her cause and declared for Mary. On 19 July, the Privy Council deposed Jane and proclaimed Mary as queen. Jane, her husband Guildford, and her father were imprisoned in the Tower of London. Jane was tried and convicted of high treason on 13 November 1553. Although initially spared, her father’s involvement in Wyatt’s Rebellion in early 1554 sealed her fate.

On 12 February 1554, Jane and Guildford were executed. Jane was just 16 or 17 years old. Though called 'Queen Jane' during her brief reign, official charges referred to her as Jane Dudley, wife of Guildford. She signed official documents as 'Jane the Quene', which was used as evidence of her treason.