Uploaded March 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
For nine days in 1553, Lady Jane Grey claimed the thrones of England and Ireland, an impertinence that caused her to be executed for high treason in February, 1554. Jane was a descendant of King Henry VII, a first cousin once removed of Elizabeth I, Mary I, and King Edward VI, and a grandniece of their collective father, King Henry VIII. By right of the last will and testament of King Edward VI, she was the successor to the British throne, largely because her Protestant faith made her a less disagreeable Monarch than the Catholic Mary, at least to British Protestants of the day.
At first, the Privy Council of England agreed with her accession and supported her claim to the throne, but in less than two weeks, political support for Mary Tudor led to her being proclaimed Queen, and Jane’s confinement in the Tower of London as a treasonous usurper. Lady Jane’s story, like many surrounding the English monarchy of the time, is one of intrigue, treachery, betrayal, religious intolerance, fear of Spanish power, and ultimately, royally sanctioned murder.
In that, it is not unlike many tales which swirl around the British Monarchy and its long and complicated history. Tales of hooded executioners, imprisonments in the Tower of London, ministers both loyal and duplicitous, secret missions, and public executions are all part of the history of the monarchy. Lady Jane’s tale is a relatively small part of that history. Yet, it is still worth telling.
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Further Reading:
somegreymatter.com/date.htm
britannica.com/biography/John-Aylmer
historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Lady-Jane-Grey
npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp04043/thomas-seymour-baron-seymour
britannica.com/biography/Lord-Guildford-Dudley
blogs.loc.gov/law/2014/07/my-devise-for-the-succession
luminarium.org/encyclopedia/thirdsuccession.htm
hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/lady-jane-grey/#gs.4cddjg
historyextra.com/period/tudor/who-was-lady-jane-grey-facts-about-nine-day-queen-execution-death
worldhistory.org/Wyatt_Rebellion
cmsm.co.uk/february-12th-1554-the-execution-of-lady-jane-grey-the-nine-days-queen
historytoday.com/archive/many-faces-lady-jane-grey
For nine days in 1553, Lady Jane Grey claimed the thrones of England and Ireland, an impertinence that caused her to be executed for high treason in February, 1554. Jane was a descendant of King Henry VII, a first cousin once removed of Elizabeth I, Mary I, and King Edward VI, and a grandniece of their collective father, King Henry VIII. By right of the last will and testament of King Edward VI, she was the successor to the British throne, largely because her Protestant faith made her a less disagreeable Monarch than the Catholic Mary, at least to British Protestants of the day.
At first, the Privy Council of England agreed with her accession and supported her claim to the throne, but in less than two weeks, political support for Mary Tudor led to her being proclaimed Queen, and Jane’s confinement in the Tower of London as a treasonous usurper. Lady Jane’s story, like many surrounding the English monarchy of the time, is one of intrigue, treachery, betrayal, religious intolerance, fear of Spanish power, and ultimately, royally sanctioned murder.
In that, it is not unlike many tales which swirl around the British Monarchy and its long and complicated history. Tales of hooded executioners, imprisonments in the Tower of London, ministers both loyal and duplicitous, secret missions, and public executions are all part of the history of the monarchy. Lady Jane’s tale is a relatively small part of that history. Yet, it is still worth telling.
→ Subscribe for new videos at least twice a week!
youtube.com/c/biographics?sub_confirmation=1
Love content? Check out Simon's other YouTube Channels:
Geographics: youtube.com/channel/UCHKRfxkMTqiiv4pF99qGKIw
TopTenz: youtube.com/user/toptenznet
Karl's Socials:
Fact Fiend: youtube.com @FactFiend
Wiki Weekends: youtube.com @wikiweekends
Untitled Side Channel: youtube.com @untitledsidechannel
Twitter: twitter.com/KarlSmallwood
Further Reading:
somegreymatter.com/date.htm
britannica.com/biography/John-Aylmer
historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Lady-Jane-Grey
npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp04043/thomas-seymour-baron-seymour
britannica.com/biography/Lord-Guildford-Dudley
blogs.loc.gov/law/2014/07/my-devise-for-the-succession
luminarium.org/encyclopedia/thirdsuccession.htm
hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/lady-jane-grey/#gs.4cddjg
historyextra.com/period/tudor/who-was-lady-jane-grey-facts-about-nine-day-queen-execution-death
worldhistory.org/Wyatt_Rebellion
cmsm.co.uk/february-12th-1554-the-execution-of-lady-jane-grey-the-nine-days-queen
historytoday.com/archive/many-faces-lady-jane-grey
