Next up, we have a monarch... (sort of...) who was queen of England (but not really...) and beloved by all (not so much.)
Lady Jane Grey, the uncrowned first queen of England.
- Was the great granddaughter of Henry VII through Henry VIII's sister Mary. ...
- Was raised Protestant, and was known to be very studious, almost "nerdy." Her upbringing was pleasant and rather uneventful.
- When Henry VIII died, Jane was sent to live with Catherine Parr and her new husband, Thomas Seymour. As Catherine's attendant, she was happy, but soon Catherine died in childbirth, and Thomas was later arrested, leaving Jane without a place to stay.
- She was betrothed to Guildford Dudley, son of the most powerful man in the kingdom, John Dudley, who had taken over the council. It would seem that Guildford and Jane loved each other very much.
- Edward VI passed over Mary and Elizabeth, naming Jane as successor on his deathbed. It is said she was so shocked she fainted, and only took the crown with great reluctance.
- John Dudley, now openly opposing Mary, went out to stop her from entering London. Mary, for her part, had now an army of her own. In his absence, the council turned against Dudley and supported Mary. This act sealed everyone's fate.
- John Dudley, Jane Grey, and Guildford Dudley were branded traitors by Mary and the treacherous council. Jane would have been spared, but she had signed a couple documents as "Jane, Queen of England," and with this written proof, was condemned. However, at the last moment, the ambassador to the Holy Roman Empire, overwhelmed with emotion, passionately defended the young Jane, pleading she be imprisoned, not executed. John Dudley was killed.
- This would have been the end of the story, however, a revolt immediately broke out against queen Mary. This revolt spelled doom for Jane. Mary ordered her immediate execution, though she was totally innocent of any wrongdoing. She first had to see her husband beheaded, and from her window, was seen to be openly weeping for him. Moments later, she was led to the block herself... refusing to convert to Catholicism, as per the queen's orders, but allowing the man tasked with converting her to lead her to the block.
- Was openly afraid, begging the headsman to remove her blindfold. He refused. She then said her last words to the crowd:
"Good people, I am come hither to die, and by a law I am condemned to the same. The fact, indeed, against the Queen's highness was unlawful, and the consenting thereunto by me: but touching the procurement and desire thereof by me or on my behalf, I do wash my hands thereof in innocency, before God, and the face of you, good Christian people, this day" She was then beheaded after a short prayer.
-She ruled for only nine days... the shortest of any monarch in England. She was never crowned,and as such, is often not included in royal lists.
Lady Jane Grey, the uncrowned first queen of England.
- Was the great granddaughter of Henry VII through Henry VIII's sister Mary. ...
- Was raised Protestant, and was known to be very studious, almost "nerdy." Her upbringing was pleasant and rather uneventful.
- When Henry VIII died, Jane was sent to live with Catherine Parr and her new husband, Thomas Seymour. As Catherine's attendant, she was happy, but soon Catherine died in childbirth, and Thomas was later arrested, leaving Jane without a place to stay.
- She was betrothed to Guildford Dudley, son of the most powerful man in the kingdom, John Dudley, who had taken over the council. It would seem that Guildford and Jane loved each other very much.
- Edward VI passed over Mary and Elizabeth, naming Jane as successor on his deathbed. It is said she was so shocked she fainted, and only took the crown with great reluctance.
- John Dudley, now openly opposing Mary, went out to stop her from entering London. Mary, for her part, had now an army of her own. In his absence, the council turned against Dudley and supported Mary. This act sealed everyone's fate.
- John Dudley, Jane Grey, and Guildford Dudley were branded traitors by Mary and the treacherous council. Jane would have been spared, but she had signed a couple documents as "Jane, Queen of England," and with this written proof, was condemned. However, at the last moment, the ambassador to the Holy Roman Empire, overwhelmed with emotion, passionately defended the young Jane, pleading she be imprisoned, not executed. John Dudley was killed.
- This would have been the end of the story, however, a revolt immediately broke out against queen Mary. This revolt spelled doom for Jane. Mary ordered her immediate execution, though she was totally innocent of any wrongdoing. She first had to see her husband beheaded, and from her window, was seen to be openly weeping for him. Moments later, she was led to the block herself... refusing to convert to Catholicism, as per the queen's orders, but allowing the man tasked with converting her to lead her to the block.
- Was openly afraid, begging the headsman to remove her blindfold. He refused. She then said her last words to the crowd:
"Good people, I am come hither to die, and by a law I am condemned to the same. The fact, indeed, against the Queen's highness was unlawful, and the consenting thereunto by me: but touching the procurement and desire thereof by me or on my behalf, I do wash my hands thereof in innocency, before God, and the face of you, good Christian people, this day" She was then beheaded after a short prayer.
-She ruled for only nine days... the shortest of any monarch in England. She was never crowned,and as such, is often not included in royal lists.