Lady Jane Grey

Lady Jane Grey, born 1536/7, also known as "The Nine Days Queen," was an English noblewoman who briefly served as queen of England from 10 July to 19 July 1553. Her reign was unsuccessful, and she was subsequently executed by decapitation the following year on February 12, 1554, at the age of 16 or 17, charged with high treason.

Jane was born in London, or at her family home of Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, England.^[2] She was great-granddaughter of Henry VII by his younger daughter Mary, and a first-cousin-once-removed of Edward VI.

In May 1553, Jane married Lord Guildford Dudley, a younger son of Edward's chief minister, John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. When the 15-year-old King lay dying in June 1553, he nominated Jane as successor to the Crown in his will, thus subverting the claims of his half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth having both women declared bastards.

During her short reign, Jane lived in the Tower of London. She became a prisoner there, as the Privy Council decided to switch their loyalty and proclaim Mary as queen, on 19 July 1553. Wyatt's rebellion in January and February 1554 against Queen Mary's plans to marry Prince Phillip of Spain was the direct cause of Jane's and her husband's execution as those that followed Wyatt called for the restoration of Jane to the throne.

1. ↑ Higgins, Charlotte (2006-01-16). "Is this the true face of Lady Jane?". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
2. ↑ her date and place of birth is disputed