Lady Jane Grey (1537-1554 CE) was briefly declared Queen of England for nine days in July 1553 CE following the death of her cousin Edward VI of England (r. 1547-1553 CE). Then only 16 and never officially crowned, Lady Jane was first an unknowing and then an unwilling pawn in a political coup orchestrated by John Dudley, the Earl of Northumberland (l. 1504-1553 CE) who was, in effect, Edward VI's regent. Neither Dudley or Edward had wished to see the king's half-sister Mary become queen as she was a staunch Catholic and would undo the progress of the English Reformation and likely execute Dudley. As it turned out, both the nobility and commoners preferred a daughter of Henry VIII of England (r. 1509-1547 CE) as their queen; concern for legitimacy triumphed over religious matters. Mary I of England (r. 1553-1558 CE) imprisoned Lady Jane Grey in the Tower of London where she was executed in February 1554 CE.
More about: Lady Jane GreyDefinition
Timeline
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1537 - 1554Life of Lady Jane Grey who was briefly declared Queen of England for nine days following the death of Edward VI of England.n
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21 May 1553Lady Jane Grey marries Lord Guildford Dudley, the son of John Dudley, Earl of Northumberland.
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6 Jul 1553Death of Edward VI of England from pulmonary tuberculosis.
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10 Jul 1553John Dudley, Earl of Northumberland, declares Lady Jane Grey Queen of England following the death of her cousin, Edward VI of England.
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19 Jul 1553Mary, daughter of Henry VIII of England, declares herself Queen of England and denounces her rival for that position, Lady Jane Grey.
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21 Jul 1553John Dudley, Earl of Northumberland, is arrested for treason against Mary I of England.
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22 Aug 1553John Dudley, Earl of Northumberland, is executed for treason against Mary I of England.
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1 Oct 1553Coronation of Mary I of England in Westminster Abbey.
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Jan 1554 - Feb 1554A rebellion led by Sir Thomas Wyatt marches on London against Mary I of England.
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12 Feb 1554On the orders of Mary I of England, Lady Jane Grey is executed in the Tower of London.
