Many people know a few bare facts about the much-married Henry VIII, but lack any significant knowledge of the life and times of this exuberant tyrant.
The complicated figures around Henry, including Cardinal Wolsey, Thomas More, and Thomas Cromwell, are often reduced to neat ideological charicatures, too.
After, Henry, the muddle of successors is oftern ignored: the much-desired son (of Jane Seymour), Edward VI who died at fifteen years of age, and the terrible Mary Tuder ("Bloody Mary"). Only Elizabeth I, the last and most successful of the Tuders is well-recognized, although not many understand that she is the daughter of Henry VIII.
The mad passions that drove Henry VIII were related to the prevention of what actually occurred in England after his death - a period of unrest, territorial concessions, and intrigue during which the economic, military,and religious foundations of the realm were tested.
It is a sad irony of history that Henry, had he been satisfied with the briliant child, Elizabeth, as his heir, could have forestalled the judicial murders of two wives and the frantic strategic posturing that characterized his reign.
One of the tragic figures caught up in the political maneuvering that followed Henry's death was the Lady Jane Grey
Jane was the eldest daughter of Frances Branden and Henry Grey, Marquess of Dorset. Her mother, Lady Frances, was the daughter of Princess Mary, the sister of Henry VIII. Thus, Lady Jane was a great-niece of Henry VIII.
Lady Jane was a cousin of the three monarchs who succeeded Henry VIII - Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I.
While her mother was a cruel and imperious woman, Lady Jane was shy and charming. She was an able scholar, and fluent in ancient and modern languages.
On his deathbed, Edward completed a complicated bill of succession that dismissed the calims of Mary and Elizabeth, and named Lady Jane Grey as the heir to the throne.
While Edward was staunchly Protestant, and looked with disfavor on the Catholic zeal of his older half-sister, Mary, most details of the plan for succession reflected political factions jockeying for power around the ailing boy King.
Lady Jane Grey was no stranger to political intrigue, having been betrothed to at least three powerful men as her value waxed or waned in the political firmament.
Nevertheless, a powerful faction of the nobility declared for Lady Jane Grey at the death of Edward, and she was brought to London for coronation.
Within a period of less than two weeks, however, the political landscape had changed completely, and most of Lady Jane Grey's supporters fled, or begged pardon from Mary who was acclaimed Queen.
Following Thomas Wyatt's Rebellion, a popular and nationalistic revolt against the proposed marriage between Mary I and Phillip of Spain (which included profound anti-Catholic agitation), the fate of Lady Jane Grey was sealed.
She was beheaded in the Tower of London in 1547.
Her body is buried in the chapel of St. Peter in Chains within the Tower.
She was 17 years old.
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The postcard is an English Art Print circa 1910.
It is a good reproduction of the painting by De la Roche which still hangs in the Tate Gallery in London.
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Comments: 23
There's an excellent historical novel about her, Innocent Traitor, by Alison Weir.
While the story of Lady Jane Grey was known to me, I have never read a biography about her.
Lady Jane Grey's story is one that has intrigued me since I saw the movie Lady Jane. I've read much since (though not any historical novels - I tend to be far too critical when I've done my research ahead of time and tear such books to pieces. The movie fared well because I hadn't heard of her before). I don't vouch for the historical accuracy of the movie, but many of the particulars, including the political maneuvering, were accurate as was the generally harsh treatment of women in that day.
I am not familiar with the movie, Lady Jane, so I thank you for that reference, too.
Jane Grey had a particularly tragic upbringing, as every account of her mother indicates that she behaved monstrously toward Jane.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmRJem328jE
There's also an excellent YA book about Jane, Nine Days a Queen.
I believe that she was married four times in all, three husbands (including Henry) died.
Anne consented to the annulment which made her a friend of Henry's (and gained a generous settlement) for the rest of her life.
The portrait by Holbein that was commissioned by Henry does present an attractive woman.
Anne of Cleves had no real education and preferred sewing to study.
She had very weak literary skills, and those were in the German language.
Nevertheless, she became a good friend to the royal family.