Born: October 1537.
Died: February 12th 1554.
Cause of death: Executed.
Age at death: 16 years old.
Shocking isn't it? These simple statistics I believe, speak for themselves! Yes, Jane was just 16 years of age when she was beheaded on the orders of Queen Mary. Executed within the confines of The Tower of London, her body still rests there to this day.
So. How did this child - and yes, a child is what she would be considered today - meet this tragic end? You will discover as I tell her sad tale that Jane was merely a pawn, used for and by the nobles of England. Although after reading of her tragedy, you may consider the term "noble" in a completely different light!
Jane was forced to accept a title she did not want and marriage to a man whom she disliked, and she died because of circumstances completely beyond her control.
Jane died branded a traitor to the Crown of England. I'll allow you to be the judge of whether that brand was justified, as we examine her short life and her sad demise.
Jane was born at Bradgate Manor in Leicester. Her parents, Henry Grey (Duke of Suffolk) and Frances Brandon, named her Jane in honour of Jane Seymour. Jane Seymour, married to King Henry VIII, had just given birth to Henry's son, Edward. King Henry, it is to be noted, had already divorced Catherine of Aragon and had beheaded Anne Boleyn for their failure to produce a male heir for England's throne. Instead, the results of these previous marriages were two girls, Mary I and Elizabeth I. Now with Edward, here was the son that Henry had so desperately sought.
Jane remained at Bradgate Manor until she was nine years old, after which she was sent to the royal court. Jane Seymour had died 12 days after giving birth to Edward. After staying a widower for 15 months, Cromwell persuaded Henry to marry Anne of Cleves. Henry described Anne as "the Flanders mare with flabby breasts." As you can see, he wasn't impressed!
Soon after, 18 year old Katherine Howard- his 'rose without a thorn' - was waved under his nose and he liked her well enough to annull his marriage to Anne in order to marry Katherine. Katherine was executed at 19.
A busy man was our Henry!
Thus, it was under Henry's sixth wife, Catherine Parr, that Jane's wardship was given.
Henry VIII died of natural causes on the 28th January 1547. He was 56 years old. After his death Catherine married Thomas Seymour, and it was Seymour who bought Jane's wardship when Catherine died in September of 1548.
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