Dr Kat and Lady/Queen Jane Grey

I've been thinking more about "right to rule" and monarchical authority over the last couple of weeks, which has led me to today's topic. Why is Jane Grey most commonly referred to as "Lady" rather than "Queen"? What can we learn about this from looking at her life, reign and fall?

I hope you enjoy this video and find it interesting!

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Images (from Wikimedia Commons, unless otherwise stated):

Portrait of Lady Jane Grey by an unknown artist (c. 1590-1600). Held by the National Portrait Gallery.

Portrait of Mary Tudor and Charles Brandon attributed to Jan Gossaert (c.1516). Held in the collection of the Earl of Yarborough; Brocklesby Park, Lincolnshire.

Portrait of Lady Katherine Grey and her son Edward Seymour, Lord Beauchamp of Hache by an unknown artist (c. 1562). Location unknown.

Portrait of Lady Mary Grey attributed to Hans Eworth (1571). Held at Chequers.

Portrait of Elizabeth I before becoming Queen, formerly attributed to William Scrots (c.1546). Held by the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle.

Full-length portrait of Katherine Parr attributed to Master John (circa 1545). Held by the National Portrait Gallery.

Portrait of Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley by Nicholas Denizot (c.1545–1549). Held by the National Maritime Museum.

Portrait of Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford by an unknown artist (16th century). Held in the collection of Marquess of Bath, Longleat House, Wiltshire.

Portrait of Edward VI of England by an unknown artist, the circle of William Scrots (mid-sixteenth century). Held in a private collection, location unknown.

Portrait of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland by an unknown artist (between 1605 and 1608). Held by the National Trust.

Edward VI and the Pope: An Allegory of the Reformation by an unknown artist (c.1547 -1570s). Held by the National Portrait Gallery.

Portrait of Mary I of England by Hans Eworth (1554). Held by the Society of Antiquaries of London.

Lord Guildford Dudley, husband of Lady Jane Grey. Painted in the 19th century as part of a series. Held by the Houses of Parliament.

Edward VI's "devise for the succession", 1553, written in his own hand. (Inner Temple, Petyt MS 538, vol. 47 fo. 317.)

“The Crown Offered to Lady Jane Grey”. Engraving after Romantic-era painter Charles Robert Leslie (c.1827).

Portrait of Queen Mary I of England by Antonis Mor (1554). Held by the Museo del Prado.

Portrait of Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger by Hans Holbein the Younger (c.1540-2). Held by The Weiss Gallery, London.

Portrait of King Philip II of Spain and his second wife Queen Mary I of England by Hans Eworth (1558). Held by Woburn Abbey.

“The Execution of Lady Jane Grey” by Paul Delaroche (1833). Held by the National Gallery.


Quoted texts:

Alison Plowden, "Grey [married name Dudley], Lady Jane (1537–1554), noblewoman and claimant to the English throne." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 23 Sep. 2004.

[iloveyourunclebob]

Lady Jane Grey absolutely breaks my heart. There's no doubt in my mind that she would have gladly gone away quietly and just lived out the rest of her life in peace. I have no doubt that Mary knew it too and that's why she wanted to spare her. I actually appreciate seeing Mary in a much more human light now that I'm older. Most shows and movies around the Tudors just focus the struggle between her and Anne Boleyn. It's so refreshing to know she was very empathetic with Jane and friends with Anne of Cleves. I'm not saying Mary is a great person, but more often than not she's portrayed as a villain with no humanity.

[joan]

I have always been very upset by Jane's execution. She was basically a child who was manipulated by her parents and other power hungry men. It is sad that at 16 years of age her life was wasted.

[oohforf]

Gosh, many of the men discussed in this video...are really awful!

I've had it up to HERE with Thomas Seymour! 😤

[Lizzie-vekt]

I like that Mary’s first instinct wasn’t to blame Jane. Having had her life so managed and left to the whims of men she probably understand that Jane really had no choice and would’ve been trying to make the best of a bad situation. It’s a really cool example of empathy for another woman that I wish would’ve been more widespread during that time.

[Myke_OBrien]

I’ve always found Lady Jane to be a very sympathetic figure. She was an unwilling pawn in a struggle for power.

[jillymo]

I was first introduced to Jane by a happy accident at the library during my high school years 40 (!!!!) years ago, and I've continued my interest in her since. It was actually Jane's story that led me to Elizabeth I, and as a huge admirer of Elizabeth's, I am grateful for that. Jane's been treated as a footnote in English history, but I think her story should be more widely known. Thank you, Dr. Kat, for this amazing video about Jane. And, yes, please make a video about Katherine Grey. PS. stories like these really give me a negative view on power-hungry men, historical and present. That damn Thomas Seymour! He screwed up so many lives.

[amandacrawford]

I would love to see a video on Katherine Grey! I love learning about peoples lives that are often lost to history!

[daisyflower]

The more I read of Lady Jane Grey, the more I’m impressed by her. Such strength of character for one so young. Her execution was so unnecessary. Mary should have been stronger in sparing her life. It’s truly amazing the dignity she showed at her execution. I think she would have been a great Queen. She was educated, had high Christian values and a strong character. Poor girl ...with parents like hers...who needs enemies?

[ameryek.]

Thank you for talking about Lady Jane as a classical scholar. So very unusual for a woman at that time, even a high-born one. Notice how she is portrayed with a book.

[kateh]

I think that you bring up an immensely important point when you ask what gives someone the right to rule?
Is it bloodline, divine right, political or military might or the will of the subjects? I have never really given this much serious thought and have assumed that the succession must have been organised" fairly" in accordance with the predecessor's wishes. When I look at our history I see that I have been so very naive and just plain wrong!!!!
Thankyou Dr Kat because no one else, no teacher, lecturer, historian or presenter in my experience has brought up this one vital question. You always provide food for thought and further study,
I do feel for Lady Jane Grey, especially being so young. I would be interested in learning more of her sister Katherine please.
Stay safe and well💕

[jasonmack]

Love my Friday mornings. No work, hot coffee, and a good half hour w/ Dr. Kat.

[becky]

Love your videos! I find the life of Lady Jane Grey so sad. And I would love to see a video on Katherine Grey!

[josersandoval]

“Let me know if you’d like me to make a video on”— Dr Kat, I’d watch a video of you telling the history behind the modern English phonebook.

[GeorgeHodgsonx]

Please do a Lady Katherine Grey video! She's my 18th Great Grandmother, and is really underrated as a historical figure!

[ErinBerlintop]

I first saw the execution portrait of Lady Jane when I was about 10 years old in a copy of a British history magazine my grandfather subscribed to. It has always haunted me -- so tragic and so sad.

[TinaCutri]

Every time a new video of yours pops up on my feed I get so happy!

[LaSirenaSaggia]

The tragedy of someone so brilliant and so young being executed by no fault of her own, simply for doing as she was told by her toxic family…it’s just incredibly sad. Thank you for presenting her story with the tenderness and attention to detail that she deserves. If only girls like Jane had been allowed to go to college and contribute to academia instead of being shuffled about the aristocratic & marital chessboard for the benefit of others…

[XtreamBrands]

Re: the execution of Jane Grey: for Mary I think it was a great big signal to her half sister Elizabeth not to inspire any rebellions or you will be next!!

[helenafarkas]

if Edward's journal (that he kept throughout his life) is any guide, the device is all his. he inherited his father's force of will, and then some, even if he was still legally a minor. and after his experiences with his Seymour Uncles (and their kidnapping attempts) NO ONE was going to tell him what to do. if there was any coercion going on, it was to add the "and hers" after Jane's name, and the only reason he gave in was because there was literally no other option.

[arthistorygirl]

Such an interesting story - I've been so inspired by Dr Kat I've started my own channel 😊