Jane was more than a tool or a puppet or dainty martyr. But history loves a tragedy, so for over 460 years, poets, polemicists, novelists, and biographers have viewed her through many different lenses: Protestant martyr, romantic heroine, victim of adult ambition.Īs Nicola Tallis explains in her new biography Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey, each of these interpretations are correct, but none are complete. Jane hadn’t wanted the throne and didn’t accomplish anything during her 200-hour-long tenure. Jane was convicted of high treason and beheaded on February 12, 1554. Just nine days later, her Privy Council abandoned her and named Edward’s eldest half-sister, Mary, the rightful queen. Named successor by Edward VI days before his death, Jane was proclaimed Queen on July 10, 1553. Shortest of all was the reign of Lady Jane Grey. Edgar II lasted 55 days before bowing to William the Conqueror in 1066. Young Edward V reigned for 86 days before his uncle was proclaimed Richard III in June 1483 and he and his brother vanished forever within the Tower of London. Others have hung on for mere weeks before catastrophe knocked them loose. Some have measured their reigns in decades and anniversary “jubilees.” Queen Elizabeth II is approaching her 65th year on the throne, surpassing the 63-year record set by great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. Sixty-six monarchs have reigned over England since King Egbert became the first to rule over much of the island in 827 CE.
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