Expert: Mark Smith - 12/15/2005

Question
Who ended Lady Jane Greys 9 day reign as Queen of England

Answer
Hello Gary.
Lady Jane Grey's reign was ended by the very Lords who had raised her to the throne just nine days previously. The scheme was the idea of the Duke of Northumberland, her father-in-law, who feared that under Queen Mary, the rightful heir, he would at the least lose his position of power and at the worst be executed. So he staged a coup declaring the 15 year-old Jane Queen whilst Mary was still miles away from London in Norfolk. As Regent under Edward VI Northumberland was the most powerful man in the country and many Lords willingly agreed to his plan. He raised an army to march on Norfolk, but news arrived that Mary was being proclaimed Queen in every town as she headed towards London with a large army. Faced with such an uprising Northumberland halted and the Lords who had so eagerly supported him and Lady Jane swiftly changed sides. They themselves declared that Jane's reign was over and proclaimed Mary Queen in London on 19 July 1553. Foremost among then was Jane's own father, the Duke of Suffolk.
Mark