Lady Jane Grey was only queen of England for nine days. Her rule took place after the death of Edward VI, son of Henry VIII, but before Mary took the throne. After 36 years of Henry VIII and six years of Edward VI, the primarily Catholic English citizens were tired of being ruled by protestants. They favored Mary to be the next queen.
Mary's mother, Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII's first wife, raised Mary Catholic. This set her apart from her protestant siblings. Edward VI didn't want her to take the throne and on his deathbed, decreed in his will that his first cousin, Lady Jane Grey, would be the next queen. She was third in line for the throne behind Mary and Elizabeth. He believed that Jane would protect the newly made Church of England. Four days after his death on July 6th, 1553, Jane Grey was crowned queen.
She was only 16 when she reluctantly took the throne. Support for Mary grew quickly, with most of Jane's followers abandoning her. Even her father in law turned against her. After nine days, The Privy Council of England declared Mary queen. Jane was imprisoned in the Tower of London's Gentleman Jailor's apartment.
Even after stepping down willingly, she was charged with high treason and was executed a few months later. Her husband and his brothers were charged with the same crime and faced the same punishment. As she walked to the execution block, she announced to the crowd, "“I do look to be saved by no other mean, but only by the mercy of God, in the blood of his only Son Jesus Christ.” The last words that came out of her mouth were, “Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” The 17 year old martyr was succeeded by 'Bloody' Mary, who committed some of the most brutal religious persecution in history.
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