Lady Frances Brandon: Encyclopedia II - Lady Frances Brandon - Mother to a Queen regnant

Lady Frances Brandon - Mother to a Queen regnant

The marriage occurred on May 15, 1553. Northumberland had a greater scheme in mind. Edward VI was dying and was considering the matter of his own succession. The young king was a firm believer in the practices of Anglicanism. His half-sister Mary was an equally firm believer in those of the Roman Catholic Church. Her accession would likely end the Protestant Reformation in her domains. Edward VI and Northumberland arranged for the will of the dying king to exclude both Princesses Mary and Elizabeth under the pretext of being illegitimate, on the grounds that Henry VIII had his marriages to their respective mothers Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn annulled (though at the time both daughters remained in line of succession). Their removal from the line would make Frances the heiress presumptive of the King. Northumberland was not however ready to see either Frances or her husband acceeding to the throne. Frances was convinced to agreed to renounce her own rights to the throne in favor of Jane. The throne would thus pass to Jane and her heirs-male.

Edward VI died on July 6, 1553. Jane was declared queen regnant on July 10. Frances had finally succeeded in becoming the mother of a queen. The Greys and Dudleys exercised considerable influence over the youthful monarch and planned to rule through her. However, their success was short-lived. Jane was deposed by popular revolt in favor of Princess Mary on July 19, 1553. Mary became Queen Mary I of England.

Northumberland paid for his failed machinations with his life on August 22/August 23. Frances and Suffolk were arrested but released days later. The victorious Mary was able to pardon her first cousin. However the following year the queen announced her intention to marry Philip II of Spain. Thomas Wyatt the younger declared a revolt against her on January 25, 1544.

Suffolk joined the revolt but was captured by Francis Hastings, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon. The revolt had failed by February. Jane Grey was not involved in it but paid for it with her life on February 12, 1554. Her father followed her in death on February 23.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Mother to a Queen regnant", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki