the crisis over succession, 1553

• Edward's deteriorating health and succession concerns

  • By 1552, Northumberland solidified his control over the Political Nation, and the Privy Council ensured law and order
  • Edward's health began to decline by late 1552, shifting the focus to the issue of royal succession
  • According to Henry VIII's will and the Third Act of Succession (1544), if Edward died childless, the throne would pass to Mary, and if she also died without an heir, then to Elizabeth
  • Edward & Privy Council opposed Mary's succession due to her Catholic faith, fearing she would reverse Reformation & restore England to Rome
• Attempts to avoid Mary's succession (1)

  • Despite Henry's instructions, Mary and Elizabeth were still illegitimate under the Succession Acts of 1534 and 1536, which had not been repealed
  • Edward, Northumberland, and the Privy Council sought to secure a Protestant succession through the Suffolk line, focusing on Lady Jane Grey
• Attempts to avoid Mary's succession (2)

  • Fears of Mary or Elizabeth marrying foreign princes heightened concerns, with Northumberland marrying is son Guildford to Lady Jane Grey in May 1553 to create a secure English alternative
  • Edward, determined to ensure a Protestant succession, had a Devyse drawn up, naming Lady Jane Grey as his successor. Letter Patent formalized this plan
• Edward's death and Lady Jane Grey's proclamation

  • Edward VI died on 6 July 1553. With the support of the Privy Council, Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed queen, gaining the backing of key figures, including the mayor and aldermen of London
  • However, Mary remained free and outside London, quickly rallying support from allies across the country, particularly in East Anglia
• Mary's challenge and growing support

  • On 9 July, Mary wrote to the Privy Council asserting her claim to the throne
  • She moved across the country, gathering support from notable figures, including the Earl of Sussex and the Earl of Bath
  • The Privy Council was initially reluctant to recognize Mary's claim, with both Mary and Jane Grey's supporters proclaiming rival claims across England
  • However, Northumberland's force of 3,000 men struggled to gain momentum for Jane's cause
• The fall of Northumberland and Mary's Accession

  • As Northumberland's efforts faltered, support for Mary grew. On 19 July, the Privy Council in London proclaimed Mary as Queen, abandoning Jane's cause
  • Several factors contributed to this switch, including:
  • Popular support for Mary in key regions like East Anglia and the Thames Valley
  • Many nobles and gentry, including former supporters of Northumberland, recognized the legitimacy of Mary's claim or were motivated by religious reasons, particularly their support for Catholicism
• Religious and Political Factors

  • The strength of Mary's Catholic support cannot be overlooked, with many of her East Anglian backers opposing the Protestant changes of Edward's reign
  • Mary's appeal lay not only in her Tudor bloodline but also in her reinforcement of the supremacy of parliamentary legislation and traditional Catholicism
• Northumberland's execution and Lady Jane Grey's fate

  • Northumberland was tried and executed in August 1553, converting to Catholicism before his death
  • Lady Jane Grey and her husband Guildford Dudley were spared initially but were eventually executed after their involvement in the Wyatt Rebellion