Jane Grey

As the granddaughter of King Henry VIII's elder sister Mary, Lady Jane Grey had a claim to the English throne. Married against her will in 1553 to Lord Guildford Dudley, son of the Duke of Northumberland, she was used as a pawn by Northumberland, who was King Edward VI's regent, in his determined effort to retain his power after the king's death. King Edward VI was deadly sick and during his last illness Northumberland had him sign a 'device' excluding Henry VIII's daughters, the future queens Mary I and Elizabeth I, from the throne in favor of Jane. On July 10, 1553, four days after Edward's death, Jane was proclaimed queen. Her reign lasted only until July 19. The country supported the Catholic Mary's claim, and Northumberland's forces were dispersed by troops loyal to Mary.