EXeCUTION OF GUILDFORD DUDLEY
Guildford Dudley is best known as the husband of Lady Jane Grey, the nine-day Queen.
Guildford was born around 1535, to John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland and Jane Guildford.
John Dudley was a very ambitious and determined man, and not above using his son to gain his own prominence in government.
When he became Lord President of the Privy Council to King Edward VI, his ambition grew.
John Dudley became one of the most powerful men in England, and also served as de-facto ruler due to Edward VI’s ill health.
However, this was not good enough.
John Dudley wanted a marriage for his son, that may find him on the throne of England…..
John Dudley colluded with Jane Grey’s parents for her to marry his son, a man Jane hardly knew.
Jane was high in the line of succession to the throne, and this marriage would promote both her parents and John Dudley’s position at court.
Jane Grey did not want to marry Guildford Dudley but she was forced to accept the marriage proposal.
Lady Jane Grey and Guildford Dudley were married in a magnificent celebration about six weeks before King’s Edward’s death.
This was on 25th May 1553, in a triple ceremony with Jane’s two sisters.
With Edward VI terminally ill, John Dudley manipulated the king into naming his daughter-in-law Lady Jane Grey, as Edward’s successor.
This meant Edward bypassing his own half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth.
Edward VI died on 6th July 1553, and Jane reluctantly accepted the throne, being named Queen of England on 10th July 1553.
Jane would not however, name her husband Guildford as King, much to the consternation of John Dudley.
Jane and Guildford moved into the Tower of London, to await her coronation.
However Jane’s reign was only to last nine days.
They were still in the Tower when their regime collapsed, and Mary I took the throne as the rightful Queen.
Guildford Dudley and Lady Jane Grey were now imprisoned in the Tower of London.
Guildford Dudley was imprisoned in the Bell Tower, separately to his wife, Jane.
Although Guildford had no contact with Jane at first, this was not to last.
Guildford and Jane were eventually given contact with each other.
Guildford Dudley and Lady Jane Grey were convicted of treason and sentenced to death on 12th August 1553.
On 12th February 1554 Guildford Dudley was taken to a public exEcution at Tower Hill.
18 year old Guildford was b-headed with one stroke of the axe.
His body was then taken and buried in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula.
