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Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk (née Lady Frances Brandon; 16 July 1517 – 20 November 1559), was an English noblewoman. She was the second child and eldest daughter of King Henry VIII's younger sister, Princess Mary, and Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. She was the mother of Lady Jane Grey, de facto Queen of England and Ireland for nine days (10 July 1553 – 19 July 1553), as well as Lady Katherine Grey and Lady Mary Grey. Early life and first marriage Frances Brandon was born on 16 July 1517 in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. Frances was an uncommon name at the time, as she was reportedly named after St. Francis of Assisi, although some historians believe she was named in honour of Francis I, the French king. Her aunt Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of her maternal uncle Henry VIII, and Henry's daughter, Mary, were her godmothers for her baptism. She spent her childhood in the care of her mother, Mary Tudor, the youngest surviving daughter of Henry VII and younger sister of Henry VIII. For most of Frances’s childhood she resided in Westhorpe, Suffolk. Her father, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, who had been married at least twice before, obtained a declaration of nullity regarding his first marriage to Margaret Neville on the ground of consanguinity and secured a Papal bull from Pope Clement VII in 1528 to confirm his marriage to Mary Tudor, which legitimised Frances as his daughter. In 1533, Frances married Henry Grey, Marquess of Dorset. The marriage took place at Suffolk Place, a mansion that belonged to her parents on the west side of Borough High Street in Southwark. It was this marriage, and her three children, which led to her life in the Tudor Court. Her first two pregnancies resulted in the births of a son – Henry (Lord Harington), and a daughter, who both died at an early age with unknown birthdates. Their births were followed by three surviving daughters: Lady Jane Grey (c. 12 October 1537 – 12 February 1554) – married Lord Guildford Dudley Lady Katherine Grey (25 August 1540 – 26 January 1568) – married Henry Herbert, Lord Herbert and later Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford Lady Mary Grey (c. 20 April 1545 – 20 April 1578) – married Thomas Keyes Frances's residence at Bradgate was a minor palace in the Tudor style. After the deaths of her two brothers, the title Duke of Suffolk reverted to the crown, and was later granted to Frances's husband. Around 1541 Bishop John Aylmer was made chaplain to the duke, and tutor of Greek to Frances's daughter, Lady Jane Grey. At Court As the niece of Henry VIII, Frances was frequently at court. It was through her friendship with Catherine Parr that Frances' daughter Lady Jane Grey secured a place in the queen's household. There, Jane met Henry VIII's son and future successor, Edward. Henry VIII died on 28 January 1547, and Edward VI succeeded to the throne. Jane followed Catherine Parr to her new residence and was established as a member of the inner circle for the nine-year-old king. Frances and her sister Eleanor had been removed from succession in the will of King Henry VIII alongside the descendants of their aunt Margaret Tudor, though their daughters were still included following Edward's half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth. It is unclear as to these changes removing Frances from the line of succession. Catherine Parr then married Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley and Lord High Admiral. Lady Jane followed her to her new household. Frances, her husband, and other members of the aristocracy saw Jane as a possible wife for the young King. Catherine Parr died on 5 September 1548 which sent Jane back into the care of her mother. Thomas Seymour pressed the Suffolks with demands that he held Jane's wardship and she should be returned to his household. Jane returned to Seymour's household and moved into Catherine Parr's apartments. Seymour still planned to convince Edward VI to marry Jane, but the king had become distrustful of his two uncles. An increasingly desperate Seymour invaded the king's bedchamber in an attempt to abduct him, and shot Edward's beloved dog when the animal tried to protect its master. Not long after Seymour was tried for treason and executed on 20 March 1549. The Suffolks convinced the Privy Council of their innocence in Seymour's scheme. Jane was again recalled home. The Duke and Duchess lost hope of marrying her to the king, who was sickly and thought likely not to live. For a time it is claimed they contemplated marrying her to Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford, son of the Lord Protector and Anne Stanhope. However, the Lord Protector fell from power and was replaced by John Dudley. In May 1553, Guildford Dudley, the second-youngest son of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, and de facto regent during the young Edward VI's minority, married Frances' daughter Jane. Frances and Henry Grey fully supported and pushed for this marriage between Guildford and Jane. The marriage would be uniting two powerful and Protestant families. Her daughter Katherine was married to Henry Herbert, the son and heir of William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke, at Durham House. Dudley's daughter Katherine was promised to Henry Hastings, heir of the Earl of Huntingdon. At the time they took place the alliances were not seen as politically important, even by the ambassador of the Holy Roman Empire Jehan de Scheyfye, who was the most suspicious observer. Often perceived as proof of a conspiracy to bring the Dudley family to the throne, they have also been described as routine matches between aristocrats. It has been claimed since the early 18th century that Lady Jane was brutally beaten and whipped into submission by the duchess. However, there is no evidence for it. Lord Guildford was, as a fourth son, it was an unusual match for an eldest daughter of royal descent, and William Cecil, another close friend of the Suffolks, claimed the match was brokered by Catherine Parr's brother and his second wife. According to Cecil, they promoted the match to Northumberland who responded rather enthusiastically. The Suffolks did not favour the match much since it would have meant passing the crown out of their family to Northumberland's. However, since Northumberland claimed to have the king's support in the matter, they finally gave in. The only historical proof of some family quarrel concerning the marriage is written down by Commendone as "the first-born daughter of the Duke of Suffolk, Jane by name, who although strongly deprecating the marriage, was compelled to submit by the insistence of her mother and the threats of her father". By June 1553, Edward VI was seriously ill. The succession of his Catholic half-sister Mary would compromise the English Reformation. Edward opposed Mary's succession, not only on religious grounds but also on those of legitimacy and male inheritance, which also applied to Elizabeth. He drafted the Devise for the Succession, which passed over the claims of his half-si.... Discover the Leanda De Lisle popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Leanda De Lisle books.