Lord Guildford Dudley

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lord Guildford Dudley (1536 - 12 February 1554) was a son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, and Jane Guildford; and the younger brother of Robert Dudley, the future Earl of Leicester. The unusual first name derives from his mother's family name.

His father was Regent of the kingdom after the execution of Lord Protector Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, during the reign of King Edward VI of England. On Edward's death, Northumberland feared the accession of the King's half-sister, the Catholic Lady Mary (future Mary I of England). The Duke of Northumberland had the order of succession changed, so Lady Jane Grey would be proclaimed Queen after the death of the King.

In order to ensure the security of the kingdom against Catholic rule, he had married Lady Jane to his son Guildford on May 15, 1553.

Within days of king Edward's untimely death, Jane was hastily proclaimed queen, and against her own better judgement officially ruled for nine (or thirteen) days. Jane and Guildford were moved from the Royal apartments in the Tower of London to the Gentleman Gaoler's lodgings. Mary agreed to spare their lives, and for a year they lived in the Tower, with substantial freedom. However, after Thomas Wyatt's Rebellion of 1554, Mary saw Jane and Guildford as targets for potential future rebellions against her. After some hesitation, Mary signed the death warrant. Ten days after the execution, Jane's father Duke of Suffolk suffered the same fate.

Guildford was escorted by guards to Tower Hill, where he was publicly executed. His body was carried to the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, in the grounds of the Tower of London. On seeing the body from her window, Jane is alleged to have cried, "Oh, Guildford, Guildford." He was buried in the chapel with Jane.

Guildford's unfortunate brothers, John, Ambrose, Robert and Henry, along with their father, were also for a while incarcerated in the Tower, but were subsequently pardoned.

A cell wall in the Tower of London contains a carving of the word "IANE." (The letter "J" did not come into common use until the 18th century and was frequently signified by an "I" before this.) The carving is believed to have been done by Guildford while imprisoned, perhaps pining for his wife, or his mother (also called Jane).

Preceded by Catherine Parr

Royal Consort of England July 10 - July 19, 1553

Succeeded by Philip II of Spain