Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour's paragraph in the history books is short but significant. The former lady-in-waiting
to both Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, she caught Henry VIII's eye just as his troubles
with Katherine ended and his trouble with Anne began. Compared to Anne -- who was a spitfire to
put it nicely and a shrew if one wanted to be rude -- Jane was sweet, calm, and "submissive almost
to the point of non-existence (Plowden 78).
Jane and Henry were betrothed the day after Anne's execution and married weeks later on 30 May.
On 12 October of 1537, at two o'clock in the morning, she gave birth to the son Henry had wanted for so
very long. The christening of Prince Edward took place on 15 October and the Queen felt healthy
enough to attend the hours-long ceremony. After the ceremony, she collapsed with a high fever.
She died 24 October of puerperal sepsis, or childbed fever, caused by a bacterial infection
quite common to recently-birthed women in those time.
Of all Henry's wives, he chose Jane to be buried beside when he died in 1547.
Links
King and Queens of England,
Scotland and Wales.
Cool site on the Tudors and lots of other British monarchs.
Time Line
An Overview of the English Monarchy.
Royal Genealogies
Look up all of the Tudor's ancestors and relatives.
Royal Scandals by Michael Rarquhar
A funny (but accurate) look at the scandals that have plagued the British Royal family throughout history.
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