English nobility, Duchess of Suffolk. The daughter of Princess Mary Rose Tudor, Dowager Queen of France and her second husband, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. She married Henry Grey, marquis of Dorset, in 1535. Frances was a ceaseless political schemer who used the advantage of her royal blood to the best of her ability. Both she and her husband were active in the schemes of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, to prevent Princess Mary from taking the throne. When Frances' hopes of seeing her daughter, Lady Jane, married to Edward VI were dashed by the King's rapidly failing health, they instead married her to Dudley's son and convinced Edward to name Frances as his heir. Frances, as planned, refused in favor of Jane. Their schemes failed, and Queen Mary imprisoned and executed both Lady Jane and Henry Grey. Frances never attempted to visit her daughter during her imprisonment. After the executions, Frances quickly made friends with Queen Mary, again using her familial connection, guaranteeing a safe life at court for her and her two remaing daughters, Catherine and Mary. Only three weeks after the death of her husband, on March 9, 1554, Frances married Adrian Stokes, her master of horse. He was 15 years her junior. She had three more daughters by Stokes before falling ill. She died at Sheen at the age of 42.
English nobility, Duchess of Suffolk. The daughter of Princess Mary Rose Tudor, Dowager Queen of France and her second husband, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. She married Henry Grey, marquis of Dorset, in 1535. Frances was a ceaseless political schemer who used the advantage of her royal blood to the best of her ability. Both she and her husband were active in the schemes of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, to prevent Princess Mary from taking the throne. When Frances' hopes of seeing her daughter, Lady Jane, married to Edward VI were dashed by the King's rapidly failing health, they instead married her to Dudley's son and convinced Edward to name Frances as his heir. Frances, as planned, refused in favor of Jane. Their schemes failed, and Queen Mary imprisoned and executed both Lady Jane and Henry Grey. Frances never attempted to visit her daughter during her imprisonment. After the executions, Frances quickly made friends with Queen Mary, again using her familial connection, guaranteeing a safe life at court for her and her two remaing daughters, Catherine and Mary. Only three weeks after the death of her husband, on March 9, 1554, Frances married Adrian Stokes, her master of horse. He was 15 years her junior. She had three more daughters by Stokes before falling ill. She died at Sheen at the age of 42.
Bio by: Kristen Conrad
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