The mid-Tudor succession crises of 1553 and 1558 highlight the fragility of Tudor monarchy and reveal tensions between dynastic legitimacy, religion, and political stability.

The Devise of 1553

Edward VI’s Health and Succession Concerns

By early 1553, the young king Edward VI was gravely ill. His impending death created a constitutional dilemma, as the lawful successor under Henry VIII’s Third Succession Act (1544) was Mary Tudor, his Catholic half-sister. Edward, a committed Protestant, feared that Mary’s accession would undo the Protestant reforms achieved under his reign.

The Devise for the Succession

Edward and his leading councillors, particularly John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, sought to bypass Mary. This led to the creation of the ‘Devise for the Succession’.

Edward VI’s handwritten “Devise for the Succession” (1553), specifying a Protestant succession and inserting Lady Jane Grey by an interlined change. The manuscript shows the political and religious intent that precipitated the 1553 succession crisis. High-resolution detail allows students to spot the revision that shifts the crown from “heirs male” to “Lady Jane and her heirs male.” Source

• Original Devise (early 1553):

  • Named Lady Jane Grey’s male heirs as successors.

  • Jane was Edward’s Protestant cousin, the great-granddaughter of Henry VII.

  • Male heirs were emphasised to preserve male primogeniture.

• Revised Devise (June 1553):

  • As Edward’s health declined and Jane had no children, the Devise was altered.

  • Lady Jane Grey herself was declared heir.

Motivations Behind the Devise

• Religious: Edward feared the restoration of Catholicism under Mary.

• Political: Northumberland’s influence was central, especially as Jane was married to his son, Guildford Dudley.

• Dynastic: Excluding Mary and Elizabeth challenged Henry VIII’s statutory settlement, raising legitimacy concerns.

Implementation and Failure

Edward died on 6 July 1553, and Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed queen on 10 July. However:

• Mary quickly mobilised widespread support, drawing upon her legal legitimacy.

• The Privy Council defected to her side within nine days.

• Northumberland was executed, Jane deposed, and Mary became queen on 19 July 1553.

The 1553 crisis revealed that legitimacy, backed by popular and elite support, outweighed the ambitions of a dying monarch and his ministers.

The Succession in 1558

Mary I’s Childlessness

Mary’s reign (1553–1558) restored Catholicism but faced political instability and religious division. By 1558 she was gravely ill, with no heir:

• Her marriage to Philip II of Spain had not produced children.

• This raised pressing questions over the succession.

Statutory Position

Henry VIII’s 1544 Act still stood. In the absence of heirs from Edward or Mary, the throne passed to Elizabeth, Henry’s daughter with Anne Boleyn.

A clear House of Tudor family-tree diagram from Henry VII to Elizabeth I with Lady Jane Grey included. Use it to trace claims relevant to 1553 and to see why, by 1558, the succession pointed to Elizabeth. The diagram also shows wider Tudor kin; those extra branches exceed syllabus needs but can be safely ignored. Source

Mary’s Reluctance

Mary disliked Elizabeth for both religious and personal reasons:

• Religious grounds: Elizabeth was Protestant, threatening Mary’s Catholic restoration.

• Dynastic doubts: Mary considered Elizabeth illegitimate due to Anne Boleyn’s marriage.

Despite reluctance, Mary accepted Elizabeth’s claim:

• Mary named Elizabeth as her successor on her deathbed in November 1558.

• This avoided another disputed succession.

Political Implications

• Continuity of the Tudor line: Elizabeth’s accession reinforced the strength of Henry VIII’s settlement.

• Religious uncertainty: Elizabeth’s Protestantism created tension with Catholic Europe and with Mary’s supporters.

• Legitimacy restored: Unlike the Devise, Elizabeth’s claim rested on statute law and wide recognition.

Comparative Analysis of the Crises

Legality vs. Political Reality

• 1553 Devise: Lacked legal grounding, as it attempted to override parliamentary statute.

• 1558 Succession: Rooted in statutory legitimacy, which secured acceptance.

Religious Factors

• Edward’s attempt (1553) was driven by Protestant zeal.

• Mary’s acceptance of Elizabeth (1558) reflected a pragmatic resignation, despite her Catholic faith.

Support and Opposition

• 1553: Mary’s support was immediate, cutting across regions and classes, highlighting attachment to lawful succession.

• 1558: Elizabeth faced no armed opposition, showing lessons had been learned from the instability of 1553.

Impact on Tudor Monarchy

• These crises emphasised the importance of parliamentary statute in succession matters.

• They underlined the balance between dynastic legitimacy, religion, and political stability.

• They revealed how fragile the Tudor monarchy could be when succession was disputed.

Key Points for Study

• The Devise of 1553: Edward VI’s attempt to exclude Mary and Elizabeth, naming Lady Jane Grey instead.

• The collapse of the Devise: Mary’s swift victory showed the enduring power of legitimacy.

• The Succession of 1558: Elizabeth I’s lawful and peaceful accession under Henry VIII’s settlement.

• Central themes: religion, legality, legitimacy, and political support shaped both crises.