Q PEOPLE often forget that Lady Jane Grey was Queen of England, but aren't there other forgotten monarchs? - Bill Hutchinson Chester-le-Street.

A HENRY VIII died in 1547 and was succeeded by his then nine-year-old son, Edward VI. Edward, who was frail, died aged 15 but he had been persuaded by his advisors to sign a will stating that his Catholic sister, Mary, could not succeed him.

Jane Grey, a Protestant granddaughter of Henry VIII's sister, was nominated instead. Jane was betrothed to the son of John Dudley, Edward's advisor, who effectively ruled the country. When Edward died in 1553 Jane was declared queen and ruled for nine days, but was never crowned. Queen Mary defeated Dudley's army and Jane was executed in 1554.

One other little known 'king' was Eustace, the son of King Stephen who was proclaimed king by his father in 1152. Neither the Pope nor the Archbishop of Canterbury confirmed Eustace's status and he was never crowned.

Stephen's reign was troubled by a struggle for power with Matilda, the daughter of Henry I. She is another candidate for forgotten queen. As King Henry I had no surviving male heirs, it was agreed that Matilda should succeed him but when Henry I died, most of the barons declared support for Stephen, King Henry's nephew. Stephen moved quickly and was crowned King of England.

A civil war ensued between Matilda's supporters, headed by Robert of Gloucester, and the supporters of Stephen. Matilda entered London and preparations were made for her coronation. But she angered the capital's residents by demanding access to taxes specifically reserved for the city and was forced to flee. Matilda eventually sought refuge in Normandy. She was never crowned, but had effectively ruled England for a year.

When Stephen died in 1154, he left no heirs and Matilda's son Henry Plantagenet (Henry II) was crowned. In 1170, Henry II instigated the coronation of his eldest son, also called Henry, as King of England in an attempt to confirm him as his heir. The young king would not outlive his father and never officially became Henry III, but is arguably a forgotten monarch. Henry II was succeeded by his surviving sons King Richard the Lionheart and later King John. It was John's eldest son, Henry who became Henry III after John's death in 1216.

If you have a Burning Question, or can improve on the answer above, please write to Burning Questions, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF or e-mail david.simpson@nne.co.uk

If you have a Burning Question, or can improve on any of the answers above, please write to Burning Questions, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF or e-mail david.simpson@nne.co.uk

Published 02/12/2002