Editing Henry VIII (section)

== Succession ==
{{See also|Third Succession Act}}
{{Multiple image
| header=All of Henry's surviving children succeeded him as monarchs.
| total_width=420px
| caption_align=center
| image1= Circle of William Scrots Edward VI of England.jpg
| caption1=[[Edward VI]]<br/>{{R.|1547|1553}}
| image2= Anthonis Mor 001.jpg
| caption2= [[Mary I]]<br/>{{R.|1553|1558}}
| image3= Darnley stage 3.jpg
| caption3=[[Elizabeth I]]<br/>{{R.|1558|1603}}
}}
Upon Henry's death, he was succeeded by his only surviving son, Edward VI. Since Edward was then only nine years old, he could not rule directly. Instead, Henry's will designated 16 [[executor]]s to serve on a regency council until Edward reached 18. The executors chose [[Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset|Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford]], elder brother to Jane Seymour (Edward's mother), to be [[Lord Protector]] of the Realm. Under provisions of the will, if Edward died childless, the throne was to pass to Mary, Henry VIII's daughter by Catherine of Aragon, and her heirs.

If Mary's issue failed, the crown was to go to Elizabeth, Henry's daughter by Anne Boleyn, and her heirs. Finally, if Elizabeth's line became extinct, the crown was to be inherited by the descendants of Henry VIII's deceased younger sister, Mary, the [[House of Grey|Greys]].

The descendants of Henry's sister [[Margaret Tudor]]{{Snd}}the [[Stuarts]], rulers of Scotland{{Snd}}were thereby excluded from the succession.{{Sfn|Elton|1977|pp=332–333}} This provision ultimately failed when [[James VI of Scotland]], Margaret's great-grandson, became king of England and Ireland in 1603.

Edward VI himself would disregard the will and name [[Jane Grey]] his successor.