Jane Seymour - Death

Death

Edward was christened on 15 October 1537, without his mother in attendance, as was the custom. Both of the King's daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, were present and carried the infant's train during the ceremony. After the christening, it became clear that Jane Seymour was seriously ill.

Jane Seymour's labour had been difficult, lasting two nights and three days, probably because the baby was not well positioned. According to King Edward's biographer, Jennifer Loach, Jane Seymour's death may have been due to an infection from a retained placenta.

According to Alison Weir, death could have also been caused by puerperal fever due to a bacterial infection contracted during the birth or a tear in her perineum which became infected. "Within a few weeks of the death of Queen Jane there existed conflicting testimonies concerning the cause of her demise. The two official versions (carrying the approval of the crown) admitted to Englishmen at home that (1) Prince Edward had been delivered by Caesarean section after his mother had died, and to the English ambassadors and the French court that (2) the queen died of a great cold and improper foods some time after the birth of a son. The unapproved and anti-Henrician view offered another explanation and argued that (3) the queen had been cut before she was dead' in order to save the life of the child. This interpretation of the death of Queen Jane obviously blackened Henry's reputation as a husband and silently warned European monarchs to reject matrimonial proposals from such a self-serving king. Since Caesarean section was permitted only on dead or dying mothers, and since there was considerable evidence that the queen lived a number of days after the prince's birth, Henry's actions in 1537 would have been universally condemned."

Jane Seymour died on 24 October 1537 at Hampton Court Palace at Kingston upon Thames.