Thomas Cromwell (d. 1540)

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Biography

Thomas Cromwell was an English statesman and lawyer who served as chief minister to King Henry VIII from 1534 to 1540, when he was beheaded on orders of the King, who later blamed false charges for the execution.

Timeline

The story of Thomas Cromwell, told in moments.

1520 Life

Returned to England after years abroad in Italy and the Netherlands. Taught himself law. Entered service to Cardinal Wolsey and rose through intelligence, administrative skill, and an ability to make himself indispensable.

How did you teach yourself law? What made you indispensable to Cardinal Wolsey? Was the talent for intelligence always there?

1534 Event

Engineered the break with Rome as Henry VIII's chief minister. Steered Parliament into declaring the king Supreme Head of the Church of England. Dissolved the monasteries and redirected their vast wealth to the Crown.

Did you believe in the break with Rome or just engineer it? Was dissolving the monasteries about religion or revenue? How much power did you actually hold versus the king?

1536 Event

Played a central role in the downfall and execution of Anne Boleyn, orchestrating the charges of adultery and treason. Had clashed with her for years. The evidence was largely fabricated.

How do you live with orchestrating Anne Boleyn's death on fabricated charges? Was the clash with her personal or political? Did you believe the charges yourself?

1540 Death

Beheaded on Tower Hill after arranging Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves, which the king despised. Created Earl of Essex just months before his execution. Henry later said he regretted killing him.

Did you know Henry would regret killing you? Was the marriage to Anne of Cleves your fatal miscalculation? What does it mean to be created Earl of Essex and beheaded months later?

In Their Own Words (1)

The king's majesty desires nothing more than concord...; he knows there are those who would stir up strife, and that in many places in his field tares have sprongen to harm the wheat. The forwardness and carnal lust of some, the inveterate corruption and superstitious tenacity of opinion of others, excite disputation and quarrels most horrible to good Christian men; one side calls the other papists, and the other again calls them heretics, both naughty and not to be borne; and that the less so because they miserably abuse the Holy Word of God and the Scriptures which the same most noble prince of his gentleness and for the salvation and consolation of his people has permitted them to read in the vulgar tongue. They twist God's sacred gift, now into heresy and now into superstition. [The king] favours nor one side nor the other but, as becometh a Christian prince, profess the true Christian faith [therefore the king desires the] true doctrine and rule of the Gospel shall be published clear and established [and] the pious observation of ceremonies shall be distinguished from the impious, their use taught and their abuse abolished.

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Anne of Cleves

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Thomas Cromwell