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Henry VIII and Cromwell, 1529 to 40
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Thomas Cromwell, a blacksmith's son, solved the 'King's Great Matter' and became Henry's chief minister, until a failed marriage brought him down.
Cromwell's rise
Cromwell had been a soldier, merchant and lawyer. He served Wolsey, became an MP in 1529 and joined the Royal Council.
He found a legal way to the annulment: make the king head of the English Church, so the case could be decided in England.
Henry married Anne Boleyn in 1533; Archbishop Cranmer declared the marriage to Catherine invalid. Elizabeth was born that year.
He found a legal way to the annulment: make the king head of the English Church, so the case could be decided in England.
Henry married Anne Boleyn in 1533; Archbishop Cranmer declared the marriage to Catherine invalid. Elizabeth was born that year.
The king's marriages
Anne Boleyn did not give Henry a son and made enemies. Cromwell gathered evidence of adultery; she was executed in May 1536.
Henry married Jane Seymour in 1536. She gave birth to Edward in 1537 but died soon after.
Cromwell arranged marriage to Anne of Cleves (1540) to ally with German Protestant states. Henry disliked her and the marriage was annulled.
Henry married Jane Seymour in 1536. She gave birth to Edward in 1537 but died soon after.
Cromwell arranged marriage to Anne of Cleves (1540) to ally with German Protestant states. Henry disliked her and the marriage was annulled.
Government and fall
Cromwell reformed royal finance, for example the Court of Augmentations to manage income from the monasteries, and developed a smaller Privy Council.
He used Parliament to pass the laws of the Reformation.
He fell in 1540: the Anne of Cleves marriage failed, and the conservative Duke of Norfolk used his niece Catherine Howard to win Henry's favour. Cromwell was executed in July 1540 without trial.
He used Parliament to pass the laws of the Reformation.
He fell in 1540: the Anne of Cleves marriage failed, and the conservative Duke of Norfolk used his niece Catherine Howard to win Henry's favour. Cromwell was executed in July 1540 without trial.
Explain why Cromwell fell from power in 1540.
- He arranged the marriage to Anne of Cleves, which Henry hated.
- The Duke of Norfolk and his faction opposed his religious reforms.
- Norfolk's niece Catherine Howard attracted Henry, giving the faction influence.
Answer: The failed Cleves marriage and the Norfolk faction.
Cromwell: MP 1529, chief minister. Solved annulment via royal supremacy; Anne Boleyn married 1533. Anne executed 1536; Jane Seymour, Edward born 1537; Anne of Cleves 1540. Court of Augmentations, Privy Council, Parliament. Fall and execution 1540 (Norfolk, Catherine Howard).
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