Who was Thomas Cromwell? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Кромвель, Томас

Died At Age: 55

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Elizabeth Wyckes

siblings: Katherine Cromwell

children: 1st Baron Cromwell, Anne Cromwell, Grace Cromwell, Gregory Cromwell

British Men British Lawyers & Judges

Died on: July 28, 1540

place of death: Tower Hill

City: London, England

Cause of Death: Execution

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1

When was Thomas Cromwell executed?

Thomas Cromwell was executed on July 28, 1540.
2

What role did Thomas Cromwell play in the English Reformation?

Thomas Cromwell played a key role in the English Reformation as the chief minister to King Henry VIII, overseeing the dissolution of the monasteries and the establishment of the Church of England.
3

What was the title of Thomas Cromwell in the court of King Henry VIII?

Thomas Cromwell held the title of Chief Minister to King Henry VIII, as well as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Master of the Rolls.
4

What were some of the key reforms implemented by Thomas Cromwell during his time in power?

Some of the key reforms implemented by Thomas Cromwell included the suppression of monasteries, the establishment of royal supremacy over the Church, and the centralization of government administration.
5

How did Thomas Cromwell influence the Tudor court and political landscape during his time as chief minister?

Thomas Cromwell wielded significant power and influence at the Tudor court, shaping policies, appointments, and legislation to further the interests of King Henry VIII and the English Reformation.

Childhood & Early Life

Thomas Cromwell was born in 1485 in Putney, London, to Walter Cromwell and his wife Katherine. He had two sisters.

His father was a jack of all trades, and had worked as a blacksmith, fuller, and cloth merchant. He also owned and operated a brewery and was notorious for being a drunkard.

Several details regarding his early life are obscure.

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Career

As a young man he set out to travel and seek his fortunes. He is believed to have travelled all over Europe and lived in France, Italy and the Low Countries. He stated that he became a mercenary and marched with the French army to Italy and fought in the battle of Garigliano in 1503. These claims were not verified though.

He claimed to have worked as a banker in Italy, clerk in the Netherlands, and a lawyer in London.

In the mid-1510s Thomas Cromwell became a member of the household of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. With his hard work, dedication and intelligence he won over the older man and became one of his most trusted employees. By 1526 he had become a member of Wolsey’s council, and a few years later, his secretary.

Cromwell helped Wolsey in dissolving nearly 30 monasteries in order to raise funds to found The King's School, Ipswich (1528), and Cardinal College, in Oxford (1529). By this time Cromwell had become one of Wolsey’s senior most advisers.

Wolsey himself was the king’s chief adviser and enjoyed great success in this position. The king wanted to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, and sought Wolsey’s advice. Wolsey, however, was unable to negotiate an annulment of King Henry's marriage due to which he fell out of the king’s favor and was stripped of his government titles.

Ever the shrewd man, Cromwell distanced himself from the disgraced Wolsey and by 1531 had taken control of the king’s legal and parliamentary affairs. In his works he was closely aided by Thomas Audley.

Thomas Cromwell very brilliantly engineered a plan to ensure the annulment of the king’s marriage. Following the pope’s refusal to approve the request for the annulment of the royal marriage, the Parliament endorsed the king's claim to be head of the breakaway Church of England. This bestowed upon the king the power to annul his own marriage. He then married his mistress Anne Boleyn.

Delighted at the services of Thomas Cromwell, the king made him one of his most trusted advisers. In 1534, Cromwell was officially made the king’s principal secretary and chief minister.

The king’s wife Anne Boleyn was never popular with the masses and the king too grew frustrated with her for failing to bear him a male heir. Moreover, he had fallen in love with another woman. Anne was executed and the king married Jane Seymour.

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Jane Seymour died in 1537. Thomas Cromwell suggested to the king that he should marry Anne, the sister of Duke Wilhelm, of Cleves. The king was not thoroughly convinced though he accepted the suggestion and married Anne in January 1540.

The marriage between King Henry and Anne of Cleves was ill-fated from the very beginning and the king grew frustrated at Cromwell for convincing him to enter into this unnecessary union. By now Cromwell had made several enemies in the court and they used this opportunity to turn the king against his most trusted minister. The king then had Cromwell arrested.

Major Works

Serving as chief minister to King Henry VIII of England, Thomas Cromwell was one of the strongest advocates of the English Reformation. He played a major role in helping the king gain the requisite authority to annul his own marriage to Queen Catherine of Aragon, following which the king wed his mistress.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1515, he married Elizabeth Wyckes, the widow of Thomas Williams, a Yeoman of the Guard, and the daughter of a Putney shearman, Henry Wykes. The couple had three children. Unfortunately his wife and two of their children died in an epidemic in 1528.

Cromwell also had an illegitimate daughter called Jane.

Over the course of his political career he had earned several enemies. Following the debacle of the king's unhappy marriage to Anne of Cleves which he had arranged, his enemies turned the king against him. Thomas Cromwell was arrested, imprisoned and condemned to death without trial and beheaded on Tower Hill on 28 July 1540.

Facts About Thomas Cromwell

Thomas Cromwell was a skilled musician and composer, known for his love of music and patronage of musicians during his time as a powerful figure in the Tudor court.

Cromwell was an avid reader and collector of books, amassing a significant personal library that showcased his intellectual curiosity and thirst for knowledge.

Despite his reputation as a shrewd political operator, Cromwell was also known for his compassion towards the poor and disadvantaged, implementing social welfare reforms to help those in need.

Cromwell was a devoted family man, deeply caring for his wife and children, and taking an active role in their upbringing and education.

In addition to his political and administrative skills, Cromwell was a talented linguist, fluent in multiple languages including English, Latin, French, and Italian, which aided him in his diplomatic endeavors.

Thomas Cromwell Biography

You wanted to know

When was Thomas Cromwell executed?

What role did Thomas Cromwell play in the English Reformation?

What was the title of Thomas Cromwell in the court of King Henry VIII?

What were some of the key reforms implemented by Thomas Cromwell during his time in power?

How did Thomas Cromwell influence the Tudor court and political landscape during his time as chief minister?