Henry VIII: Cromwell Flashcards
Cromwell Personality
- Seen as ruthless
- Prepared to do the kings dirty work such as organizing
- Capable of great loyalty to his friends
- Able to be witty and was charming and persuasive when he needed to be
Reasons for Cromwell’s rise to power
Loyalty
Cromwell remained loyal to Wolsey defending him in Parliament
This loyalty impressed Henry who was prepared to promote Cromwell
Wit and charm
Allowed him to gain supporters in the court
Efficiency
Henry involved himself more in day to day government so Cromwell was able to carry his instructions quickly
When did he become a member of the privy council
1531
How did he become inflicted by Protestant
Traveled and lived in Europe
Shaped his thinking on the annulment of the church and the monasteries
How did Cromwell feel on Henry’s marriage to Ann of Cleves
He encouraged Henry
When was the marriage to Ann of Cleves?
6th January 1540
The failure of the marriage to AOC and the downfall of Cromwell
summer of 1540 there was a threat of invasion from France
He becomes attracted to Catherine Howard
Marriage was annulled on the grounds of non-consummation after just four months
Henry blamed Cromwell for the failure of the marriage
This made Cromwell vulnerable to rivals at court such as the duke of Norfolk who wanted Cromwell removed
Parliament at the start of Henry’s reign (before Cromwell)
- had two chambers: house of lords and house of commons
- role was limiting to approving taxation
- didn’t meet often
Development of the role of Parliament by Cromwell
- Used Parliament more regularly
- Henry and Cromwell used Parliament to gain support from people who were significant
- This strengthened the king’s authority suggesting the people approved of his ideas turning them into laws
The significance of the increased use of Parliament
- Parliament not the center of gov
- laws passed with approval of both houses
- parliament could not be ignored and had to be consulted on all major laws the king wanted to pass
What were Cromwell’s four reforms?
- reform of the royal council
- reform of the council of the north
- financial reforms
- reform of Wales
Reform of the royal court
- Had too many members
- So Cromwell replaces it with a privy council made of 20 advisors
- privy council composed of lawyers and professionals rather than noblemen
Reform of council of the north
- Had existed since 1472 and aimed to improve how the north was governed
- Cromwell made it into a permanent institution making it responsible for law and order in the north
- Rebellion was prevented by the council
What was the Kings chamber initially used for
- To record income and expenditure of the king and his government
- With an increase of income from dissolving the monasteries chamber couldn’t cope so he created six departments
What were the six departments in the chamber reformation
Four dealt with kings income
Two dealt with increased work created by the dissolution
Reform of wales
English declared the official language of wales
Wales represented by 26 MP’s
What was the purpose of the reforms of Wales
To tackle disorder in wales
And secure the support of the Welsh gentry by giving them the same powers and their English equivalents
The importance of the reforms
Power centralized in London
Government better organized
Expenditure monitored by government not the king
Reasons for Anne Boleyn’s fall
Early 1536 Henry became in love with Jane Seymour and saw her like a queen, not a mistress
She failed to have a male heir and she was flirty which became embarrassing for him
She had strong opinions about foreign policy and religion
Cromwell’s role in Anne Boleyn’s fall
Anne and Cromwell difference in opinion of foreign policy and how incomes gained from the dissolution of monasteries should be spent
Cromwell built the case against Anne
Using spies to unearth her of adultery
Cromwell’s role in Anne Boleyn’s fall
Anne and Cromwell difference in opinion of foreign policy and how incomes gained from the dissolution of monasteries should be spent
Cromwell built the case against Anne
Using spies to unearth her of adultery
When did Cromwell become King’s chief minister?
1534
Ways Cromwell managed the annulment
Cromwell realised pope wasn’t going to accept the annulment
He changed tactic and argued that the power to grant the annulment should be taken from the pope and given to the king
Henry and Anne secretly married by Archbishop Cranmer in January 1533
Anne already pregnant
Parliament passed the act of restraint of appeals
Henry was now head of the church and only he could annul the marriage to Catherine
What did the court announce for the annulment to be made official
Henry and Catherine never legally married
Henry’s secret marriage to Anne is valid as he had been a bachelor at the time
Anne was crowned Henry’s queen
Cromwell’s roles and responsibilities after 1533
Influential role in law
Charge if finances
Became chancellor of the exchequer in 1533
Charge of the church
Became vicar general
When was Cromwell executed?
28th July 1540
The fall of Cromwell
Cromwell arrested at pricy council accused of treason
Cromwell taken to Tower of London and parliament passed act of attainder condemning him death without trial
Cromwell then executed and on the same day Henry married Catherine Howard
Who was the duke of Norfolk
Thomas Howard
He was a fierce rival to Cromwell and had ambitions of his own to become kings chief minister
Being catholic he was hostile to Protestant ideas
Why did the duke of Norfolk hate Cromwell
He supported Protestant ideas
Jealous of Cromwell’s rise
Claimed that the delay was because Cromwell wanted to introduce Protestantism to England against the king’s wishes
foreign reasons for Cromwell’s fall
Hated by French Catholics so removing him from power would improve relations with France
Cromwell has many enemies within the court and church
Henry’s decision to execute Cromwell
He was under lots of pressure from the court
Under pressure from the duke of Norfolk
Ill health made Henry short-tempered
Under pressure from the church
