Henry VIII - Cromwell's Rise + Fall Flashcards
Early Life
Born: 1485, Putney, London. Father: Cloth worker, Alehouse keeper, abusive father. Moved to Netherlands after some trouble, moved to Italy + served as soldier, where he encountered radical Prot ideas. Returned to England + joined TW’s household. 1524: Attended Inns of Courts, received lawyer training, + had successful legal practice. 1529: Made MP, attacking abuses in Church. 1531: Made Royal Councillor. 1532: Managed divorce + knew that key to success was pleasing H8.
1532-1536: Divorce + Break from Rome
Collected titles rapidly: 1532: Master of the King’s Jewels (gave him access to H8), 1533: Chancellor of the Exchequer + Master of the Rolls (leading role in legal system), 1535: Vice-gerent in Spirituals (H8 created post to allow TC to reform church), 1536: Lord Privy Seal + Principal Secretary on Royal Council + Baron Cromwell, 1540: Lord Great Chamberlain + Earl of Essex.
Legal Reforms
4 new courts created: Court of Augmentations, Court of First Fruit + Tenths, Court of Wards + Liveries, Court of General Surveyors. Emergence of trained officials, rather than nobility, who owed status to the king, so were loyal.
Royal Authority
In 1533, Pope had authority on religious decisions + election of bishops, liberties meant some counties had semi-independence, Wales wasn’t fully integrated into English gov. Cromwell resolved these with Break from Rome, Act of Union with Wales reorganised local gov, an act against Liberties + Franchises removed special powers of nobles in remote areas of England, e.g. bishops of the Palatinate of Durham.
Political Reform
TC used Parliament to pass Acts during BfR + strengthen authority in outlying regions. 1529 Parliament: stayed in being for 7 yrs + passed a record No. of laws. This stability helped to increase efficiency, e.g. passing a bill after reading three times in both Lords + Commons became standard practice. By end of 1530s, statute law made by the King-in-Parliament was the ultimate authority + future monarchs could only change a law through Parliament.
Fall of Cromwell
Arrested June 1540, executed July 1540. Charged with heresy (plotting to bring in a fully Prot church). Also, the Franco-Habsburg peace left England isolated + fears of a Catholic crusade to England. So, TC told H8 to marry A of C to ally with Schmalkaldic League, disastrous, she was unattractive. The recommencement of war rendered marriage useless. But, marriage’s failure wasn’t TC’s downfall, he was awarded Earl of Essex. It was the Catholic faction, led by Norfolk + Gardiner, that brought about TC’s fall, with H8 infatuated with CH. TC is attainted + executed. H8 marries CH on same day as TC’s execution.
