Why Cromwell fell from power

Question 1

What are the 3 possible factors for Cromwell’s fall?

In order of significance

Answer 1

1. Factionalism
2. Religious beliefs
3. Cleves marriage

Question 2

What evidence is there that the reason for Cromwell’s fall was religious beliefs?

Answer 2

• Charged of heresy (amongst other things)
• Accused of trying to bring in a full Protestant Church to England
• Closely associated with reformist beliefs and legislation
  
  • Organised break with Rome - Supremacy 1534
  • Dissolution of Monasteries 1539
  • Cleves was Protstant

Question 3

What evidence is there to suggest that Cromwell’s religious beliefs were not the reason for his fall?

Answer 3

Main aim to please the King as Henry had power over him, so unlikely to be plotting a fully Protestant Church as:

• Knew of Henry’s aversion to Protestantism
• Seen punishments of ‘heretics’
  
  • 1538 John Lambert executed for rejecting transubstantiation
• Cranmer, a married priest also associatedd with reformist beliefs, escaped punishment - 1543 given own trial by Henry when accused of heresy

Question 4

Overall what significance did Cromwell’s religious beliefs hold in his fall?

Answer 4

Significant as an excuse for his fall - reason given and also his religious policy was unpopular with the Catholic court e.g. Norfolk, however main reason = factionalism as without factional pressure Henry likely to have kept ihs most successful advisor to Henry e.g. £1.3 million from dissolution

Question 5

What evidence is there that Cromwell fell from power due to his organisation of the Cleves marriage?

Answer 5

• Disaster as Henry found Anne unnattractive - divorced her 6 months later
• Compounded as Franco-Habsburg hostilities recommenced, rendering alliance with Germany unnecessary

Question 6

What evidence is there to suggest that the Cleves marriage was not the main reason for Cromwell’s fall from power?

Answer 6

• 18 April 1540 made Earl of Essex by Henry
  
  • Rare award for someone without noble connections
  • Unlikely Henry would have awarded him this if had any intention of removing him
• Compared to Cromwell’s successes e.g. money from Dissolution for war and divorce from Catherine by Supremacy this was a minor blip

Question 7

Overall what significance did the Cleves marriage have on Cromwell’s fall from power?

Answer 7

Not very significant - Earl of Essex implied that all was forgiven, even Holbein who created the over-flattering portrait was kept on in employment

However its failure allowed influence of Catholic faction (Norfolk) through marriage to Catherine Howard, so arguably some significance

Question 8

What evidence is there that the reason for Cromwell’s fall was factional politcs?

Answer 8

• Catholic faction led by Norfolk and Gardiner enticed Henry with Catherine Howard (N’s second neice)
• Infatuation led to increased influence of Norfolk and Catholic faction
• Infatuation possibly caused Henry to believe the stories about Cromwell
• Able to persuade king to rush through the process of Attainder - execution
• Reinforced as execution on same day as Henry’s marriage to Catherine Howard
• Factions resented Cromwell for power fo low birth (earl of Essex) and Protestant-leaning policies
• Norfolk still smarting from his monastery being dissolved and having to move his ancestors’ remains

Question 9

What evidence is there to suggest that factional politics was not the main reason for Cromwell’s fall?

Answer 9

• Norfolk and Catholic faction motivated moastly by disagreements with Cromwell’s religious policies

Question 10

Overall what signifiance did factional politics have on Cromwell’s fall?

Answer 10

Largest impact

Factions manipulated Henry to dispose of Cromwell despite his great track record for king - fits as Henry regretted executing Cromwell afterwards, suggesting he had been manipulated

Fits with Henry’s passionate nature making him susceptible to manpulation