The Rise of Cromwell

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Cromwell's Rise to Power

By 1532, Thomas Cromwell had emerged as Henry VIII's new chief minister as a replacement for Wolsey.

Cromwell's background

Cromwell was the son of a London blacksmith, and didn’t go to school.
He had joined the French army in 1503, moved to Italy to work for a merchant banker and then a cloth merchant in Belgium.
In 1514 he returned to England to become a merchant and set up a legal firm.

Cromwell and Wolsey

Cromwell began to work for Wolsey and became a member of his Council by 1519.
By 1529 he was Wolsey’s main advisor, taking on high profile cases in the Star Chamber and delivering news to Henry.

Cromwell and politics

In 1523 Cromwell became an MP and used his position to defend Wolsey in parliament and court in 1529.
He must have known his future was at risk, as he had no job at court without Wolsey, and risked also being targeted by the anti-Wolsey faction.

Gaining Henry VIII's favour

However, Cromwell’s talents and loyalty to Wolsey impressed Henry, who appointed him to the Royal Council in 1531.

1Henry VIII & Wolsey, 1509-1529

1.1Henry VIII & Wolsey, 1509-1529

1.1.1Henry VIII, Renaissance Prince

1.1.2The Rise of Wolsey

1.1.3Wolsey's Domestic Reforms

1.1.4Wolsey's Foreign Policy

1.1.5Evaluating Wolsey's Foreign Policy

1.1.6The Succession & Annulment

1.1.7Fall of Wolsey

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Henry VIII & Wolsey

1.1.9End of Topic Test - Henry VIII & Wolsey 2

2Henry VIII & Cromwell, 1529-1540

2.1Henry VIII & Cromwell, 1529-1540

2.1.1The Rise of Cromwell

2.1.2The King's Annulment

2.1.3Cromwell & the King's Marriages

2.1.4Cromwell & Government

2.1.5Cromwell & Parliament

2.1.6Fall of Cromwell

2.1.7End of Topic Test - Henry VIII & Cromewell

2.1.8End of Topic Test - Henry VIII & Cromwell 2

3The Reformation & its Impact, 1529-1540

3.1The Reformation & its Impact, 1529-1540

3.1.1The Break with Rome

3.1.2Opposition to the Reformation

3.1.3Impact of the Reformation

3.1.4Role of Religious Houses

3.1.5Dissolution of the Monasteries

3.1.6Impact of Dissolution

3.1.7The Pilgrimage of Grace

3.1.8Evaluating the Pilgrimage of Grace

3.1.9End of Topic Test - The Reformation

3.1.10End of Topic Test - The Reformation 2

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