All Qs - Henry VIII and Cromwell

What aspect of Cromwell’s childhood illustrate his humble background?

He was the son of a troublesome Putney blacksmith

What did a young Cromwell decide to do in 1503?

Leave England and travel around Europe

What did Cromwell establish when he returned to England in c. 1514?

A thriving legal practice

How did Cromwell begin to develop a name for himself during the 1520s?

He worked for Wolsey

When was Cromwell first elected as an MP (Member of Parliament)?

1523

What words could be used to describe Cromwell’s character?

Intelligent, determined, self-controlled, witty, charming

For which area was Cromwell elected MP in 1529?

Taunton

In what year was Cromwell appointed to the Royal Council?

1531

When did Cromwell start to work for Henry on the case for the annulment?

1531

What was Cromwell’s ground-breaking idea to secure the annulment?

Henry should take the decision himself, not the Pope, and Parliament could grant him the laws to be able to do so

When were Henry and Anne Boleyn secretly and illegally married by Archbishop Cranmer?

January 1533

When was the Act in Restraint of Appeals passed?

March 1533

What did this new act state?

England was ‘an empire’ and therefore no foreign ruler had any power there

What new title was Henry also given at this time?

Supreme Head of the Church in England

What new power was he given when he got this new title?

Right to grant annulments

Who led the divorce hearing about Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon?

Archbishop Cranmer

When did the hearing declare the marriage invalid because they had never been legally married?

May 1533

Why did Henry make Anne Boleyn’s coronation celebrations so extravagant?

To show people that Anne, not Catherine, was now queen

In what year was Cromwell made Lord Privy Seal?

1536

Why did Henry give Cromwell less freedom to decide on policy than he had given Wolsey?

Henry was older and wanted to make more decisions himself, and he didn’t want to make Cromwell as powerful as Wolsey had been

When did Henry suffer his almost fatal jousting accident?

January 1536

Who was Anne Boleyn’s first and only surviving child with Henry?

Elizabeth (future Queen Elizabeth I)

Why did Henry believe Anne wasn’t able to provide him with a son?

God disapproved of his marriage

How had Henry’s attitude towards Anne started to change by 1536?

He was increasingly irritated with her

What was the name of the 23-year-old musician who confessed to having an affair with Anne?

Mark Smeaton

Who took a lead role in building the adultery case against Anne Boleyn?

Thomas Cromwell

What is meant by the term ‘Cromwell conspiracy’?

Unproven idea that Cromwell deliberately plotted to bring down Boleyn

On what major issue did Cromwell and Boleyn strongly agree?

Religion (both were Protestants)

When was the execution of Anne Boleyn?

May 1536

What did Boleyn declare in her execution speech?

She still loved Henry

When did Henry marry Jane Seymour?

May 1536

Why did Henry marry Seymour so quickly after Anne Boleyn’s execution?

He urgently needed a son

What new law did parliament pass which allowed Henry to appoint any successor at any time?

The Succession Act

What motto did Jane Seymour adopt?

‘Bound to obey and serve’

When did Seymour give birth to the future Edward VI?

October 1537

How soon after the birth did Jane Seymour die?

Less than two weeks

How much influence did Jane Seymour have over Henry’s political decisions?

Almost none

What impact did Jane Seymour have on her family?

Their status and influence increased

What was the name of Jane’s eldest brother, who became one of Henry’s leading advisers?

Edward Seymour

What was the name of Henry’s illegitimate son?

Henry Fitzroy

What institution did Cromwell create to replace the Royal Council?

Privy Council

Which institution did Cromwell strengthen to increase royal control in the north of England?

Council of the North

In what year was the Act of Union passed, which formally made Wales part of England?

1536

Which part of the Royal Household was in charge of the Crown’s income and expenditure?

King’s chamber

What were the two most significant new government departments that Cromwell created to reform the way the Crown kept track of money?

Court of Augmentations; Court of First Fruits and Tenths

What was the problem with how the Crown had kept track of money before Cromwell’s reforms?

Henry himself wasn’t interested; there were no rules; accounts weren’t kept or checked

What is the term for an Act of Parliament that has been agreed by parliament and the king?

Statute law

How many Acts were passed between 1532 and 1540, compared to between 1509 and 1531?

333 (1532–40) compared to 203 (1509–31)

Why did Cromwell think that using parliament would help Henry?

People more likely to support decisions if they had helped to make them

How did Cromwell’s increased use of parliament change people’s perceptions of parliament?

Parliament was viewed as key part of government which could pass laws on almost anything

When did Henry marry Anne of Cleves?

January 1540

Why did the marriage to Anne of Cleves make sense politically?

England needed Cleves as an ally against a potential French and Spanish invasion

Why did Cromwell strongly encourage the marriage to Anne of Cleves?

Anne was not Catholic so would not oppose his religious reforms

What did the marriage to Anne of Cleves show about Henry’s attitude to the succession?

He still wanted more sons, in case something happened to Edward

What did Henry find unattractive about Anne of Cleves?

Her appearance, her shyness, her lack of sophistication

Who had Henry fallen in love with while he was still married to Anne of Cleves?

Catherine Howard

Why did England no longer need the alliance with Cleves by mid-1540?

There was no longer a risk that France and Spain would invade England

When was Henry’s marriage to Anne of Cleves annulled?

July 1540

What arguments were used to justify the annulment?

The marriage had never been consummated

What official status was Anne granted after the annulment?

The king’s ‘sister’ (plus several houses and a lot of money)

Who did Henry blame for the failure of his marriage to Anne of Cleves?

Cromwell

What title was Cromwell awarded in April 1540?

Earl of Essex

Which influential Catholic nobleman played a large role in Cromwell’s downfall?

Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk

For what two reasons did this nobleman choose to strike against Cromwell in 1540?

He saw Cromwell was falling out of favour with Henry; He had huge influence as Catherine Howard’s uncle

How did this nobleman try to damage Cromwell’s reputation with Henry further?

He got Catherine Howard to spread rumours about Cromwell

How did Cromwell try to retaliate at Norfolk?

Destroyed Thetford Priory

On what charges was Cromwell arrested in June 1540?

Treason and heresy

When was Cromwell executed?

July 1540

Why were many people in England so pleased by Cromwell’s death?

They saw him as ruthless and greedy

Who became more influential at Henry’s court after Cromwell’s execution?

Catholic noblemen such as Norfolk