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Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex

Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex as played by James Frain

Born c. 1485 - executed July 28, 1540
Character's backstory: Born in Putney, London in 1485, son of a Brewer/Blacksmith who was known for his illicit & drunken behaviour. Over the course of several years, he was a soldier in the french army in Italy, clerk in the Netherlands, and a lawyer in London. On his return to England he worked as a lawyer before joining the service of Thomas Wolsey . In 1523 was elected to the House of Commons and two years later helped Wolsey to dissolve small monasteries. When Wolsey fell from grace in 1529, Cromwell was hurriedly elected burgess for Taunton so he could remain in government service. There were striking similarities between the two men - both managed to remain favorites of the mercurial Henry VIII for years; both were despised by the older nobility who coveted their influence with the king; both sought to reform the creaky medieval bureaucracy of Tudor government; both were highly intelligent and well-versed in international affairs. And both, ultimately, fell from Henry's favor with spectacular speed. In the end, the king preferred to listen to the old nobility. But Cromwell and Wolsey were also markedly different in many ways. Cromwell was the architect of the Henrician reformation while Wolsey fell because he served two masters, the king of England and the Pope.

After the death of Jane Seymour, Cromwell arranged for Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves, a move that joined England with the German Protestants. The marriage was a failure, and Cromwell's enemies used Henry's displeasure with Cromwell to their advantage. Thomas Cromwell was eventually beheaded for Treason on the day that Henry married Katherine Howard. One of her wedding gifts.

Gentility: Not of noble descent. A lawyer.

Position: Member of English Parliament, Henry VIII's chief minister, Master of the Jewell House, Earl of Essex.
His career progressed as follows:
1531 - member of the privy council
1532 - Master of Court of Wards and Master of Jewel House
1533 - Chancellor of the Exchequer
1534 - King's Secretary and Master of the Rolls
1535 - Vicar-General
1536 - Lord Privy Seal and Baron Cromwell of Oakham
1537 - Knight of the Garter and Dean of Wells
1539 - Lord Great Chamberlain
1540 - created Earl of Essex

Personality type: Ruthless and ambitious. Methodical, detached & calculating. Henry VIII called him a "good household manager" and his "most faithful servant". He was an opportunist who disliked papal authority.

Signature look: dour & clerical

Endearing trait(s): Effective and efficient in government. He was a kind master, and a staunch friend; and he possessed all the outward graces of the Renaissance period. He was not vindictive, and his atrocious acts were done in no private quarrel, but in what he conceived to be the interests of his master and the state. Where those interests were concerned he had no heart and no conscience and no religious faith; no man was more completely blighted by the 16th century worship of the state

Annoying trait(s): Motivated by financial gain. Does whatever will get him ahead, no matter who he has to pull down or kill to get there.
Thomas Cromwell as played by James Frain
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Accomplishments:


1 - the dissolution of the monasteries and establishment of the royal supremacy


2 - founded the ministries of Augmentations and First Fruits to handle income from the dissolution


3 - founded the two courts of Wards and Surveyors which allowed more efficient taxation and leasing


4 - politically integrated the kingdom by extending sovereign authority into northern England, Wales & Ireland (actions which angered the great feudal lords)


5 - used the power of that relatively new invention, the printing-press and thus spearheaded the first propaganda campaign in English history

CHARACTER CONNECTIONS


Family members:

Father: Walter Cromwell

Marriage(s):
Elizabeth Wyckes (1489–1527)

Children:
Gregory Cromwell, 1st Baron Cromwell who was married to Elizabeth Seymour (Jane Seymour's sister) who served as a maid of honour to Anne Boleyn., then became Chief lady-in-waiting to her sister Jane & later served as lady-in-waiting to Katherine Parr who married her brother Thomas Seymour after Henry VIII's death.


Friends:
Thomas Wolsey, who in a way helped him gain the position as chief adviser to Henry VIII.
Thomas Cranmer

Enemies:
Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester
William Brereton
Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk
Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk.


UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTER QUOTES

  • "...Wolsey is still keen enough to prosecute heretics, as we are called, who embrace the true religion." episode VIII







DEFINING EPISODES | MEMORABLE SCENES









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Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex - The Tudors Wiki

Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex - The Tudors Wiki
Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex
Portrait by Hans Holbein the Younger

Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex - The Tudors Wiki
Hans Holbein miniature c.1532/33
See also: The Tudors Cast | The Tudors Episode Guide




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SemperEadem How soon do you think it will be before Cromwell begins to fall? 18 Aug 28 2008, 8:18 PM EDT by LNor19
SemperEadem
Thread started: Jun 3 2008, 1:13 AM EDT  Watch
From The Tudors Predictions Page

How soon in Season 3 do you think Cromwell will begin to fall from grace? Will it happen fairly soon in the season, or dramatically towards the end?
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