Option B3: Key topic 2: Henry VIII and Cromwell, 1529–40 - 4 The fall of Cromwell — Edexcel GCSE History
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Option B3: Key topic 2: Henry VIII and Cromwell, 1529–40 - 4 The fall of Cromwell explained
Thomas Cromwell’s fall in 1540 was driven by foreign policy failures, religious tensions, and factional politics.
Read the full explanation
The catalyst was the disastrous marriage he arranged between Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves to secure a Protestant alliance. Henry found Anne repulsive, and the alliance became unnecessary when the pact between France and the Holy Roman Empire broke down, removing the threat of a joint Catholic invasion. This failure was exploited by the conservative faction led by the Duke of Norfolk. Norfolk, who despised Cromwell's low birth and Protestant sympathies, poisoned Henry's mind, accusing Cromwell of treason and heresy. Norfolk also introduced his young Catholic niece, Catherine Howard, to Henry, accelerating Cromwell's execution.
Your focus
- Explain why the marriage to Anne of Cleves failed and how it impacted Cromwell.
- Analyse the role of the Duke of Norfolk in orchestrating Cromwell's downfall.
- Evaluate the relative importance of different factors leading to Cromwell's execution in 1540.
Option B3: Key topic 2: Henry VIII and Cromwell, 1529–40 - 4 The fall of Cromwell exam tips
Marking Points
- Explain how the failure of the Anne of Cleves marriage damaged Cromwell's relationship with Henry VIII.
- Describe the role of the Duke of Norfolk and the conservative faction in plotting against Cromwell.
- Identify the accusations of treason and heresy used to justify Cromwell's arrest and execution.
- Explain the religious context, noting Henry's return to more conservative Catholic doctrines (Act of Six Articles) which isolated the reformist Cromwell.
- Assess how Norfolk used Catherine Howard to distract and influence the King against Cromwell.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Link the failure of the Cleves marriage to the changing foreign policy situation to show a deeper understanding of the context.
- 💡Emphasise the role of factionalism at court, specifically the rivalry between the reformist Cromwell and the conservative Duke of Norfolk.
Common Mistakes
- Mistake: Stating Cromwell was executed solely because Henry thought Anne of Cleves was ugly. Correction: While the marriage was a catalyst, Cromwell's fall was heavily driven by the political plotting of the Duke of Norfolk and accusations of heresy.
- Mistake: Confusing the Duke of Norfolk with the Duke of Suffolk. Correction: It was Thomas Howard, the Duke of Norfolk, who led the conservative faction against Cromwell.
- Mistake: Believing Cromwell was given a fair trial. Correction: Cromwell was condemned by an Act of Attainder, meaning he was executed without a trial.