|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
Thomas Cromwell, earl of Essex
Thomas Cromwell, earl of Essex 1485?–1540, English statesman. While a young man he lived abroad as a soldier, accountant, and merchant, and on his return (c.1512) to England he engaged in the wool trade and eventually became a lawyer. He entered Parliament in 1523 and soon became legal secretary to Cardinal Wolsey , for whom he managed the suppression of minor monasteries. He avoided being disgraced with Wolsey in 1529, and by 1531 was serving Henry VIII as a member of the privy council. By 1532 he had become the king's chief minister and was responsible for drafting most of the acts of Parliament by which the Reformation was effected. He probably originated the idea of making the king supreme head of the church in England. As Henry's vicar-general after 1535, he supervised (1536–9) the visitation and suppression of monasteries and the confiscation of monastic lands and wealth. Much of Cromwell's unpopularity with the people, demonstrated by the Pilgrimage of Grace , derived from the ruthlessness of his agents in carrying out that project. He issued injunctions to the clergy, regulating their conduct and duties, assailed the worship of images and relics, and initiated a much-needed system of parish registers. He was made a baron and lord privy seal in 1536, lord great chamberlain in 1539, and earl of Essex in 1540. He negotiated the king's marriage to Anne of Cleves as a means of securing the North German princes as allies against the Catholic Holy Roman emperor Charles V. When Anne proved unattractive and the alliance failed, Henry allowed charges of treason and heresy to be brought against Cromwell by his bitter enemy, the duke of Norfolk. Cromwell was condemned by act of attainder and beheaded.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Thomas Cromwell, earl of Essex." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Thomas Cromwell, earl of Essex." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-CromwellT.html "Thomas Cromwell, earl of Essex." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-CromwellT.html |
|
Cromwell, Thomas, Earl of Essex
Cromwell, Thomas, Earl of Essex (1485–1540) English statesman. Cromwell was secretary to Cardinal Wolsey and succeeded him as Henry VIII's chief minister in 1531. He was responsible for the acts of the Reformation parliament that established the Church of England with the King as supreme head. Cromwell's ruthless management of the Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536–40) was demonstrated by the Pilgrimage of Grace (1536). He made vital reforms of local government. Cromwell fell from power after the failure of Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves, and was executed.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Cromwell, Thomas, Earl of Essex." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Cromwell, Thomas, Earl of Essex." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-CromwellThomasEarlofEssex.html "Cromwell, Thomas, Earl of Essex." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-CromwellThomasEarlofEssex.html |
|
Cromwell, Thomas, earl of Essex
Cromwell, Thomas, earl of Essex (?1485–1540), secretary to Cardinal Wolsey and subsequently to Henry VIII, the principal promoter of the dissolution of the monasteries. He negotiated Henry's marriage with Anne of Cleves, and the failure of this match and of the policy that underlay it led to his downfall. A bill of attainder was passed and Cromwell was executed.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Cromwell, Thomas, earl of Essex." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Cromwell, Thomas, earl of Essex." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-CromwellThomasearlofEssex.html MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Cromwell, Thomas, earl of Essex." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-CromwellThomasearlofEssex.html |
|
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
