The Rise and Fall of Thomas Cromwell│Henry VIII's Right Hand Man

Thomas Cromwell might have pulled off the most meteoric social climb of the 16th century, rising from the son of a blacksmith to become Henry VIII’s chief minister and right hand man.

He was a reformer, a champion of the power of Parliament, and the architect of the disillusion of the monasteries. Often seen as a villain of history, his famous depiction in Hillary Mantel’s ‘Wolf Hall’ series presents him in a more sympathetic light.

But who was the real Cromwell? How did he rise so high at the Tudor court? And why did he find himself facing execution at the Tower of London?

In this episode of the Historic Royal Palaces Podcast, Tracy Borman explores the true history of the man behind the infamy. Joined by Chief Curator Eleri Lynn in the amazing Tudor Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace, she discusses the Reformation, Anne Boleyn, and Cromwell’s all important relationship with Henry VIII.

You can find more episodes of the Historic Royal Palaces Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/64ORUgrG2NE7UYxpsZ6HyC?si=aFqybC-uRE-PGNf3DL4LQA

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/historic-royal-palaces-podcast/id1065848261

Read more about Thomas Cromwell on our website: https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/thomas-cromwell/

Buy Tracy’s biography of Cromwell from our shop: https://www.historicroyalpalaces.com/books/history-books/thomas-cromwell-the-untold-story-of-henry-viii-s-most-faithful-servant.html


Image credits:
Thomas Cromwell ,1532-33 by Hans Holbein the Younger (German, 1497/1498–1543). The Frick Collection, New York. Image © The Frick Collection
18th Century Old Map of Surrey (1724), England, United Kingdom (UK) by the German cartographer Herman Moll. ARCHI UK
Woodcut of Florence (Firenze), Italy, from the Nuremberg Chronicle. Wikipedia.
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