Henry VIII of England went down in history for his six wives… but he didn’t do the job alone. All heroes and villains need a second, a subservient lackey or someone with whom to share doubts, opinions or plans. There are few who write history alone…
And in the life of Henry VIII there was that person who planned every step that the monarch took in those years that led him to immortality (discussed immortality, but immortality after all) and that someone was called Thomas Cromwell (distant ancestor of Oliver Cromwell, the Protector, the same one who would order the execution of Charles II two centuries later).
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Henry VIII was impressed by Thomas Cromwell’s knowledge and skills.
A man of humble origins, thanks to his skill as a merchant he was able to carve out a position and study law. From that union between the university of life and the academic, the politician was born. He was ascending seats to participate in the so-called Parliament of the Reform convened by the monarch to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Under these circumstances Cromwell met Henry who was impressed by Cromwell’s skill and knowledge. Shortly after was appointed chancellor of the realm.
His first action as chancellor was suppress the papal obolus and transferred ecclesiastical legislation to the king. Cromwell was taking the first step in freeing England from Rome’s jurisdiction.
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On the “sentimental” level, the chancellor favored the link between Anne Boleyn and Henry… and he also attended the queen’s arrest and execution. After the death of Juana Seymour from puerperal fever, the minister urged a new marriage of the monarch with Anne of Cleves to strengthen relations between England and other Protestant nations. The portrait of Ana painted by Hans Holbein, helped to enthuse Enrique, who personally went to look for the princess. What would not be her disappointment to see her since he told her minister “I don’t like her”, a forceful affirmation that left Cromwell worried, very worried.
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Portrait of Anne of Cleves, by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1539. Parchment mounted on canvas, Louvre, Paris.
Why this rejection at first sight of the princess? You will never know why. The chronicles described the princess as a charming person, and although official portraits are often misleading, Holbein seems to have honored her beauty. Perhaps it could be said that there was no chemistry with Ana, but there were recriminations towards Cromwell, who was full of apologies. As the word was pawned, there was no other choice but to celebrate the ceremonywhich took place in January 1540. Cromwell could only pray that Henry’s mind would change after the marriage was consummated… which it did not.
“Before I didn’t like it,” said Enrique the day after the alleged hymen, “and now less…”.
The king was very clear about it, “I have left it as intact as it has been given to me,” he told anyone who wanted to listen.
After such a forceful assertion, everyone knew that the princess was still as virgin as before getting married, although, apparently, she had not found out, since no one had bothered to explain some of them to her. details of married life…
In her innocence, Ana thought that the marriage had been consummated, something that should have been explained to her more explicitly: a kiss and a good night were not enough to finalize the marital relationship.
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Shortly after these failed wedding nights, Enrique began, once again, the paperwork for divorce, in this case arguing the lack of consummation. Ana quickly agreed to dissolve the marital bond (surely she was told about Anne Boleyn’s sad end for not agreeing to her divorce).
The marriage was dissolved and the king was able to more than compensate for this kind separation. From then on he referred to her as “a good sister”.
Who did not suffer the same fate was Thomas Cromwell who, by losing royal favor, was the victim of the many enemies he had known how to accumulate over the years in which he had exercised power.
He was imprisoned in the Tower of London accused of heresy, a very broad and dangerous concept that was then used with unusual frequency to eliminate annoying enemies.
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Barely three weeks after signing the marriage annulment certificate, Cromwell was executed and his head exposed on London Bridgedespite having been the most loyal counselor and chancellor that Henry VIII had, although the king has not seen it this way.