Thomas Cromwell was executed on this day, on the 28th of July 1540. He was executed on the order ofKing Henry VIII on charges of treason.
He is the man who was accused of bringing down Henry VIII's second wife; Anne Boleyn. Though other theories about Anne Boleyn's downfall are speculated, such as her execution being the result of not producing a male heir for King Henry VIII. Another theory is that her downfall was orchestrated by the Seymour family, which is a credible theory, as Jane Seymour succeeded Anne Boleyn as Henry's third wife. Another theory of Anne Boleyn's downfall was that Boleyn and Cromwell had a disagreement over the nature of the reformation and the newly found protestant faith. Cromwell and Boleyn were both instrumental in the English Reformation. And, as such, they were natural allies. However, their friendship turned sour, which could have resulted in Thomas Cromwell conspiring to get rid of Anne. If that was his goal, he was successful, at least in the short term. In 1536, Anne Boleyn was executed on Henry VIII orders. Downfall and Execution of Thomas Cromwell In the long term, Thomas Cromwell might have inflicted a self-inflicted wound (that's if he brought down Anne). He too was executed just four years after Anne Boleyn, on grounds of treason. Thomas Cromwell was decapitated on Tower Hill on the 28th of July 1540. There were signs long before this that Henry was tiring of Cromwell. He was frustrated at Cromwell's handling of the English Reformation by 1538. By 1539, Cromwell made his most fatal mistake - forcing a relationship between the German princess Anne of Cleves. Initially, from a portrait, the King found Anne of Cleves attractive. Upon meeting her though, he found her unattractive. Henry did marry her though, on the 6th of January 1540. The marriage between them was short lived and annuled just six months later. It proved to be a disastrous marriage, but more so for Cromwell, than Anne or Henry. Unlike some of Henry's other wives, Anne of Cleeves actually remained in good favour with Henry VIII and kept her head. The marriage between Henry VIII and Anne of Cleeves was annulled on the 9th of July 1540. Anne would keep her head, Cromwell on the other hand, wasn't as lucky. He was arrested on the next day, the 10th of July 1540 and imprisoned in the Tower of London. He was arrested for treason and heresy. He was executed just 18 days later on the 28th of July 1540.
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