biography of Thomas Cromwell

Thomas Cromwell (1485–1540) was an influential English statesman during the Tudor period. Rising from humble beginnings, he became a key advisor to King Henry VIII. Cromwell played a major role in the English Reformation, helping to break away from the Catholic Church and establish the Church of England. He managed royal affairs, oversaw the dissolution of monasteries, and reformed government administration. His political skill and reform efforts significantly shaped England’s religious and political landscape. Despite his later fall from favor and execution, Cromwell is remembered as a pivotal figure in transforming England’s religious and governmental structure.