Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
Cromwell & the Annulment (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Natasha Smith
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
How Important was the Annulment for Cromwell's Success? - Summary
Cromwell recognised that securing an annulment was crucial to Henry VIII. As a result, Cromwell strategically positioned himself as Henry's chief adviser on the matter. Cromwell's legal expertise made him invaluable to Henry's government. He argued that Henry's royal supremacy should be more powerful than the authority of the Catholic Church in England. In many ways, the annulment was a catalyst for Cromwell's rise to power. His input allowed him to strengthen his influence over Henry. It also was the first step to implementing reforms that transformed the religion and politics in Tudor England. Without the annulment, Cromwell would have been unable to pass these reforms. highlighting the importance of this event in shaping his success. |
How Did Cromwell Gain Henry an Annulment?
Worked Example
Describe one feature of the annulment of Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon in 1533
2 marks
Answers:
One feature of the annulment of Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon was the Act in Restraint of Appeals (1). In March 1533, parliament passed this law to make Henry the head of the Church (1).
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Ensure you make your details as specific as possible to access all 4 marks. The details of this example include the dates of each aspect of the annulment.
This question previously asked students to describe two features of a given event. This question was out of four marks. However, as of 2025, Edexcel will split this question into two subsections, asking you to describe a feature of two different events. Each subsection is worth two marks.
Cromwell’s Roles and Responsibilities After 1534
After Cromwell gained Henry the annulment, Henry entrusted Cromwell with more roles and responsibilities
The more roles that Cromwell took on, the more influence he had over the king
What roles did Cromwell have in Tudor England?
Role | The date that Cromwell took on the role | Responsibilities of the role |
|---|---|---|
Master of the Rolls | 1533 | The Master of the Rolls administered justice and oversaw legal records |
Chancellor of the Exchequer | 1533 | The Chancellor of the Exchequer received and paid out funds on behalf of the Crown. They also monitored all of the King's finances to prevent fraud |
Vicar-General | 1535 | The Vicar-General conducted visitations of all monasteries and decided on church reforms |
Lord Privy Seal | 1536 | The Lord Privy Seal had unlimited access to Henry’s documents. They kept the privy seal, which was the personal seal of the monarch, safe |
Lord Great Chamberlain | 1540 | The Lord Great Chamberlain oversaw and was in charge of Henry's household |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
For your revision, compare Cromwell's titles with Wolsey's roles. Consider if Cromwell was even more powerful than Wolsey was.
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