OpenTube

Were THOMAS CROMWELL and OLIVER CROMWELL related? | Famous people who were related to one another

History Calling

133,444 views

One was KILLED by Henry VIII, the other is a famous KING KILLER. Both shaped English history and have never been forgotten by it, yet their fates could hardly have been more different. They shared a surname and lived within a century of each other, but how were Thomas and Oliver Cromwell related, if at all and why might Oliver not have been a Cromwell at all?

In this video from History Calling, we’ll start with a brief history of Thomas Cromwell, earl of Essex who was Henry VIII’s favourite minister until his epic fall from grace resulted in him losing his head in 1540 after being blamed for the disastrous marriage of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves. We’ll then hear a brief overview of the life of Oliver Cromwell, best remembered as the man who killed Charles I (or rather, was instrumental in having him killed) and becoming Lord Protector of England. I’ll then show you (spoiler alert), how these two men were connected and what their places were within one of the most famous English families (excluding royalty) of the 16th and 17th centuries. We’ll look at the Welsh roots of the Cromwell family and at how a very unusual and very modern decision made by one man to change his surname to that of his mother’s, ensured that Thomas and Oliver shared their family name, even though Oliver Cromwell was arguably meant to be called Oliver Williams and even acknowledged this fact during his lifetime.

BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): https://amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): https://www.historycallingofficial.com/
Patreon: Patreon: historycalling
Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/historyca...
Instagram: Instagram: historycalling

OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII PLAYLIST
Six wives of Henry VIII
DEATH, MURDER AND CORPSES PLAYLIST
Death, murder and corpses
TUDOR MONARCHS’ PLAYLIST
Tudor monarchs
WHAT HAPPENED TO CHARLES I’S CORPSE
Video

GEAR USED

DJI Drone: https://amzn.to/38h1vXr (UK LINK) OR https://amzn.to/39hROZm (US LINK)
Go-Pro Hero 10 camera: https://amzn.to/3EPIK9U (UK LINK) OR https://amzn.to/3rTWScL (US LINK)
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): https://amzn.to/37CdC1r (UK LINK) OR https://amzn.to/3vaVxjU (US LINK)
Memory Card: https://amzn.to/36QvcOQ (UK LINK) OR https://amzn.to/3KeLZZs (US LINK)
Microphone: https://amzn.to/3MFtoaK (UK LINK) OR https://amzn.to/3rYtjH8 (US LINK)

NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.

Thumbnail: Thomas Cromwell, The Frick Collection, New York. Accessed on Wikimedia Commons. Oliver Cromwell, Rijks Museum

Creative Commons licenses used see https://creativecommons.org/licenses/

20 Comments

@HistoryCalling Creator 3 years ago (edited) Pinned

Which of these two do you think is the more famous member of the house of Cromwell? Let me know below and remember to check me out at:

BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): https://amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): https://www.historycallingofficial.com/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historycalling/

@bevinboulder5039 3 years ago

I can't believe that it's never occurred to me to think that they might be related before. Thank you for this! If a throne can be passed down through a woman surely a surname can be.

@eviesholette 1 year ago

My grandpa with his very Irish parents and grandfather would probably say that Oliver is the more INfamous lol 😂

@eva_fr 3 years ago

In history lessons in the 80s, 90's, Hungary, we learned about Oliver Cromwell. Today's global film and literature culture must have made Thomas Cromwell well known , or even better known as well, outside of Great Britain. Personally, I think about Oliver when I hear the name Cromwell.

@CR-yd4qe 1 year ago

So a Tudor King chopped the head of a Cromwell and a later related Cromwell chopped the head of a Stewart king related to that same Tudor king. 🤔

@annmoore6678 3 years ago

Right now--at least here in the States--I believe Thomas is the more famous because of everyone's fascination with the Tudors, enhanced by many gifted historical novelists and filmmakers. Of course, the great Hillary Mantel and the equally gifted Mark Rylance (brilliantly supported by Damian Lewis and Claire Foy) have made Thomas almost a hero with the three novels and the tv show "Wolf Hall." Such an accomplishment to have transformed this ruthless and crafty man into such a sympathetic figure. I wonder if anyone could ever do the same for his great-great-grandnephew. It doesn't seem possible! My English ancestors all came to the Americas during the 17th century, some came as Puritans and some came later in the century, possibly to get away from them. Thank you once again for an excellent presentation. Instead of TGIF, it's now TGIHC!

@kate_cooper 3 years ago

Considering the circumstances of their executions, I find it interesting that Oliver was descended from Thomas’ sister and Charles I was descended from Henry VIII’s sister.

Personally I’d say Oliver is the more famous as he’s generally covered in school history lessons so most people know roughly who he was even if they’ve never studied history by themselves after leaving school, whilst Thomas isn’t really known to people who aren’t into the Tudors.

@redfive5856 1 year ago

1:50 Wolsey shouting, "NORTON!"

@tracyhodgkins7516 3 years ago

I knew Thomas and Oliver were distantly related through Thomas’s nephew Richard Williams who became Richard Cromwell. As for who is the most famous, I think it depends on which bits of history you’re interested in. I think if you’re interested in the Civil War etc you’d be more aware of Oliver Cromwell, but if you’re like me, interested predominantly in the Tudor period, Thomas Cromwell will be the one you’re more aware of. I think Thomas has enjoyed a bit of a revival over the last few years. I think the late Hilary Mantel’s wonderful Wolf Hall trilogy has made people think about Thomas as a person, as someone who was more than the ‘thug in a doublet’ image he occupied in popular opinion for so long. I think people have realised there was more to him than his part in the judicial murder of Anne Boleyn and the dissolution of the monasteries. I’ve also listened to the audiobook version of Diarmaid McCulloch’s wonderful biography of Thomas Cromwell and learned that the Wolf Hall idea of him wasn’t too far away from the truth, he was popular amongst ladies of a certain age because of his entertaining and he was very close to his family, so much so that the family didn’t enjoy being separated for any length of time. Yes, Thomas Cromwell was involved in some very bad things, but then again so were many others at the court of Henry VIII, they were cruel times. In comparison to the things I’ve learned about Thomas, I know very little about Oliver Cromwell. Perhaps he needs a TV drama to be made about him, just to bring him to people’s attention.

@joanhuffman2166 1 year ago

I heard or read about Oliver long before I heard of Thomas. But as an American British history has all been do-it-yourself. I'm glad there are so many good history programs these days.

@tasogarehime 3 years ago

Before I started following this channel I was most familiar with Oliver Cromwell, and that was only from the Monty Python song about him. I love history, but I was never really curious about the Tudor era until I watched one of your videos, and now working my way through your entire channel. I'm really enjoying it, so thank you for all the hard work you've put into these.

@chrisbanks6659 3 years ago

Oh my. So we get to it at last. Have been waiting for YONKS for something like this. Will comment after I watch it now 😃

@FernandaPissurno 1 year ago

Other interesting people of the period who were related: George Villiers (favourite of James I) and Barbara Villiers (mistress of Charles I). They were great uncle and great niece

@Joanna-il2ur 3 years ago

Yes. Oliver is the great grandson of the sister of Thomas, who changed her married name back to Cromwell when her brother became famous. What I WOULD to know is whether Thomas was related to the Cromwell in Henry IV. Fun fact. I live near Ely. We have the only house Oliver lived in to survive except for Hampton Court. He worked as a tax collector there in the 1530s.

@InexplicablyPurpleRose 3 years ago (edited)

As soon as you said he was not a direct descendant and mentioned the sister, I was like, "Okay, so either he's a third cousin, four times removed or something, or he's a descendant of the sister and changed the last name for nepotism."

I used to confuse them a lot. I thought Oliver was the one murdered by Henry VIII and then I realized that they had the same last name and it was actually Thomas.

@pepollli 3 years ago

Very interesting topic. Well done! Oliver Cromwell did a lot of damage in the term, and is perhaps more famous of the two. But I believe that Thomas changed England in a long run and is therefore more influential, albeit lesser known.
Funny fact. I work near Cromwell road in London. I use to wonder, every time I waited for the pedestrian traffic light to turn green, which one of the two gave name to this massive busy road. To my surprise it turned out that it was named after Richard, Oliver’s son. Having a house in the right place topples a king slayer and religious reformer. Apparently 😅

@AXEL00754 3 years ago

I knew both were somehow related but that Oliver's family had changed their surname. Thank you, in particular, for the family tree diagram which clearly illustrated the familial link. To me both are equally famous....or infamous. I wonder how many Cromwell descendants are living today, perhaps not knowing their links to these historical figures? 🙄

@jimmy2k4o 3 years ago

I think it’s fun to think of petty family revenge being Oliver cromwell’s main motivation.

@leticiagarcia9025 3 years ago (edited)

Thomas Cromwell is the most famous Cromwell. He worked for the infamous Henry 8th. He helped Henry get rid of his second wife. Anne Boleyn was the first queen to be executed. This era has inspired novels, Movies and TV shows. Americans and Mexicans can’t get enough of Tudor history. I’ve watched the Tudors in English and in Spanish. I even have novels in Spanish. I spend time with my cousins and friends discussing Tudor history.

Thank you for this video. Have a lovely weekend. 🌞 😊