How did Thomas Cromwell die – and will we see it in Wolf Hall?

However, in recent episodes, Cromwell's enemies have been gathering momentum in their bid to discredit him and gain favour with the king, with one of the rumours floating around being that he's in love with the young Mary Tudor.

Speaking ahead of the premiere about if Cromwell sees his downfall coming, Mark Rylance said: "I think that's a good question for the audience to consider, it's one of the delights you’ll have watching the programme.

"I think he gets tired and there are times when he fantasises for a different life. He’s always aware that something bad could happen.

"You are reaping great benefits, great wealth, but you are dealing with people who are trying to put a knife in your back. You’re dealing with a very violent regime that is sustained by violence. And you are an agent of that regime."

Damian Lewis, who plays Henry VIII, went on to discuss the king's "paranoia", which was a key factor in Cromwell's demise.

"I think what is probably true of Henry is that there was a deep insecurity in him underneath the magnificence," said the actor. "He believed he possessed this magnificence. He believed he was next to God on Earth. But I think deep down there was an insecurity about him not being able to provide male heirs and his children not surviving. In Tudor times, they believed very strongly that if you had many extra marital affairs, you were less likely to have healthy children within marriage.

"It was a new dynasty. The Tudors, Henry VIII, had a thin claim to the throne. There were great families around – the Poles, the Courtenays – and they stoke Henry’s paranoia all through his reign. In fact, it’s one of the central reasons that Thomas Cromwell."

The Wolf Hall books by Hilary Mantel helped to transform Thomas Cromwell into a more complex and compelling figure than he had previously been regarded, so fans are expecting The Mirror and The Light finale to be a tough watch.

After all, this series has largely stayed true to the source material, which itself largely followed the real history of England – and that means there's only one way this is going to end for Cromwell.

Read on for more on how Thomas Cromwell died, ahead of The Mirror and The Light's series finale this weekend.

How did Thomas Cromwell die?

Thomas Cromwell was beheaded in July 1540 at the age of either 54 or 55.

This unpleasant end resulted from a series of miscalculations on his part and the devious machinations of his power-hungry political opponents.

One of the most influential factors was Cromwell's prominent role in arranging King Henry VIII's marriage to Anne of Cleves, whom the ruler would ultimately deem physically unattractive upon her arrival to England.

Unlike earlier marriages to Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, the marriage to Anne of Cleves could be easily annulled as the king confided in Cromwell that he had failed to consummate it.

His aide made the unwise decision to share this information with associates William FitzWilliam and Thomas Wriothesley, and it wasn't long before it spread, embarrassing the insecure king.

The nuptials with Anne caused further headaches as it posed a risk that England would have to declare war on France, which was in the middle of a feud with the leader of her homeland, Cleves.

Ultimately, these successive blunders created an environment in which more outlandish accusations could be drawn up against Cromwell by his enemies, many of which may well have been fabricated.

Among the charges he faced was a claim that he was plotting to marry the king's young daughter, Princess Mary Tudor, which most historians believe was likely untrue – although the pair did have a friendship of sorts, as depicted in Wolf Hall.

Cromwell was sentenced to execution by beheading with no trial, and his pleas to the king for mercy were ignored, although some historical sources suggest that Henry went on to regret killing the man who was quite possibly the most loyal servant he ever had.

Will Thomas Cromwell's death be depicted in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light?

We can expect Thomas Cromwell's death to be depicted in the finale of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light.

The description for episode 6, titled Light, reads: "June 1540. Thomas Cromwell, lately Earl of Essex and lord great chamberlain of England, is arrested, stripped of his titles and imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he awaits trial. His fall has been dizzying.

As Cromwell struggles to make sense of it, he is visited by his friend and former ward, Rafe Sadler, now one of the king’s gentlemen. Rafe is the only person brave enough, and loyal enough, to bring the so-called traitor news from court."

If Wolf Hall director Peter Kosminsky and screenwriter Peter Straughan intend for their television version to be a complete adaptation, it stands to reason that they would end their story at the same place that Mantel concluded hers - which was with Cromwell's bloody death.

We'll find out what the show decides to depict when Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light episode 6 – the series finale – premieres on BBC One and iPlayer on Sunday 15th December 2024.

At least Cromwell will have the support of good old Rafe in his final days!

Read More:

• Wolf Hall restores dignity to Anne of Cleves by flipping the script on Henry VIII in vital way
• Who plays Catherine Howard in Wolf Hall – and how old was she in real life?
• Why was the Duke of Norfolk recast in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light?

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light airs Sundays on BBC One and iPlayer.

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