Sir Diarmaid MacCulloch | Cambridge Union

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Professor Sir Diarmaid MacCulloch discusses his landmark biography of Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s chief minister and enforcer. Professor MacCulloch, a Wolfson Prize-winning historian, guides the audience through his new archival discoveries, and reveal an image of Cromwell which has never been seen before.
Rising from obscurity under Cardinal Wolsey, Cromwell oversaw the break with Rome, the fall of Anne Boleyn, and the Dissolution of the Monasteries. At the height of his power, he was Henry's Chancellor and Vicegerent in Spirituals - a layman in charge of the Henrician church. Cromwell's fall was as swift as his rise - attacked by his enemies and executed in 1540. Despite his notoriety, the subject of Mantel's "Wolf Hall" trilogy, recently played by Mark Rylance in a critically acclaimed TV adaptation, remains an elusive historical figure.
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[@SuperDolly64]

This is what I want to see/hear on youtube-more please!!

[@Kaytecando]

hear, hear! Great lecture! Thank you for the upload!

[@dshepherd107]

Ty for uploading. Fascinating details about Cromwell. Brilliant lecture. Am dying to read MacCulloch’s book! Hillary Mantel’s books on Cromwell were phenomenal.

[@samsue2924]

Yes they were! Just finished The Mirror and the Light - just brilliant.

[@alancumming6407]

Tremendously interesting and informative. Looking forward to reading the book.

[@slightlygrumpy]

Interesting details, thank you very much.

[@samsue2924]

Can you please put the links to the other of MacCulloch's Cromwell lectures in the blurb? Thanks

[@teresavcarabini3799]

Excellent.

[@ElizabethF2222]

Surprised to learn Anne Boleyn and Cromwell were enemies and Cromwell and Lady Mary were allies. Makes sense, though, since Anne was almost entirely responsible for Wolsey's fall. I can see where Cromwell would have detested her.

[@Mingtree10]

Excellent!

[@chronicstitcher7933]

Excellent lecture, thank you

[@cambridgeunionsoc1815]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@amandaeliasch]

Brilliant

[@cinemaocd1752]

I know MacCulloch says that there have been no new letters since the last volume was published but I hate the author/translator of the letters, Roger Merriman, so much. He is clearly very biased against Cromwell and makes it clear on almost every page of the accompanying biography. I don't trust his read on the letters and I'd love to see someone at least a bit more neutral interpreting the letters.

[@silentday4503]

Who painted this portrait of Elizabeth Seymour? It doesn’t look like Holbein (noted) but I didn’t catch the painter?

[@nadyagazda885]

He says it is a Holbein. Now in Spain ..in Toledo

[@ralphl7643]

He only said it's NOT a Holbein. He didn't point out that Gregory would be the NEXT king's uncle after Henry's death. Young Gregory would be too young to have influence in Henry's court.

[@fanniterrette]

"The competition in tombness at the time" :-)

[@ElizabethF2222]

That was funny to me too. LOL

[@kathrynthompson9187]

Interesting still in 2022. DNA evidence bears out that Walter Cromwell, Thomas' father/Oliver Cromwell came from Ireland, but did not start there. They are English. There is however an Italian connection.

[@DonalLeader]

Just a side note on pronunciation. In the Irish language the pronunciation of Cromwell’s name is identical to that of McCulloch. Strengthens the Irish connection.

[@jennyaskswhy]

"Cromwell's family was of Irish decent, now that would be an interesting project!" Darn right it would. Almost makes me want to become a historian. Pity I haven't the slightest chance of becoming university educated.

[@camt9967]

Don't need a University education, Jenny. Just passion....like Cromwell? Go for it. I'll be waiting to read your book :)

[@saoirsehaslonglegs2313]

@@camt9967 me too

[@saraharold3670]

Never too late

[@jaxzyz1565]

Huh

[@bebebj137]

Just another heretical version by a modernist. I’ve learned a lot from people like him. I learned it is all about feeling”s and not truth

[@camt9967]

No, you've learned about your own bias.

[@bebebj137]

@@camt9967 Haven't we all?

[@jaxzyz1565]

Huh

[@jaxzyz1565]

Huh

[@jaxzyz1565]

Huh

[@jaxzyz1565]

Huh