Bring Up the Bodies Character Analysis

Thomas Cromwell

Thomas Cromwell is King Henry VIII’s Master Secretary and Gregory Cromwell’s father; he was also Elizabeth Cromwell’s husband and father to Grace and Anne Cromwell, before all three women died of… read analysis of Thomas Cromwell

King Henry VIII

King Henry VIII of England is Thomas Cromwell’s boss and husband first to Katherine of Aragon, then to Anne Boleyn, and then to Jane Seymour. Though Henry is known throughout Europe… read analysis of King Henry VIII

Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn is Thomas Wiltshire’s daughter, George Boleyn’s sister, Henry VIII’s second wife, and Thomas Cromwell’s primary antagonist in Bring Up the Bodies. After early dalliances with Harry Percy and… read analysis of Anne Boleyn

Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour is the daughter of John Seymour, the sister of Edward, Thomas, and Bess Seymour, and the love interest of King Henry VIII. As a member of one of… read analysis of Jane Seymour

Katherine of Aragon

Katherine of Aragon is Henry VIII’s first wife and Mary’s mother. Because Katherine is a Spanish princess, her marriage to Henry initially helped to strengthen ties between England and the Hapsburg territories (governed… read analysis of Katherine of Aragon

George Boleyn, Lord Rochford

George Boleyn’s is Anne Boleyn’s brother, Thomas Wiltshire’s son, and Lady Rochford’s husband. Flush with the new power and luxury afforded to him as King Henry’s brother-in-law, George is arrogant and… read analysis of George Boleyn, Lord Rochford

Harry Norris

Harry Norris, is the chief of King Henry’s privy chamber—until he is accused of having an affair with Anne Boleyn and executed for this alleged crime. Norris first comes under suspicion because Mary Shelton… read analysis of Harry Norris

Francis Weston

Francis Weston is a wealthy courtier and one of the five men executed for their suspected affairs with Anne Boleyn. Years ago, Weston took part in the play that mocked Cardinal Wolsey, acting… read analysis of Francis Weston

William Brereton

William Brereton is a nobleman at King Henry’s court who is tried and executed for his alleged affair with Anne Boleyn. Brereton is the oldest and most openly “quarrelsome” of the men Cromwell… read analysis of William Brereton

Mark Smeaton

Mark Smeaton is the young man who works as King Henry’s court musician. He is also the only one of Anne Boleyn’s alleged lovers to openly confess to having had sex with the… read analysis of Mark Smeaton

Thomas Wyatt

Thomas Wyatt is a poet, a politician, and Thomas Cromwell’s principal mentee. Cromwell is loyal to Wyatt in part because he promised Wyatt’s father he would look after him, and in part because he… read analysis of Thomas Wyatt

Lady Jane Rochford

Lady Jane Rochford is George Boleyn’s wife and one of Anne Boleyn’s ladies-in-waiting. Lady Rochford’s marriage is deeply unhappy, and George is often cruel to her, especially once he discovers that she is… read analysis of Lady Jane Rochford

Harry Percy

Harry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, is a nobleman who was once betrothed to Anne Boleyn. When King Henry initially showed interest in Anne, Cromwell forced Percy to swear on a bible that he and… read analysis of Harry Percy

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor and Cromwell’s most important mentor. By the time Bring Up the Bodies begins, Wolsey has died, having previously been disgraced for his failure to negotiate… read analysis of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey

Thomas More

Thomas More, the Lord Chancellor after Wolsey, was a friend and mentor to Thomas Cromwell. A devout Catholic, More opposed Henry’s split from Katherine of Aragon, and his refusal to swear… read analysis of Thomas More

Bishop Stephen Gardiner

Stephen Gardiner, a high-ranking Bishop in the Church of England, was Henry’s Master Secretary—until Henry replaced him with Thomas Cromwell. Now, hoping to regain Henry’s favor, Gardiner has authored a pro-Henry pamphlet entitled… read analysis of Bishop Stephen Gardiner

Archbishop Thomas Cranmer

Thomas Cranmer is the Archbishop of Canterbury and one of Cromwell’s good friends. As one of the theological leaders of the English Reformation, Cranmer helped Henry find grounding in canon law for his annulment… read analysis of Archbishop Thomas Cranmer

Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk

Thomas Howard (usually referred to as “Norfolk”) is Anne Boleyn’s uncle and a powerful courtier during the reign of King Henry VIII. Despite his familial relation to the queen, Norfolk is one of… read analysis of Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk

Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk

Charles Brandon, himself the descendant of a long line of noblemen, is one of the most prominent figures in Henry VIII’s court. As Henry’s brother-in-law and dear friend, Brandon is tremendously influential on foreign… read analysis of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk

Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire

Thomas Boleyn (usually referred to as “Wiltshire”) is the father of Anne and George Boleyn. Having spent much of his life at the French court, Wiltshire asks his colleagues to refer to him as… read analysis of Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire

Gregory Cromwell

Gregory Cromwell is the oldest child of Thomas and Elizabeth Cromwell; he was also the older brother to Grace and Anne Cromwell before they passed away. In the novel, Gregory is depicted as kind-hearted… read analysis of Gregory Cromwell

Thomas Wriothesley

Thomas Wriothesley (often referred to as “Call-Me-Risley” because of his family’s tendency to put on airs) is Clerk of the Signet and an advisor to Thomas Cromwell. Alongside Richard Riche and Richard Cromwell… read analysis of Thomas Wriothesley

Richard Riche

Richard Riche is Solicitor General and an advisor to Thomas Cromwell. Though Riche was known to be irresponsible in his youth, by the time the novel begins, he has mellowed out, becoming an essential… read analysis of Richard Riche

Eustache Chapuys

Eustache Chapuys is Charles V’s ambassador to England and Thomas Cromwell’s next-door neighbor. Chapuys and Cromwell bond over their close physical proximity and their shared distaste for Anne Boleyn, though Chapuys is… read analysis of Eustache Chapuys

Emperor Charles V

Emperor Charles V was the descendant of Spanish rulers (on his mother’s side) and the Hapsburg family (on his father’s), meaning that during his reign, Charles governed both Spain and the Holy Roman Empire—including Germany… read analysis of Emperor Charles V

King Francis of France

King Francis I was the ruler of France from 1515 – 1547. He is never physically present in the novel but instead communicates with Henry’s court through various ambassadors. When the Boleyn sisters still lived… read analysis of King Francis of France

Mary

Mary (sometimes referred to as Princess Mary) is the daughter of King Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. When Henry annuls his marriage to Katherine, Mary is placed on house arrest, isolated from her… read analysis of Mary

Baby Elizabeth

Baby Elizabeth is the infant daughter of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII (though there is some speculation among the courtiers that Elizabeth is the result of adultery, and that Henry is not her real… read analysis of Baby Elizabeth

Harry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond

Harry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond is King Henry’s son with his mistress Elizabeth Blount, the only child Henry had outside of marriage whom he openly acknowledged. Through his father, Richmond is a younger half-sibling… read analysis of Harry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond

Walter Cromwell

Walter Cromwell is Thomas Cromwell’s father. A working-class blacksmith from Putney, Walter’s patience as an ironworker is matched only by his brutality toward his children. Indeed, Cromwell spends much of his adult life trying… read analysis of Walter Cromwell

Grace and Anne Cromwell

Grace and Anne Cromwell were the daughters of Thomas and Elizabeth Cromwell, and the younger sisters of Gregory Cromwell. Like their mother, both Grace and Anne died of the mysterious ‘sweating sickness,’ a… read analysis of Grace and Anne Cromwell

Elizabeth Cromwell

Elizabeth Cromwell was Thomas Cromwell’s wife and the mother of his three children, Gregory and Grace and Anne. Though Elizabeth was “plain,” Cromwell loved her deeply, and he often finds himself longing for… read analysis of Elizabeth Cromwell

Rafe Sadler

Rafe Sadler is Thomas Cromwell’s servant and Helen Sadler’s husband. Midway through Bring Up the Bodies, Henry—impressed by Rafe’s service to Cromwell—also hires the young men as one his royal grooms… read analysis of Rafe Sadler

Helen Sadler

Helen Sadler is Rafe Sadler’s beautiful wife. A year before the novel begins, Helen experienced a devastating stillbirth. But now, Helen has recently given birth to another child, and she and Rafe share a… read analysis of Helen Sadler

John Seymour

John Seymour (also known as “Old Sir John”) is the lord of Wolf Hall and the father of Edward, Thomas, Bess and Jane Seymour. John is known for sleeping with his son… read analysis of John Seymour

Edward Seymour

Edward Seymour is John Seymour’s heir and the older brother of Thomas, Bess, and Jane Seymour. Edward is serious, brave and loyal to King Henry VIII, so Cromwell thinks that… read analysis of Edward Seymour

Thomas Seymour

Thomas Seymour is John Seymour’s son and a brother to Edward, Bess, and Jane Seymour. Tom is charismatic and crafty, popular with women and always scheming to get ahead. But though… read analysis of Thomas Seymour

Bess Seymour

Bess Seymour is John Seymour’s daughter and Jane Seymour’s older sister; she has recently been widowed after her husband, the Governor of Jersey, passed away. Bess is savvy and calm, providing crucial guidance… read analysis of Bess Seymour

Nicholas Carew

Nicholas Carew is King Henry’s Master of the Horse, one of the most prominent positions in the court. Alongside his good friend William Fitzwilliam, Carew represents the “old families” of England, meaning he… read analysis of Nicholas Carew

William Fitzwilliam

William Fitzwilliam is King Henry’s Master Treasurer, and a member of the “ancient nobility” of England. Like Nicholas Carew, Fitzwilliam was initially hostile to Cromwell, blaming him for Anne Boleyn’s ascension… read analysis of William Fitzwilliam

Lady Mary Shelton

Lady Shelton is Anne Boleyn’s cousin and one of her ladies-in-waiting. When Cromwell interviews her, Mary Shelton confesses that she herself has been having sex with Harry Norris, but that Norris refuses to… read analysis of Lady Mary Shelton

Lady Elizabeth Worcester

Lady Worcester is one of Anne Boleyn’s ladies-in-waiting. When Cromwell begins gathering evidence of Anne’s alleged infidelities, he turns to Lady Worcester as one of his first sources—in part because Lady Worcester herself is… read analysis of Lady Elizabeth Worcester

Anthony

Anthony is Cromwell’s personal jester. Cromwell first meets Anthony when Anthony pretends to be a beggar, before Anthony reveals himself as a professional performer. Anthony has several missing teeth, but he tells everyone a… read analysis of Anthony

Thurston

Thurston is Cromwell’s trusted cook. In addition to whipping up delicious meals—complete with elaborate gelatin desserts—Thurston, a born-and-raised Londoner, often fills his boss in on the city gossip. Thurston is particularly attuned to the… read analysis of Thurston

Christophe

Christophe is Cromwell’s French servant. Because Christophe has an imposing physique, Cromwell often uses him to intimidate enemies (as when Christophe threatens to torture Mark Smeaton). Throughout the story, Christophe is humorously blunt… read analysis of Christophe

William Kingston

William Kingston is the constable at the Tower of London, meaning he is the person responsible for jailing Anne Boleyn and the various men accused of being her lovers. Though Kingston is loyal to… read analysis of William Kingston

“The Dwarf Woman”

“The dwarf woman” is Anne’s servant and personal jester. Privately, Anne nicknames the dwarf woman “Mary,” a jab at Mary, Henry’s daughter with Katherine. The dwarf woman is often depicted as… read analysis of “The Dwarf Woman”

Maria de Salinas

Maria de Salinas was a Spanish courtier who moved to England during Katherine of Aragon’s reign as queen, acting as her lady-in-waiting and most trusted confidante. Toward the end of Katherine’s life, Maria begs… read analysis of Maria de Salinas

Minor Characters

Richard Cromwell

Richard Cromwell is Thomas Cromwell’s nephew. Unlike his cousin Gregory, Richard is a savvy politician, helping Cromwell navigate the twisting alliances of Henry’s court. Indeed, alongside Thomas Wriothesley and Richard Riche, Richard Cromwell becomes one of his uncle’s most trusted advisors.

Robert Packington

Robert Packington is a prominent merchant and an ally of Cromwell’s. Historically, Packington was known for his close friendship with William Tyndale, one of the leading voices in the Protestant Reformation.

Stephen Vaughan

Stephen Vaughan, an ally of Cromwell’s, is a merchant who often trades in the Hapsburg territories. When Chapuys goes “up-country” to visit Katherine, Cromwell asks Vaughan to accompany the travelers and act as his spy.

Bring Up the Bodies Characters