The Tudor period in English history was marked by significant change for England and Europe as a whole. Yet, there was one moment that defined the dynasty. For centuries, the Great Matter has been viewed as Henry VIII’s desire to divorce his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, to marry Anne Boleyn. Of course, to get what he wanted, Henry had to fight against the Pope and change England’s religious landscape to do it. But if he just wanted a divorce, why go through so much trouble? The answer has to do with his desire for a son. What if the Great Matter lasted much longer than what is normally told? Helene Harrison explores this topic in great depth in her latest book, “Henry VIII’s Quest for an Heir: The King’s Great Matter.”

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books for sending me a copy of this book. I have enjoyed Helene Harrison’s previous books, so when I heard she was writing about Henry VIII’s quest for an heir, I wanted to see what new information she would bring to this topic.

When we think of the Great Matter, the period we tend to think about is when Henry VIII asks for a divorce from Katherine of Aragon in 1526, until he finally marries Anne Boleyn in 1533. However, Harrison argues that the Great Matter lasted much longer. She believes that the Great Matter extended from the birth of Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, Henry FitzRoy, in 1519, to the birth of his legitimate son Edward VI in 1536. In other words, the Great Matter was the quest for a legitimate male heir for King Henry VIII to continue the Tudor dynasty.

So, where does that leave the men and, more importantly, the women who had their lives upended by Henry’s quest for an heir? While the Great Matter was detrimental for men like Thomas Wolsey, it helped elevate men like Thomas Cromwell. Then there are the women who were caught in the middle: Katherine of Aragon, Princess Mary, Anne Boleyn, Princess Elizabeth, and Jane Seymour. The psychological toll that this must have taken on these women was immense, especially when you consider that Henry did not count either marriage to Katherine of Aragon or Anne Boleyn as legitimate. Which in turn, meant that Mary and Elizabeth were declared illegitimate. It’s not how things normally work, but Henry was on a mission, and he didn’t care who got hurt. 

This was another brilliant book by Helene Harrison. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the women who were caught in the middle of Henry’s hunt for an heir. I have always thought that the Great Matter ended after Henry married Anne, but the matter was much deeper than that. If you want a book that explores the Great Matter, I highly recommend you read “Henry VIII’s Quest for an Heir: The King’s Great Matter” by Helene Harrison.