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Henry VIII's Quest for an Heir: The King's Great Matter
If there was a single event that shaped the Tudor century, it would have to be Henry VIII’s ‘Great Matter’. This is more commonly known as his divorce from Katherine of Aragon, but it was actually an annulment – the ending of a marriage as if it had never been.
Henry VIII, probably the most famous Tudor monarch, is remembered for his six marriages. His pursuit of multiple wives stemmed from the belief that his first marriage to Katherine of Aragon had failed. When he became infatuated with the younger Anne Boleyn, this catalyst set the stage for a clash between crown and church.
His decision to break from the Pope, spurred by political manoeuvring, personal desires, and the lack of a male heir, plunged England into religious and political upheaval. The creation of the Church of England marked the start of a profound transformation – one that would change the course of history.
As love, power, and ambition collided, Henry VIII’s actions would reverberate far beyond his own reign, leaving a legacy that reshaped the lives of his wives, his children, and the future of England.
Henry VIII, probably the most famous Tudor monarch, is remembered for his six marriages. His pursuit of multiple wives stemmed from the belief that his first marriage to Katherine of Aragon had failed. When he became infatuated with the younger Anne Boleyn, this catalyst set the stage for a clash between crown and church.
His decision to break from the Pope, spurred by political manoeuvring, personal desires, and the lack of a male heir, plunged England into religious and political upheaval. The creation of the Church of England marked the start of a profound transformation – one that would change the course of history.
As love, power, and ambition collided, Henry VIII’s actions would reverberate far beyond his own reign, leaving a legacy that reshaped the lives of his wives, his children, and the future of England.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
264 pages, Hardcover
First published September 4, 2026
About the author
Helene Harrison
4 books88 followersHelene Harrison studied at the University of Northumbria in Newcastle, achieving both a BA and MA in History before going on to complete an MSc in Library Management. Her passion for Tudor history started when studying for A Levels and completing a module on Tudor rebellions. Her master’s dissertation focused on portrayals of Anne Boleyn through the centuries, from contemporary letters to modern TV and film adaptations. Now she writes two blogs, one Tudor history and one book-related, and works in the university library of her alma mater. In her spare time, she loves visiting royal palaces and snuggling up with a book or embroidery project. Her books are ‘Elizabethan Rebellions: Conspiracy, Intrigue and Treason’ [2023] ‘Tudor Executions: From Nobility to the Block’ [2024], 'The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn: Interpreting Image and Perception' [2025], and 'Henry VIII's Quest for an Heir: The King's Great Matter' [2026].
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 2, 2026
‘It is the Great Matter that helps to shape energy, and it is fascinating to study and try and understand how it came to be….’
That is exactly what this book successfully does. This is not just a book which looks at the whole legal and religious aspect of the Kings great matter – Henrys annulment from Katherine of Aragon and the break with the Church of Rome but Helene looks at the more human part of the story, the people involved, their impact and how it shaped this complex chain of events which led to such a huge change in England.
Helene looks not only at Henry but at his marriage to Katherine of Aragon and his desperation for an heir, at Bessie Blount, the mistress of Henry and their son, Henry FitzRoy, the King’s only acknowledged bastard child, and the implications that had. Of course, there is Anne Boleyn’s part in the great matter, which no historian, whatever their views, can ignore, and Princess Mary and the impact it had on her. All these figures are certainly familiar to anyone interested in the Tudor era, and will be familiar to many, but in the context of her book, they are not looked at as the movers and shapers but more in how their story had an impact on something which was probably never intended to grow as big as it did.
It is an easy narrative to follow, without jumping back and forth, which some books can sometimes do, and given the topic of the book, it could very well had easily been done. Helene does not push a viewpoint or agenda in her writing either, which I, as a reader, really enjoy; she puts the facts to us, and when something is not certain, she states so rather than trying to fill in the gaps. She is also very sympathetic to both Katherine of Aragon and Anne, not falling into either camp, which, once again, can easily be done (although why it has to be one or the other baffles me sometimes).
The book is well researched with a great balance of sources, both primary and secondary. Helene even includes other historians’ viewpoints and theories on the matter in her writings to build a broader view on what could be going on. Helene presents the King’s Great Matter with the events which led to his marriage to Katherine, the tragic deaths/miscarriages which led to the concern for a lack of an heir, the matter itself and the aftermath; she does not simply stop as one would expect at the marriage of Henry to Anne but she includes the fate of both of Henry’s wives and even of his marriage to Jane Seymour. The journey is thoroughly examined and unbiased.
This is the first book of Helene’s I have read (and was kindly gifted to read by the author), and I highly recommend it.
That is exactly what this book successfully does. This is not just a book which looks at the whole legal and religious aspect of the Kings great matter – Henrys annulment from Katherine of Aragon and the break with the Church of Rome but Helene looks at the more human part of the story, the people involved, their impact and how it shaped this complex chain of events which led to such a huge change in England.
Helene looks not only at Henry but at his marriage to Katherine of Aragon and his desperation for an heir, at Bessie Blount, the mistress of Henry and their son, Henry FitzRoy, the King’s only acknowledged bastard child, and the implications that had. Of course, there is Anne Boleyn’s part in the great matter, which no historian, whatever their views, can ignore, and Princess Mary and the impact it had on her. All these figures are certainly familiar to anyone interested in the Tudor era, and will be familiar to many, but in the context of her book, they are not looked at as the movers and shapers but more in how their story had an impact on something which was probably never intended to grow as big as it did.
It is an easy narrative to follow, without jumping back and forth, which some books can sometimes do, and given the topic of the book, it could very well had easily been done. Helene does not push a viewpoint or agenda in her writing either, which I, as a reader, really enjoy; she puts the facts to us, and when something is not certain, she states so rather than trying to fill in the gaps. She is also very sympathetic to both Katherine of Aragon and Anne, not falling into either camp, which, once again, can easily be done (although why it has to be one or the other baffles me sometimes).
The book is well researched with a great balance of sources, both primary and secondary. Helene even includes other historians’ viewpoints and theories on the matter in her writings to build a broader view on what could be going on. Helene presents the King’s Great Matter with the events which led to his marriage to Katherine, the tragic deaths/miscarriages which led to the concern for a lack of an heir, the matter itself and the aftermath; she does not simply stop as one would expect at the marriage of Henry to Anne but she includes the fate of both of Henry’s wives and even of his marriage to Jane Seymour. The journey is thoroughly examined and unbiased.
This is the first book of Helene’s I have read (and was kindly gifted to read by the author), and I highly recommend it.
June 30, 2026
‘Henry turned the lives of these women upside down, all in his quest to beget a male heir which he believed England needed to be Secure.’
I love Helene’s work and I was grateful I got to receive an arc for her next book. She goes above and beyond with her research and always provides an interesting read on history.
It was fascinating to read about the lengths Henry VIII went to, to have his prized possession…. A son.
Oh if he could have seen that it was many females who ruled after his death 😂 😂
A must read for History and Tudor readers.
I love Helene’s work and I was grateful I got to receive an arc for her next book. She goes above and beyond with her research and always provides an interesting read on history.
It was fascinating to read about the lengths Henry VIII went to, to have his prized possession…. A son.
Oh if he could have seen that it was many females who ruled after his death 😂 😂
A must read for History and Tudor readers.
August 31, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Firstly I'd like to say how grateful I was to be given an opportunity by the author to preview this work. This is the 2nd book of Helene's that I've read, the first being The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn: Interpreting Image and Perception and I intend to read her other works with are part of an ever growing list :) .
This book gives the reader a thorough look at the Kings Great Matter from the perspectives of the main players involved but also ones we may not consider to have been as involved as first thought. Each chapter can stand alone but is at the same time connected easily to its predecessors with a slight reminder of what came before and how it is connected.
Helene's work is always thoroughly researched and she transfers this into her books making them detailed but not heavy and her writing flows beautifully making it hard to put her books down. Interestingly for a subject that has been discussed and dissected so often there were one or two new theories that I had not heard of before but I wont spoil them here.
This book is a must have for anyone with a love of Tudor History and I can't wait to see what subject she turns her attention too in the future.
This book gives the reader a thorough look at the Kings Great Matter from the perspectives of the main players involved but also ones we may not consider to have been as involved as first thought. Each chapter can stand alone but is at the same time connected easily to its predecessors with a slight reminder of what came before and how it is connected.
Helene's work is always thoroughly researched and she transfers this into her books making them detailed but not heavy and her writing flows beautifully making it hard to put her books down. Interestingly for a subject that has been discussed and dissected so often there were one or two new theories that I had not heard of before but I wont spoil them here.
This book is a must have for anyone with a love of Tudor History and I can't wait to see what subject she turns her attention too in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Firstly, a huge thank you to Helene for giving me an ARC copy of this book, I'm so grateful to have received one!
I started this book yesterday and haven't been able to put it down. It provides so much detail into the King's Great Matter and Henry VIII's desperation to have a son, and the lengths he would go to in order to make sure that happens. There was so much in this book that I had no idea about, and each chapter was full of amazing context and information about the start of Henry VIII's reign to the end of it.
This is a perfect book for Tudor enthusiasts or those just wanting to know a little bit more about Henry VIII and his determination for a son.
I started this book yesterday and haven't been able to put it down. It provides so much detail into the King's Great Matter and Henry VIII's desperation to have a son, and the lengths he would go to in order to make sure that happens. There was so much in this book that I had no idea about, and each chapter was full of amazing context and information about the start of Henry VIII's reign to the end of it.
This is a perfect book for Tudor enthusiasts or those just wanting to know a little bit more about Henry VIII and his determination for a son.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews