Now - was it simply because Henry fell so in love with Anne Boleyn and would do anything to get her that he steered his Kingdom into the blood-washed storms of 'his great matter?' It is possible. However, I feel certain if only one of Catherine's sons had lived the King would have not threatened the status quo and kept Catherine for his Queen and Mary's position would have been safe. History tells us that- before embarking in his unrelenting course to marry Anne Boleyn- Henry VIII clearly thought hard on the possibility of Mary being one day Queen Regnant. Why else would he send his young daughter to Ludlow, where she learnt to govern over a court of her own? Interestingly though- speaking loudly his doubt to us down the long centuries - he didn't rise her to the rank of 'Princess of Wales' before doing so.
Perhaps now- with his passion burning bright for a woman who refused to be his mistress- he pondered hard upon other ways of achieving his desires. My reading of the King's character is that he was a man who wanted sons. Not just because the lack of sons made his kingdom insecure but because the lack of sons hurt him where it hurt him most- his ego. My reading of Anne Boleyn's character is that she was a woman who would have promised them to him. And with Anne Boleyn waving that red rag before the eyes of the Tudor bull, nothing would prevent him from doing all he could to sire this elusive prince, not even Mary, the daughter who so adored him.
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