Gay kings of history
He explained: "History records that he never married, which is rare in a king because of the desire to leave an heir, and also that he liked to decorate his hair with golden ringlets, and on that small evidence I decided he might have been gay.
"[It's] a choice that hasn’t pleased all my readers, but I was happy with it."
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5 gay British Kings and Queens from history
Centuries before homosexuality was made legal between consenting adults in 1967, the ‘love that dare not speak its name’ was viewed as a sin in England, particularly by the church, and technically punishable by death.
It is not surprising that many gay and pansexual monarchs kept their affectionate lives with members of the same sex a closely guarded secret.
1. William II of England: Reign 1087 – 1100
Known as ‘Rufus’ due to his ruddy complexion and red hair, the third son of William the Conqueror became King of England in 1087 and is assumed to hold been gay or pansexual. Described by historians as both ‘effeminate’ and ‘boorish’, as well as existence a devil-may-care soldier, his temperament swung between extremes of calmness and belligerence.
The Anglo-Norman king, who never married or sired children, was capable of both wise governing and acting with contentiousness. Unlike other monarchs of the period, William lacked religious piety and is said to have indulged in sexual vices that shocked his council.
His death while hunting in the New Forest when he was shot by an arrow, has led to the suggestion he
Queer Kings & Queens: Was James I & VI gay?
The sexuality of King James VI of Scotland & I of England has been long debated by historians. He is long held as an example of an openly gay king parading his lovers for all the court to see. Meanwhile, his passionate love letters to his ‘male favourites’ are held up by those who disagree as an example of how language between men was more affectionate than we are used to in the modern day. Accepting that he was same-sex attracted, however, contributes to the trend of erasing pansexual people in history. James may have had relationships with men but we would be remiss to overlook the fact that his wife had nine pregnancies by him.
Did he have relationships with men though, or was James just particularly affectionate with his favourites? After all, most kings in history have favourites that they elevated without having their relationship or sexuality questioned. So what is it about James that raises these questions?
James had an unusual upbringing and an even more uncommon early reign. He was born to Mary, Queen of Scots and her second husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. Before James was a year mature, his father had been murdered, possibl
7 British Monarchs Who May Have Been Gay
For centuries men lived in one sphere and women in another and they would come together for marriage and having children. It seemed that the sexes co-existed mainly to endure the human race. Devote and sex can be very different factors but, when put together, they can produce the most electric sensation. This was no different for kings and queens who were close to their favourites. There are several British monarchs who may own been gay. In truth, six kings – and one queen are reflection to have been homosexual, members of what we now call the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi- and transexual) community. They include:
William II of England
The son of William the Conqueror, who took the throne of England in 1066, was known as William Rufus because of his red hair (‘rufus’ interpretation red). William II became King of England in 1087 and was often described as ‘effeminate’ and with a keen interest in fashionable young men.
William II of England drawn by Matthew Paris. Photo Credit: © Widespread Domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Edward II of England
Perhaps the most well-known of the homosexual kings, Edward II became King of England in 1307. He spent much o
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