Gay monarchs in history
13 LGBTQ royals you didn’t learn about in history class
The Dutch monarchy made international news last week after announcing that royals can marry a homosexual partner without giving up their right to the throne. But while the Netherlands, which in 2001 became the first country to legalize gay marriage, has paved the wave for a queer royal to officially wear the crown, LGBTQ people have long been doing so unofficially.
While it’s difficult to assign latest labels to figures from the past, there were notable leaders from centuries — even millennia — ago, who crossed sexual and gender boundaries. Some were celebrated by their subjects, others vilified.
In light of the Dutch monarchy’s recent announcement and in honor of LGBTQ History Month, which is celebrated in October, here are 13 queer royals you didn’t learn about in school.
Emperor Ai of Han (27 - 1 B.C.)
Made emperor of the Han Dynasty at age 20, Ai was initially well received by his subjects but eventually became associated with corruption and incompetence. He was also widely known to have been romantically emotionally attached with one of his ministers, Dong Xian, though both men were married to women.
In the “Hanshu,” or
GAY MONARCHS of the UNITED KINGDOM
So over here in the UK, everybody has gone bat-shit crazy over William and Kate Middleton getting married. I kind of missed the Royal wedding myself I’m actually quite ashamed to admit, I was in bed until 4pm with a stinking hangover (kind of regret that now)
Anyway this is just a tenuous link to what I actually am going to blather about in this post – the side of the British Royals that isn’t often talked about, the Kings and Queens that were (alleged to be) homosexual.
There are generally seven British monarchs that are believed by (at least some) credible historians to be male lover (one of which is definite), but which is your favourite, all are interesting in their own way (except perhaps death-by-gout-such-an-unglamourous-way-to-die Queen Anne) :
King William Rufus (1087 – 1110)
Son of William the Conqueror, and openly gay. William Rufus was not a popular king. He is described as red-haired, arrogant, intemperate and coarse. Openly gay and always in demand of money, he quarrelled with the church about ground, taxes and his dissolute lifestyle.
He was, however, an marvelous soldier and very successfully consolid
7 British Monarchs Who May Have Been Gay
For centuries men lived in one sphere and women in another and they would reach together for marriage and having children. It seemed that the sexes co-existed mainly to proceed the human race. Love and sex can be very different factors but, when put together, they can manufacture the most electric sensation. This was no different for kings and queens who were end to their favourites. There are several British monarchs who may have been gay. In evidence, six kings – and one queen are thought to have been same-sex attracted, members of what we now phone 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’ meaning 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: © Public 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
5 gay British Kings and Queens from history
Centuries before homosexuality was made legal between consenting adults in 1967, the ‘love that dare not address its name’ was viewed as a sin in England, particularly by the church, and technically punishable by death.
It is not surprising that many lgbtq+ and bisexual monarchs kept their love 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 have been gay or bisexual. Described by historians as both ‘effeminate’ and ‘boorish’, as well as creature 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