British King Richard I and France’s Phillip II may finally be clear of all those posthumous rumors! Some people called the late royals gay for a night they spent together during the middle ages. But London School of Economic history professor John Gillingham insists the boys weren’t gay, just politically savvy:
The idea wasn’t even mooted until 1948 and it stems from an official record announcing that, as a symbol of unity between the two countries, the kings of France and England had slept the night in the same bed.
“It was an accepted political act, nothing sexual about it; just two politicians literally getting into bed together, a bit like a modern-day photo opportunity.
Thems Europeans sure done had some queer traditions!
REBELComx
If it was an accepted political tactic, why have we never heard of anyone else doing it?
CitizenGeek
REBELComx basically said what I was going to say. It obviously wans’t common …
Franklin Moore
I would argue that no one, not I nor Prof John Gillingham, can ever know definitively whether Richard I had a homosexual relationship with Phillip or anyone else. What I can say is that the Professor is wrong to suggest that the idea never was suggested prior to 1948. Gillingham’s own biography of Richard, quotes a historian writing in Richard’s lifetime stating church officials confronted the King with “gossip†and rebuked him for his sins and told the King “to remember the destruction of Sodom and abstain from illicit acts.†Gillingham attempts to discount such rumors (by claiming that the sin of Sodom doesn’t refer to homosexuality – a claim that it supportable if you are talking about what the writers of the Bible were thinking – but let’s be honest – in 12th century Europe the reference referred to homosexuality) In his book, the Professor also attempts to discount claims from other historians (many of whom were writing well before the 20th century). He may be correct that Richard was straight (as I said before no one can ever really know), but he certainly looses credibility when he claimed to the BBC that the rumors first surfaced in 1948. These claims have been around since Richard’s lifetime (beginning at least in 1195). His own book proves that.
M Shane
That’s total B.S. Richard the Lionhearted was decidedly gay as was Phillip. They were only occasional lovers.
What would sombody from the school of Economic history know?
Read Restons history of “Richard the Lionhearted and Saladin”, learn about the Crusades and about Richard and the 2nd crusade.Some about Elenore of Aquitaine and Phil and also background for the great film “tThe kingdom of Heaven” (true)
Bob R
Well, Alexander the Great was not gay either. I mean after all, he did take a wife. Historical revisionists who are attempting to belittle or refute any gay contribution to history. This is nothing new.
M Shane
The explaination that they slept togther for political expediency is even more outlandish:
where they trying to have a baby so as to unite England and France. Or perhaps they wanted to make all of their fag citizenry happy: a first step toward encouraging gay marriage in the kingdoms.
They will have a hard time with Alexander, it’s bad enough when historians tilt history to prove certain hypotheses, but when they just whipe out facts it’s pathetic.
There’s a great new film about “the Barbarians which pulls together recent facts from digs and completely turns the “Barbarian’ myth on it’s head. It’s only because the Romans wrote history that we have such a dim view of thier enemies, the Celts, for instance gave women considerable power e.g. to divorce their husbands for sleeping with boys..
leomoore
REBELComx, I think it was usually an arranged marriage. In this case, I doubt it had anything to do with marriage but wouldn’t be surprised if it had a lot to do with practicing for making royal babies.
leomoore
If you want to see a really good movie that does take liberties, but is more or less historically accurate, watch A Lion in Winter. The dialogue alone is worthwhile.
M Shane
leomoore: They were both men! how could they practice for making babies, that would be a hard one to pull over on people. If that worked, imagine the scandals that could be avoided by politicians etc who got caught with other guys: “well, we were just practicing for making babies”.
oakling
I love how everyone here is totally bringing the historical and political analyses. A toast to you all!
Personally, I am going to read this as “Gay sex was an accepted political tactic” and go look up that story about Abraham Lincoln again….
REBELComx
LOL @ Oakling. Gay sex as an accepted political tactic. Gay marriage, here we come. What better way to unit feuding countries! Have our leaders fuck each other. LOL
Phoenix
@ REBELComx: You’re right! Why shouldn’t they fuck each other? After all, they’re already fucking us over.
M Shane
I just watched” A Lion in Winter” just last week!
I thought that it was great that they portrayed Richard historically:gay. He was such an incredible warrior that Saladin, the Moslem leader (a noble kurd) during the Crusades would send him horses and chipped ice.when he was having a hard time.
iIt’s a definite with Abe Lincoln: they have a stash of letters in the Library of Congress related to him and a relationship with a red headed lover in the military.
Angus Ogg
Richard 1 was English, not British.