Gay king england

1. William II of England: Reign – Known as ‘Rufus’ due to his ruddy complexion and red hair, the third son of William the Conqueror became King of England in and is assumed to have been gay or bisexual. From the age of thirteen until his death, the life of King James VI of Scotland and I of England (–) was characterised by close relationships with a series of male favourites.

From the Emperor Ai of China’s Han Dynasty to Sweden's Queen Christina, here are notable leaders who crossed sexual and gender boundaries. King Edward II of England, Queen Christina of Sweden. England’s ‘gay’ kings and queens defied society – during perhaps the most homophobic era of human history – to have same-sex lovers.

Of 41 monarchs since William The Conqueror, we’ve identified seven who were likely lesbian, gay or bisexual. Richard the Lionheart became King of England in Today, he's famous for his role in the Third Crusade and his alleged association with Robin Hood.

gay queens in history

To others, though, Richard I is a gay icon. The king chose not to marry and never fathered an heir. It is not surprising that many gay and bisexual monarchs kept their love lives with members of the same sex a closely guarded secret. Read more about Ancient History. 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 may have been murdered by an assassin. Read more about Popular Culture. The fourth son of Henry II, he is also believed to have been homosexual despite marrying Berengaria of Navarre.

Rarely present in England due to his military activities and leading the Third Crusade against Saladin, Richard is said to have had a close relationship with Philip II of France, who was a former Crusader ally. An observer noted that they ate from the same plate and their beds were not separated. Richard had no heirs and died after being hit by a crossbow bolt in the shoulder while suppressing a revolt in France.

The legendary story that Edward was killed by a hot poker forced into his rectum has fascinated writers and filmmakers, despite the alleged event having been written after his death. Even though Edward and Gaveston were lovers , the king was married to the ambitious Isabella of France and had six children. A devastated Edward was himself captured and imprisoned in Wales when Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer invaded England with an army.

Edward was forced to relinquish his crown in January and most likely murdered by the new regime. Famously associated with the Gunpowder Plot he is also known as the persecutor of thousands of women accused of witchcraft. Despite marrying Anne of Denmark, James had several male lovers that the party-loving Anne appeared to ignore.

James is said to have become besotted with Robert when witnessing him break his leg during a jousting match. However, he was later replaced by George when he was disgraced over a murder plot. Read more about British History. No children survived. Anne was devastated by the death of her husband and his passing saw the curtain fall on her once passionate affair with the bitter and aggrieved Duchess. Image: Wikimedia Commons.

Read more about Ancient History 5 gay rulers from ancient history. Most Recent. The legacy of the Battle of Little Bighorn. King Herod: The infamous child killer. Keep Reading. You might be interested in. How a Viking laid the groundwork for the King of England.