Was richard the lionheart gay

I agree with your conclusions. Historians have debated this since the eighteenth century, fuelled by the accounts of his stay in Paris when he used to share a bed with Philip Augustus himself. But this in itself is evidence of nothing very much-people regularly shared beds in the twelfth century. If you were to stay in a medieval hall at this time it was not unusual to find several beds accommodating two or three or even more men.

There are a number of monarchs throughout history who are believed to have been gay. Richard the Lionheart and Philip II are just a couple of kings who seemingly would rather have a relationship with a man than produce an heir and a spare. However, though Richard has been treated as something of a gay icon for years, direct evidence that he and Philip actually had a homosexual relationship is scant. The source most people point to is a report by Roger de Hoveden, who was a contemporary of the two kings.

Main Ancient Medieval Modern. The following passages from Roger of Hoveden have been cited to suggest that they did. Other commentators think that the passages refer to political or "friendship" arrangements. To hold this position requires that one see neither of the passages below as having any relationship to homosexuality.

Whether through his mention in the many Robin Hood tales, his story as a famous crusader, or even through majestic statues, Richard the Lionheart is definitely a symbol of popular culture. In the early 12th century, England had an immense territory that King Henry II planned on dividing amongst his four children. Not happy with the decision, and each wanting to rule the entire territory which included part of France , the brothers rebelled against their father and between them in a cruent civil war. However, despite being victorious, Richard was never interested in England, nor did he had any connection to its culture and history.