|
People with a History: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans* History Sourcebook
Roger of Hoveden:
Philip II Augustus and Richard The Lionheart,
from Annals
Did Richard the Lionheart and Philip II Augustus have a homosexual
affair? 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.
Hoveden: Vol II, pp. 63-64
This is the Latin text, from Stubbs edition as given
in Boswell CSTH 231.
Ricardus dux Aquitaniae, filus regis Angliae, morum fecit cum
Philipo rege Franciae, quem ipse in tantum honoravit per longum
tempus quod singulis diebus in una mensa ad unum cantinum manducabant,
et in noctibus non seperabat eos lectus. Et diliexit eum rex Franciae
quasi animam suam; et in tantum se mutuo diligebant, quod propter
vehmentem delictionem quae inter illos erat, dominus rex Angliae
nimio stupore arreptus admirabatur quid hoc esset.
Boswell translates this, accurately I think,
Richard, [then] duke of Aquitaine, the son of the king of England,
remained with Philip, the King of France, who so honored him for
so long that they ate every day at the same table and from the
same dish, and at night their beds did not separate them. And
the king of France loved him as his own soul; and they loved each
other so much that the king of England was absolutely astonished
and the passionate love between them and marveled at it.
Note that "lectus" does mean bed, couch and nothing
else here, and "deligo" is probably best translated
as "love" although it could, I suppose, mean "esteem"
- clearly a too weak translation here.
Riley does this with the passage.
After the peace was thus made. Richard, earl of Poitou, remained
with the King of France, though much against the will of his father
and the King of France held him in such high esteem that every
day they ate at the same table and from the same dish, and at
night had not separate chambers. In consequence of this strong
attachment which seemed to have arisen between them, the King
of England was struck with great astonishment, and wondered what
it could mean.
Riley's version continues:
..and taking precautions for the future, frequently sent messengers
into France for the purpose of recalling his son Richard; who,
pretending he was peaceably inclined and ready to come to his
father, made his way to Chinon, and, in spite of the person who
had custody thereof, carried off the greater part of his father's
treasures and fortified his castles in Poitou with the same, refusing
to go to his father.
Hoveden: Vol II, pp. 356-357
In an entirely distinct passage, in which Hoveden discusses
an incident when Richard was king, in 1195, we have another hint
which has been read as indicating that Richard was homosexually
active.
In the same year, there came a hermit to king Richard, and, preaching
the words of eternal salvation to him, said: "Be thou mindful
of the destruction of Sodom, and abstain from what is unlawful;
for if thou dost not, a vengeance worthy of God shall overtake
thee". The king, however, intent upon the things of this
world, and not those that are of God, was not able so readily
to withdraw his mind from what was unlawful, unless a revelation
should come to him from above or he should behold a sign. For
he despised the person of his advisor, not understanding that
sometimes the Lord reveals to babes the things that are hidden
from the wise; for the lepers announced the good tidings to Samaria
[2 Kings 7], and the ass of Balaam recalled its master from the
unlawful way. Wherefore, the hermit, leaving the king, went his
way, and hid himself from before his face. In the process of time,
however, although the before-named king despised the admonitions
of the poor hermit, still, by inspiration of Divine grace, he
retained some part of his warning in his memory, having faith
in the Lord, that He who recalled the publicans and the Canaanitish
woman to repentance, in his great mercy would give to him a penitent
heart.
Hence it was, that on the Lord's day in Easter when the Lord visited
him with a rod of iron, not that he might bruise him, but that
he might receive the scourging to his advantage. For on that day
the Lord scourged him with a severe attack of illness, so that
calling before him religious men, he was not ashamed to confess
the guiltiness of his life, and after receiving absolution, took
back his wife, whom for along time he had not known, and putting
away all illicit intercourse, he remained constant to his wife
and the two become one flesh and Lord gave him health of both
body and soul…"
Source: Roger of Hoveden, The Annals, trans. Henry T. Riley,
2. Vols. (London: H.G. Bohn, 1853; repr. New York: AMS Press,
1968)
Men Sleeping Together?
The big question here is what does "men sleeping together"
mean? Some authors deny it has any sexual overtones.
Stephen Jaeger in a post on MEDIEV-L [MEDIEV-L@UKANS.EDU] notes
the following as evidence that such intimacy did not imply sexual
activity.
- Greg of Tours, Hist. Franc. VII. 47 & IX. 19: [Sichar
and Chramnesind made peace after a feud, and expressed their "magna
amicitia"] "They loved each other (diligerent) in mutual
charity so much that they frequently ate together and slept in
the same bed."
- Nithard, Historiae III. 6: [two kings -- sorry , incomplete
ref. enjoyed such "unanimitas" and "concordia"
that they took their meals and slept in the same house".
- Petrus Damiani, Vita Romualdi, ch. 25, PL 145, 975C:
[Otto III was so fond of his cleric Tammo that they wore the
same clothes and at table ate from the same bowl, joining their
hands together when they met in the dish].
- Vita Adalberti, ch. 23, MGH, SS 4, 591: [Otto III's
adviser and tutor, Adalbert of Prague, became his "sweetest
chamber mate". They were together night and day and slept
in the same room because "he loved him."]
- John of Salisbury, Metalogicon, 4.42: "I was closer
to his heart [Pope Hadrian IV] than his mother and half brother.
Indeed he used to declare, both in public and private, that he
loved me more dearly than any other mortal... It was his delight
to have me eat with him at his very own table where, against my
protestations, he willed and ordered that we use together a common
cup and plate."
Source.
From:
This text is part of the Internet
History Sourcebooks Project. The Sourcebooks are collections of public domain and
copy-permitted texts related to all aspects of history.
Unless otherwise indicated the specific electronic form of the document is copyright.
Permission is granted for electronic copying, distribution in print form for educational
purposes and personal use. If you do reduplicate the document, indicate the source. No
permission is granted for commercial use.
© Paul Halsall, 1997, 2023
The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is located at the History Department of Fordham University, New York. The Internet
Medieval Sourcebook, and other medieval components of the project, are located at
the Fordham University Center
for Medieval Studies.The IHSP recognizes the contribution of Fordham University, the
Fordham University History Department, and the Fordham Center for Medieval Studies in
providing web space and server support for the project. The IHSP is a project independent of Fordham University. Although the IHSP seeks to follow all applicable copyright law, Fordham University is not
the institutional owner, and is not liable as the result of any legal action.
© Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 15 November 2024 [CV]
|
