King Edward II?

Question

Alright...I have a friend that keeps debating with me on this so I thought that I would ask all of you smart people out there.

Everyone knows that King Edward II of Great Britian was a very g*y closeted man. It has been said through-out history. What if for example, g*y-marriage existed in those days. Because of the British Government. That would not be allowed. He could not have a hubby like a Queen and name him a Prince Consort...would he?

For example, lets say a man became King in the future. It would not be allowed for him to marry a man. He would have to abdicate the thrown. And loose his HRH status. As well as his peerage?

Please help me set my friend straight that the U.K. or any other country would not allow that. She seems to think so.

Answer 1

Everybody who thinks they "know" that Edward II is g*y, is wrong.

One of the most striking things about the life of Edward II is that nobody at the time accused him of being g*y. Not even his enemies, after the had been overthrown by his Queen and her lover,  when it would have been politically a very useful stick to beat him with.

The notion that "of course" he was g*y is really the achievement of the 16th century playwright Christopher Marlowe. Marlowe really was rampantly g*y, and introduced gayness into his plays whenever he could. His play about Edward II has radically influenced the popular view of him ever since.

Answer 2

Edward was the King of England. There was no such thing as Great Britain back then.

A united kingdom of Great Britain didn't exist until 1707 with the union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland.

You're right though - g*y-marriage wouldn't be tolerated in a medieval royal family. After all, the King was expected to provide a legitimate heir to the throne. Quite a few monarchs had homosexual relationships though.

Answer 3

You're looking at the year 1300 A.D. when homosexuality was not spoken of in public or even in passing conversation.

And it was horrific if someone of noble blood were to admit they were g*y.

I mean, nobles could have extra- marital affairs and have children out of wed - lock. This was to be expected.But the nobility was expected to produce an heir that would continue the family name,preferable a male.

Answer 4

Well, I don't know if he would have to abdicate his throne. Richard the Lionheart was widely believed to be g*y as well. He just lived out his life and never had children and when he died his brother became King.

  Queen Elizabeth's uncle George, was fourth in line to the throne when he was born. He simply got married and had tons of affairs with men and women. His longest standing affair was with a man (a 19 year affair with the actor Noel Coward).

  If g*y marriage were to become legal in UK, there would have to be a special act of parliament to cover the royalty. Especially if an adoption was involved. The rules of succession are very conservative.

  For instance, consider the case of your girlfriend giving birth before your marriage, and then you later marry. In Monaco this happened to the princess (twice) and when she later married the children became eligible for the throne. Her subsequent divorce did not change that fact. In the UK these children are NEVER eligible. The act of marriage after the birth does not matter.  Marina Ogilvy only married her husband 16 weeks before her duaghter was born. So her daughter, Zenouska, is in the line (currently #39).

Answer 5

I hope that same-s*x marriage will never become legal in the UK, as I find it an absolutely ludicrous idea.  However, there is no law that I am aware of that would prevent a King being openly homosexual in this day and age.  However, as he would not be able to marry and produce an heir that would be seen as a major disadvantage.  i suspect that he would be encouraged to make a marriage of convenience and keep quiet about it.

Answer 6

Rupert Murdoch would never allow it.

Answer 7

Back then, England was a Christian country, in the bible, it taught that only men marrying women was acceptable, nothing else was. Therefore, if King Edward II married a man, the church could convince the people to overthrow him, as may Englanders were Christians.

I hope this answer will help you straighten out that debate!