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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 1995-12 > 0818218174


From: "Todd A. Farmerie" <>
Subject: Re: Agnes of France
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 1995 02:49:34 GMT


In a previous article, (Grant Menzies) says:

> Anyone know if
>>Richard was the father of any "natural" children?
>>
>I do not know of any, other than legendary ones. Richard I was
>homosexual. This doesn't prevent the appearance of illegitimate children,
>naturally, but if this were said of, say, Richard's cousin King Philippe
>II of France I might believe it more, since Philippe II "straddled the
>fence", as it were.
>
>

The accounts of Richard's homosexuality, while broadly accepted amoung
groups which have a political stake in him being so identified, have not
been as readily accepted by historians. Check for instance the
contemporary quote in The Royal Bastards of Medieval England (p.14),
which describes Richard taking the wives and daughters of his freeholders
to use as concubines, and then turning them over to his knights for common
whoring. Doesn't sound all that homosexual, does it? (And he had one
acknowledged bastard, Philip.)

[If anyone wishes to continue, I have set followups to s.history.medieval]

Todd

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