The time when England crowned a Gay King

Would Charles (an adulterer) have been crowned King of England if he was gay?   Probably not, but the country did once have a queer monarch back in 1307.  He was crowned Edward II and reigned until he was deposed and killed in 1327 by his wife, Isabella. He was 43 at the time of his death.

Yes like so many gay men in history (and even still now) he got married and fathered at least 5 children. Isabella was the daughter of King Philip IV of France and Edward was ‘encouraged’ to marry to bolster alliances with France.

But his passion for men was confirmed by several sources at the time, and he had two main lovers.  First, Piers Gaveston – a knight from Gascony who Edward appointed as Regent  -   key position of power within the English court. This did not go down with the rest of the Court and they successfully maneuvered for the banishment of Gaveston in 1311. In 1312, Gaveston was captured by the Earl of Warwick and killed. 

After Gaveston’s death, Edward took up a new lover Hugh Despenser who was his nephew-by-marriage.  Edward showered Despenser with titles and privileges  –  again, angering the powerful barons and earls. 

However, having boyfriends wasn’t the reason his reign was considered disastrous, it was  because of the defeat of his army at Bannockburn, which ended English control over Scotland.

After this Isabella wanted the Throne for herself and so turned against Edward and conspired with  Roger Mortimer, the Earl of March to overthrow the King.  Edward however defeated the rebellion,  but later the tables were turned and Edward and Despenser were forced to take refuge in Wales. 

It all ended badly when they both were caught and Edward was forced to abdicate. and Despemser was executed.  Legend has it that when it came to killing Edward he was impaled by a red-hot poker shoved up his anus.

Much of Edward’s life story was the subject of a play  by  (gay) Christopher Marlowe published in 1593  The full title of the play is The Troublesome Reign and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second, King of England, with the Tragical Fall of Proud Mortimer  Its a play that still continues to be performed today

However, most of us are more familiar with Edward’s story from the 1991 film made by the iconic queer filmmaker Derek Jarman.  It was inspired by Marlow’s play and interestingly enough it is critically acclaimed as Jarman.s best work.

Homosexuality was only legalized in the UK in 1969…. the same year when the Divorce Reform Act was passed.  It meant that gay men could have consenting relationships, and hetero-married couples didn’t have to prove adultery to get a divorce.  Naturally British society was much keener to adopt the later legislation, as we still take time to accept change

Then on Oct 28, 2011 the Succesion Law was changed so that sons and daughters of any future UK monarch will have an equal right to the throne.  Of course, they still cannot be Roman Catholic!  But gay?  Well, it’s not actually written in stone, but the chances are probably nigh on impossible.

This is such a pity as any gay man would have easily made the can-you-keep-awake Coronation so totally fabulous.  Just saying.