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Known for her relationship with a male lover and requests to be called a lady, Elagabalus also reportedly sought surgery to obtain female genitalia. Despite being married twice to women, his sexuality has been a subject of speculation. Friendships became very strong; “affection” and even “love” were frequently used terms.
Nevertheless, when Proust’s narrator complains that he cannot keep up with the demands to be masculine being imposed on men of his generation, part of that is a reflection of the military’s determination to enforce a highly traditional concept of masculine behavior on soldiers in preparation for the next war, based on the belief that gay men couldn’t fight.
There is also a personal element to this book.
WH," have led some to suggest Shakespeare might have had romantic feelings for male patrons like Henry Wriothesley or William Herbert. The first third is devoted to a well-documented historian’s presentation of how Napoleon, with his widely publicized egalitarian treatment of subordinate soldiers in times of crisis and grief, radically changed French cultural images of what the relationship between soldiers of even different ranks could and should be.
He had served in the Royal French Army from his teens and saw how its effectiveness was impeded by a lack of coherence and cooperation in the ranks, a result of its rigidly hierarchical, class-based structure. Napoleon's own words, expressing admiration for Alexander's looks and even jesting he would have made him his mistress were he a woman, fuel speculation about his sexual orientation.
William Shakespeare: The Bard's Ambiguous Affections
More than 400 years after his death, William Shakespeare's sexuality remains a topic of intense interest.
It is a work of solid historiography and level-headed literary analysis. While some argue these expressions were typical of the era, others see them as indicative of a possible queer identity.
Leonardo da Vinci: Art and Accusations
Leonardo da Vinci, renowned for his art and scientific genius, faced accusations of sodomy at age 23, a serious charge at the time.
Published in:September-October 2011 issue.
Napoleonic Friendship: Military Fraternity, Intimacy, and Sexuality in Nineteenth-Century France
by Brian Joseph Martin
University of New Hampshire Press. Nightingale's intense relationships with women, coupled with her general disdain for sex, have led some to speculate she might have been lesbian, asexual, or simply independent.
Conclusion
As we look back on the lives of these historical figures, it's essential to remember that terms and concepts of sexuality and gender identity have evolved over time.
Although Martin is himself gay, he never tries to force a document or a literary text to speak of homosexuality when there is no convincing evidence. 379 pages, $39.95
THE FIRST THING I liked about this book was its interpretative honesty. While this fraternal treatment may have been sincere, it was also a public relations coup.
Though the charges were dismissed, this incident and Leonardo's later life have led to speculation about his sexuality.
Contemporary accounts and recent interpretations by historians suggest Elagabalus might have identified as a transgender woman, non-binary, or genderqueer.
Florence Nightingale: A Complex Romantic Life
Florence Nightingale, the iconic English social reformer and founder of modern nursing, also raises questions about her sexual identity.
This article explores the lives and legacies of figures like Napoleon Bonaparte, William Shakespeare, Leonardo da Vinci, Elagabalus, and Florence Nightingale, examining the clues that suggest they might have identified as LGBTQ+ if modern concepts of sexual identity had existed in their times.
Napoleon Bonaparte: A Bisexual Emperor?
Napoleon Bonaparte, born in 1769, rose to fame during the French Revolution and later became the leader of the French Republic.
Rather, he shows how, during the course of the 19th century, the understanding of the erotic possibilities of those military friendships changed, developed, and varied with different authors and different texts.
Napoleon was no sentimental fool. How that love was defined would vary in interesting ways for the next hundred years, before the growing attention to homosexuality and the homophobia it entailed brought an end to a remarkable period for male-male relationships in France.
Richard M.
Berrong is the author ofIn Love with a Handsome Sailor: The Emergence of Gay Identity and the Novels of Pierre Loti, a study of the homoeroticism in French writer Pierre Loti’s novels.
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Exploring the Sexuality of Historical Figures: Were They LGBTQ+?
Ridley Scott's latest film, "Napoleon," has reignited interest in the sexuality of historical figures, prompting a fresh look at whether some of the most notable names in history might have been part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Napoleon famously treated his generals like brothers. The remaining two-thirds is a clear, jargon-free study of how such friendships between military men were depicted by several important 19th-century French novelists. Although married to Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare's sonnets reveal a complex emotional world, including affections for a "fair lord" or "fair youth." These poems, dedicated to "Mr.
What remains clear is that the complexity of human sexuality and identity transcends eras, and the stories of these figures continue to fascinate and inspire discussions about the diverse spectrum of human experience.
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Napoleon, with his very public treatment of Lannes, Duroc, and Junot, made it acceptable and even laudable for two men to love each other, at least while they were in the military.The most famous examples were Jean Lannes, Christophe Duroc, and Jean-Andoche Junot.