Ruling Sexualities: Sexuality, Gender, and the Crown: An Introduction

Abstract

This article serves as an introduction to the Royal Studies Journal “Ruling Sexualities” Special Issue. It begins with a brief explanation for the creation of this special issue and a discussion of the diverse approaches that each article takes towards several areas of royal sexuality. The articles featured in this special issue cover a considerable geographical area and chronological period. The authors analyse the evidence of the sexualities of both popular and less well-known monarchs in archival and modern sources. The discussion of royal sexualities that is provided in this special issue highlights new and important ways in which a monarch’s life and the evidence of their relationships can be uncovered and interpreted by both academics and heritage professionals alike. Indeed, it is made clear from this special issue, and the introductory discussion, that there is a need for further research into the importance of royal sexualities both within and beyond traditional historiography.

Keywords

• sexuality
• royal sexuality
• gender
• courts
• favourites