Whenever we think of LGBT activism, we think of modern progress, such as the Supreme Court’s Ruling on gay marriage, pride parades, and the expansion of the definition of family. We think of many couples coming out and declaring their love for one another. Despite it being a rather recent phenomenon, the icons of the LGBT community have dated back centuries, some of which are famous, others rather infamous. One of these icons was Richard the Lionheart of England and the other, Philip II of France. 

Both kings in their own right, the two shared a relationship that was considered exceptionally close by both witnesses and contemporary historians. According to Roger de Hoveden, the two had been recorded to have eaten from the same table and shared the same bed. He also took note of the passionate love shared between the two. Philip had played a key role in gaining the throne, and for a time, Richard was even engaged to Philip II’s sister.

Eventually, however, their relationship took a turn for the worse when Richard broke off said engagement. However, because her dowry and Philip II’s territories were already in Richard’s possession, Philip had to find a way to reclaim those territories. Soon, Philip II and Richard went to war against the other, where they managed to agree to a five-year truce after a rather comical shouting match. However, during this fight, Richard was hit with an arrow and subsequently died from infection. After the incident, Philip turned his attention to Richard’s successor, and started taking the Angevin Empire down piece by piece, which earned him the title of Philip Augustus by the time he died. 

Of course, England was no stranger to gay monarchs, even back then. Richard the Lionheart had been regarded as a gay icon, all due to his relationship with Philip II. What’s more, because of the reevaluation of modern research, many are beginning to question the legitimacy of the two kings. For instance, many modern historians have taken accounts to mean that the men were close friends and political allies, and nothing more. Meanwhile, books such as The Lion in Winter by James Golden depict the homosexual relationship between the two. News outlets such as The Guardian have weighed in on the issue, and even when Professor John Gillingham from the London School of Economics gave his opinion, he sparked yet another debate.

Either way, the relationship between the two kings was a good one. But when that friendship soured, it ended breaking apart a kingdom the two had built together, as well as the trust the two had built in one another. Books have been written about the two separately, whether it be about their military might, their political finesse, or even their personal relationships. But whether or not they were gay, it’s abundantly clear that they were powerful, and that, even with the other’s subsequent betrayals, they still managed to lay the foundations to build up England and France.