By Raha Boshra
“There are two types of Queer history: One that was queer in its own time, and queer history that mirrors queer experiences today.” This is one of the important points mentioned in the video titled “Medieval Knights Were a LOT Gayer Thank You Think” by Kaz Rowe. As mentioned in the same video, the European Christian obsession with homosexuality being the “ultimate sin” did not happen until the 14th Century, and there are only theories about how this came about, as no one knows why. However, in the Middle Ages, men had more chances to explore queer inclinations, especially in the world of Knights.
Despite the differences in nations and generations, there were common themes among Knights: Being sworn into orders as brothers in arms, promising loyalty to their kingdom as well as to other knights, and forming a protective bond. Even before becoming a knight, these factors are encouraged in them.
Chivalric treatises provide a good insight into the erotic intimacy of the nightly rituals that could easily encourage homoerotic bonds. One of these treatises is “The Book of Chivalry” by Geoffroi de Charny, written in the 1350s, which outlines the various steps involved in becoming a knight from a squire, stating:
“Then the knights should come to the beds, to dress those to be knighted. The stuff in which they dress them, the linen and all that goes with it, should be new. Then the knights should robe them in red tunics, signifying that they are pledged to shed their blood to defend and maintain the Faith of our Lord, and the rights of the Holy Church, and all the other just rights set out above, which it is the knight’s duty to protect. Then the knights bring black hose, and put them on those to be knighted. Then the knights bring them white belts, with which they gird them, signifying that they should surround their bodies with chastity and purity of the flesh.”
The novice knights are also ritually bathed by the other knights before these steps. Then, during the ordination ceremony, the knight assigned to officiating kisses the new knight ceremonially.
It was common yet expected for knights to form bonds similar to married couples, which would often last until death. Some brotherly couples were even buried together, like Sir William Nevillle and Sir John Clanvowe. These knights were born in the same year and spent decades of their lives together, becoming royal bedchamber knights in the court of King Richard II before going on crusade. Their coat of arms was connected on their shields and impaled, like a married couple’s would have been. This is why when their tomb was unearthed in the early 1900s, people assumed that they were a married couple. They likely died from the plague in 1391 near Constantinople. As the Chronicle of Westminster Abbey wrote of their death:
“It was also on the 17th October, that in a village near Constantinople, in Greece, the life of Sir John Clanvowe, a distinguished knight, came to its close, causing to his companion on the march, Sir William Nevillle, for whom his love was no less than for himself, such inconsolable sorrow that he never took food again, and two days afterward breathed his last, greatly mourned in the same village.”
To reflect on the history of the knights in comparison to today, many people often think that LGBTQ+ history happened in modern times, when in fact, it has always existed throughout history. Earlier in the video, Kaz mentions that “you can’t legislate or discriminate gay people out of existence”, foreshadowing the rich history later explained in the video. Love has always existed in different forms, and it will continue to do so.
References:
Kaz Rowe (Jul. 25, 2025). Medieval Knights Were a LOT Gayer Than You Think. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/PYqT6sKZJjY?si=euu7vyBvy5LRtGZ3
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