Premodern Ruling Sexualities

This collection brings together a range of methodological approaches to analyse textual and visual representations of premodern royal and elite sexualities to push beyond what has in the past and in some instances continues to be a binarized approach to sexualities whether described as heterosexual or homosexual; licit or illicit; queer or straight and so on. The contributors to this collection present fresh theories and approaches to the consideration of premodern sexualities and aim to lay down durable foundations for further research and study. Being the richest source for the investigation of premodern sexualities and their representations, the primary source base for the collection rests upon chronicles, archival materials, artistic production, and literary texts. Building upon previous work in the field of royal and elite sexualities, it is anticipated that these primary sources will be signposts to further exploration in the fields of royal and monarchical studies while also advancing wider analyses and interdisciplinary conversations around intersectionality and sexualities more broadly imagined.