Asexual Royals from History

Throughout history, across cultures and in every walk of life, there have always been people with varied sexual attractions, or lack there of. Asexuality, in particular, has only been identified and studied since the early 20th century. People in the past did not have the concepts, terminology or relative freedom we have today. So those who might now identify as asexual had a limited understanding of what they were experiencing. This makes it difficult for historians to identify people from the past who may have been asexual. Sexual attractions and relationships of every variety often left evidence, like steamy love letters and reports from others. But a lack of sexual desire was much less likely to be expressed. Sexuality, particularly among royals and especially among women, was often not a matter of choice. Princes and Princesses had to marry and reproduce with whoever their parents told them to. In many cases, particularly when young princesses were wed to much older kings, their own desires were invalid. So unless they risked their lives by having an affair, we can’t know if they were secretly lusting after the stable boy, the kitchen maid, or if they just wanted to be left alone to enjoy a slice of cake.
As with all of my LGBTQIA+ videos, I am sensitive about outing people posthumously. These people are no longer able to tell us their own stories, and we must therefore rely on journals, letters and reports from others, which can’t give us a complete picture. But despite the gaps in our knowledge, these people deserve to have their stories told. I think it is incredibly important for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities to see themselves represented in history and to know that they are not alone in the world or in time. And I have had many requests to do a video about ace royals from the past. So today let’s meet 6 royals from history who’s experiences and actions indicate that they may have been asexual.

Check out the History Tea Time Podcast:

[tplayzroblox]

4:13
“Selecting a bride at this point would have helped him to expand his kingdom by peaceful measures. Instead, he chose violence.”

I love this channel

[arualblues_zero]

"They set off in a medieval version of a couple's retreat: a crusade" I LOVE IT 🤣🤣🤣

[willowravenwright]

My dear, dear Lindsay… I cannot thank you enough for this unexpected video. As someone who is Ace, I almost cried when I saw this video. So many people do not see us. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for seeing us. We are Ace and we are valid.

[Zr_g]

As an asexual person myself, it’s safe to say that this is a very good way to get our attention.

[samanthakoval]

The royals cause themselves so much unnecessary stress for prohibiting females from ascending the throne baha

[SaurianCYH]

“Increasingly ironic hobby of locksmithing” 🤣🤣🤣

[agiel]

Thank you! No one ever talks about asexuality. It's easily ignored or skipped over. It's nice to be seen!

[writinggamer]

As an ace/demisexual person who is married with children, this video is excellent, thank you. I didn’t know what asexuality was until adulthood and never understood why I was different in that area. I’ve always felt so out of place in our very sexualize culture, and often wondered if it was just easier to be ace in historical times, but this shows that it probably wasn’t, especially for nobles. It is a lot more difficult than people realize to be different in this way, and not being on purpose, or because of religious views. It is good to learn about other people in history that could have been, and learn their stories.

[hstm]

As an asexual myself, I must say I've never clicked this fast. I feel ✨represented ✨

[Juanita-gfte]

Apparently it was when Marie Antoinette's brother came to visit from Austria that he got tot eh bottom of the young kings problem. He simply didn't know what to do and had to be taught the mechanics of intercourse, which his brother in law gave him exact instructions - a how to lecture. Soon after the young queen became pregnant and delivered a daughter. Two sons followed. He was a good husband and never took mistresses, sadly he was a bumbling king who took wrong advice from the wrong people.

[Bitterblue]

AroAce here and I think you did a good job on this video! As you said, it’s complicated putting modern day terms on historical people. Elizabeth I is probably the most iffy, but a lot of ace people do consider her as part of the asexual spectrum. This comes from the fact that Elizabeth didn’t seemed interested in sex (admittedly she did have a lot of reasons to avoid sexual liaisons) but did enjoy romantic relationships and playing at courtly love. Many asexuals are not aromantic, and do want romantic relationships. Hence why a lot of ace people look at Elizabeth as one of us.

[blue]

Didn't expect this video, not a lot of asexual representation out there, even from within the own lgbtquia+ community

[LindsayHoliday]

If you are asexual, please let me know if these royals' experiences ring true to you. Thank you!

[Trini]

Every time I hear that someone died of dysentery, all I can think of is Oregon Trail, lol.

[soulfoodsmama]

Watching Maria Teresa give birth a dozen times would probably make anyone not want to have sex 💀

[lauramason]

I’m not completely convinced that Elizabeth the first was asexual. It’s pretty clear that she was in love with Robert Dudley, and of course it’s even clearer that she knew the consequences of certain actions. I think her choices were politically based. I think the foundation of her supposed celibacy was self preservation.

[kalnfornia]

Your respect for those you speak of and who are no longer here is first class. Kudos to you.

[areiaaphrodite]

Sometimes, I wonder if Edward the Confessor could have also been asexual. He was married to Edith of Wessex but died childless. It was said that he never even consummated his marriage to Edith because he eitger took a vow of celibacy or just wanted to be abstinent.

[hippolyte]

Louis XVI sounds pretty slam dunk. If Josef II quoted him correctly in his letter, the king saying he has no desire for sex and only does the deed out of duty, and had no mistresses, then that is as asexual as it gets. As for Elizabeth I, not convinced. Not saying impossible but unlikely. After almost losing her reputation and life multiple times and seeing the disastrous marriage of her sister Mary (the first queen regnant of England) I think Elizabeth's desire for survival was stronger than her sex drive and becoming a lone queen would give her the most power.

[revanius]

Another possible Asexual or Aromantic royal is Basil II, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, who in his fifty-year reign as Emperor never married, had no known lovers, and no children. He had a younger brother who did marry but he never did.