Was King James gay?
09/08/25 10:09pm
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This post was sourced from submitted reader questions and posted by wikiHow Editorial Staff.
King James likely had relationships with men, but he also had relationships with women, so by modern standards, he could be labeled bisexual. He was married to Anne of Denmark and had 8 children with her, so he likely had some interest in women. At the same time, historians largely agree that King James had romantic affairs with at least three different men (Esmé Stewart, Robert Carr, and George Villiers). He wrote love letters to all three men, and they’re pretty descriptive when it comes to James’s feelings for them. There are also many diaries and journals from the period that were written by other people, and many of them mention King James’s sexual attraction to men.
However, note that in King James' time, the concept of “gay” and “straight” didn’t exist. People just didn’t conceptualize sexual identities in that way. The word “homosexual” wouldn’t even be invented until over 300 years after King James’s death.
What do you think? Do we have enough historical evidence to suggest King James was bisexual? Is it fair to describe him that way if the concept didn’t even exist when he was alive?
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However, note that in King James' time, the concept of “gay” and “straight” didn’t exist. People just didn’t conceptualize sexual identities in that way. The word “homosexual” wouldn’t even be invented until over 300 years after King James’s death.
What do you think? Do we have enough historical evidence to suggest King James was bisexual? Is it fair to describe him that way if the concept didn’t even exist when he was alive?
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