Gay emperor

There have been huge debates about the true nature of the connection between the men.

While classical sources may have embellished aspects of their eccentricities, there’s no denying Elagabalus’s significant impact on challenging the status quo and leaving a lasting mark on the pages of Roman history.

In the tapestry of Roman history, Trajan, Hadrian, and Elagabalus illuminate the interplay of power, passion, and societal norms.

Should also mentioned that elite Romans were queasy about Caligula cross-dressing as he allegedly did. The great statesman and orator Cicero is even reported to have directly rebuked Caesar in the senate for being biased towards King Nicomedes, saying, ‘No more of that, pray, for it is well known what he gave you, and what you gave him in turn.’

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Roman sexual norms were more concerned with the dynamics of dominance and passivity than traditional gender roles.

The concept of the “active” partner, often referred to as the “dominant,” held a significant place in Roman sexual relations.

His reign, which spanned from 218 to 222 AD, was marked by unprecedented behavior, rebellion against traditional Roman norms, and a unique blend of religious fervor.

Elagabalus earned his nickname from his devotion to the cult of Sol Invictus, a deity associated with the sun and, fittingly, the unconquered sun.

Only Nero didn’t have himself castrated for this role. Already on the older side of middle age, he went into semi-retirement on the island of Capri leaving the business of government to others in Rome. This sexual liaison was used as propaganda back in Rome against the ambitious Caesar. A distraught Hadrian ‘wept like a woman’ over his lost love and ordered that Antinous be regarded as a literal god.

As we know, Octavian would go on to defeat all his enemies – including Mark Antony – and adopt the title Augustus. Hadrian

Synonymous with the famous wall erected during his reign to mark the northern border of Roman Britain, the Roman Emperor Hadrian was also known for his widespread tours through his lands, and for his deep love of Greek culture and history.

Rumours have always swirled around this tragic death. Well, let’s go through a list of Roman Emperors who were in same-sex relationships and were very definitely non-binary.

Various speculations emerged, suggesting everything from an untimely accident, a jealous rival’s plot, or even Hadrian’s involvement.

Some suggest that Antinous may have committed suicide, fearing the loss of his youthful allure, and sought a means of immortalizing himself.

Hadrian’s deep affection for Antinous was undeniable.

Caesar’s political rivals ran with the theme, mocking him as ‘the Queen of Bithynia'.

It’s surprising just how many Roman Emperors could be defined in today’s terms as LGBT.

What’s less well-remembered is that, during his younger years, Caesar was widely thought to have been involved in a passionate romance with another man. So, what are the stories and can we confirm the facts two thousand years later. Something an elite Roman would find unforgivable.

The love affair was such an open secret that a military song celebrating Caesar’s victories featured the line, ‘Caesar laid the Gauls low, Nicomedes laid Caesar low’ – a reference to Caesar taking what they considered the feminine role in the relationship. He racked up three wives, while also perhaps finding time to have affairs with men. But Mark Antony went way further than that.

Through his brother, Lucius Antonius, Mark Antony accused Octavian of being the passive partner when having sex with a consul called Aulus Hirtius who reportedly paid the young Octavian for the experience.

Gay sex for pagan Romans was a fact of life. The emperor elevated Antinous to the status of a god, and the Egyptian priesthood included him in their pantheon, leading to the growth of a devoted cult around his name.