Premodern ruling sexualities: representation, identity, and power

This collection brings together a range of methodological approaches to analysing textual and visual representations of premodern royal and elite sexualities. It pushes beyond what has has been (and in some instances still is) a binarised approach to sexualities, whether described as heterosexual or homosexual; licit or illicit; queer or straight and so on. The contributors to this volume present fresh theories and new 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, their primary evidence base rests upon chronicles, archival materials, artistic production, and literary texts. While building upon previous work, they anticipate that these primary sources will be signposts to further exploration in the fields of royal and elite studies while also advancing wider analyses and interdisciplinary conversations around intersectionality and sexualities more broadly imagined.