Synopsis
Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe by John Boswell, published in 1994, is a provocative and meticulously researched exploration of the history of same-sex relationships and ceremonies in Europe from antiquity through the medieval period. Boswell, a prominent historian and scholar of medieval studies, argues that formal same-sex unions—ritualized partnerships bearing striking similarities to marriage—existed in premodern Christian societies, challenging the prevailing assumption that such relationships were uniformly condemned or unrecognized. Drawing on an extensive array of historical texts, including Greek and Roman literature, early Christian writings, liturgical manuscripts, and legal documents, Boswell constructs a narrative that these unions were not only tolerated but, in some cases, culturally and religiously sanctioned in certain contexts. His work seeks to reframe the historical understanding of marriage and sexuality, suggesting that attitudes toward same-sex relationships were more fluid and complex than modern narratives often acknowledge.
The book begins by examining the social and Roman world, where Boswell identifies evidence of same-sex partnerships that carried social weight. He discusses figures like the Roman Emperor Nero, who reportedly participated in public wedding ceremonies with male partners, and explores literary sources that describe intense, socially acknowledged same-sex friendships that may have included romantic or erotic dimensions. Boswell emphasizes that Greco-Roman culture provided a foundation for later Christian practices, particularly through the concept of adelphopoiesis, a Christian ritual of “brother-making” that he argues served as a formalized same-sex union in the early and medieval church. These ceremonies, documented in liturgical texts from the Byzantine Empire and Western Europe, involved prayers, blessings, and symbolic acts like the joining of hands, which Boswell compares to heterosexual marriage rites. He contends that these rituals, performed in churches and presided over by clergy, conferred a sacred status on same-sex partnerships, often between men, and were understood by participants as significant social and spiritual bonds.
In the medieval period, Boswell traces the persistence of these practices, particularly in Byzantine and early Western Christian contexts, while acknowledging regional variations. He analyzes specific manuscripts, such as those from the 8th to 16th centuries, that contain liturgies for same-sex unions, translating and interpreting them to highlight their parallels with marriage ceremonies. Boswell argues that these rituals were not merely expressions of friendship but could encompass romantic and potentially sexual relationships, though he is careful to note that the sources rarely describe the nature of the relationships explicitly. He also examines the lives of saints and other historical figures, like Sergius and Bacchus, a Roman military pair venerated as martyrs, whose relationship he suggests was celebrated as a model of same-sex devotion. Boswell posits that the church’s acceptance of these unions began to wane with the rise of stricter theological and legal frameworks in the later Middle Ages, particularly as ecclesiastical authorities sought to regulate sexuality more rigidly.
The book also addresses the broader social and cultural implications of these findings. Boswell challenges the notion that Christian Europe was uniformly hostile to same-sex relationships before the modern era, arguing that the condemnation of homosexuality as a sin became more pronounced only in the later medieval and early modern periods. He explores how economic, political, and religious shifts—such as the consolidation of church authority and the emergence of urban societies—contributed to changing attitudes. However, Boswell’s interpretations are not without controversy; he acknowledges counterarguments, such as the view that adelphopoiesis was a non-romantic spiritual kinship or that the sources are too ambiguous to support his claims. Nevertheless, he maintains that the existence of these rituals points to a historical precedent for recognizing same-sex partnerships within a Christian framework.
In its final sections, Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe reflects on the modern relevance of these historical practices. Boswell suggests that understanding the diversity of past attitudes toward same-sex relationships can inform contemporary debates about marriage and sexuality. The book is both a scholarly endeavor, grounded in rigorous analysis of primary sources, and a polemical intervention, aiming to reshape perceptions of Western history. While Boswell’s conclusions have sparked debate—some critics argue he overstates the equivalence between same-sex unions and marriage, while others praise his groundbreaking research—the book remains a landmark in the study of sexuality and history. Its detailed examination of texts and contexts offers a compelling, if contested, portrait of a world where same-sex bonds found expression in ways that resonate with modern questions about love, commitment, and recognition.