# Why so many 19'th century countries' rulers were related?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-many-19th-century-countries-rulers-were-related/323272>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 24, 2005, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-many-19th-century-countries-rulers-were-related/323272 "2005-09-24T23:51:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-many-19th-century-countries-rulers-were-related/323272/21 "2005-09-30T13:44:14Z")

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> [@Johanna](#):
>
> Where do you get it from that he was gay? No such reference. [http://www.nndb.com/people/901/000097610/](http://www.nndb.com/people/901/000097610/)
> 
> Also the mention of boots connected with his sexuality is puzzling. Were you thinking of Earl Long in the movie _Blaze_? “I get more traction with my boots on.”

I was wondering if someone was going to call him on that. I’d like to think that the “gay to boot” was to emphasize or explain his failure or unwillingness to reproduce: “The Spanish ones kinda **died out with Charles II** , who was mentally-deficient and gay to boot.” (boling mine)

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**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-many-19th-century-countries-rulers-were-related/323272/22 "2005-09-30T15:34:40Z")

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> [@caveman](#):
>
> I was wondering if someone was going to call him on that. I’d like to think that the “gay to boot” was to emphasize or explain his failure or unwillingness to reproduce: “The Spanish ones kinda **died out with Charles II** , who was mentally-deficient and gay to boot.” (boling mine)

Being gay was common enough among royalty but it wouldn’t have been something that their parents celebrated, especially if it compromised their chance at reproduction (though there certainly were gay royals who managed to sire offspring). I’ve never heard that Carlos el Hechizado was gay, but my understanding was that he was mentally retarded and epileptic. Such things happen when you concentrate a gene pool too much.

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