The only ballet I have seen so far
has been Edward II, performed by the Birmingham Royal Ballet....and it was superb! Anyone
who thinks ballet is just a group of guys prancing about in tights and tutus ought to see
this one! Edward II has a whole range of emotions running through it - passion, humour,
sexual electricity, sadness and shock. And the costumes - well seeing a bunch of guys on
stage dressed like mediaeval warriors (bit like how they dress on Xena or Hercules - you
know, all the studded leather gear) - certainly appealed to me! Especially when you see
how fit and muscular the dancers are.....
The pictures in the links left are from Edward II, but for those of you who don't know the
tragic and gory details behind the story, here goes......
Edward II came to the throne of England in 1307 and a year later
married the French princess, Isabella. One of the first things he did as King was to
recall his friend Piers Gaveston, who had been banished by Edward's father because of his
son's inordinate passion for Gaveston. Gaveston angered the barons and lords by flaunting
his newly bestowed riches and titles, given to him by Edward. Isabella was distraught by
the openly sexual relationship of the two men.
The barons, led by Warwick, Lancaster and Mortimer, signed a petition for the exile of
Gaveston, and persuaded Isabella to add her name. When Edward found out, he declared the
barons traitors to the crown, and a civil war broke out. The barons captured Gaveston and
executed him. An enraged Edward avenged the death by executing Warwick and Lancaster, and
exiling Mortimer.
Meanwhile, relations with France were deteriorating. Edward had refused to perform a
special oath of loyalty to Isabella's brother, Charles IV. A brief period of open warfare
ensued resulting in Isabella being sent to the French court to negotiate a settlement.
Ironically, during this trip she met up with the exiled Mortimer and they became lovers,
plotting to overthrow her husband with an invasion force from France, using the money
raised from the dowry given for the betrothal of her son, Prince Edward, with Philippa of
Hainault. Edward had taken another lover, Hugh Despenser, and when war began, they went
into hiding. They were later betrayed and Despenser was executed.
Isabella forced Edward to abdicate by threatening to kill their son. After being tortured,
Mortimer had the deposed king executed by means of inserting a red hot poker up his
backside. This was the means of executing homosexuals at the time, and also left no
visible marks of violence on the body. As they were Catholics, they believed that any such
marks would have condemned both Isabella and Mortimer to hell - hmm...as if their actions
so far wouldn't! In 1327, Edward's death allowed the young 14 year old Prince Edward to
become Edward III, under Isabella and Mortimer's control. Three years later Edward III
exiled his mother and had Mortimer executed for treason against his father. Rather makes
today's Royal Family dramas look like child's play, doesn't it?
