Nowhere else in Europe were so many sodomites persecuted and burned at the stake during the late Middle Ages as in Flanders. It’s a phenomenon historian Jonas Roelens sheds fresh light on in his new book ‘De onuitspreekbare zonde’, ('The Unspeakable Sin').
"No city north of the Alps burned so many sodomites at the stake as Bruges in the 15th century." In 'The unspeakable sin', historian Jonas Roelens focuses in on the Christian concept of sins and more specifically, what was called the sin of sodomy, a huge taboo in the (late) Middle Ages.
"The unspeakable sin is a Biblical term used when referring to goings on in the twin cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, where men had sex with men. In the Christian religion, according to God, that was unacceptable. God is said to have destroyed the cities with fire and brimstone," says Roelens. "The term ‘unspeakable sin’ was used in the Middle Ages to refer to all kinds of forms of sexuality that were taboo," Roelens explains. Not just sex between two men, as in the Biblical story, although that was the dominant connotation that was associated with the term. "Actually, it is used to refer to all matters that are not aimed at procreation. So that also includes masturbation, bestiality and child abuse. You have 'natural sins', such as adultery and prostitution, but they were considered less serious than these 'unnatural sins', because a child could still be produced from them."
Festive 'purifications'
These so called 'unnatural sins' were not tolerated in the Low Countries. “Often, they led to a gruesome death penalty: you were sentenced to burn at the stake. That is a literal reference to the Biblical story, but it also has the symbolic meaning of a purifying effect. People are really erased from the city's memory."
These purifications were grand, triumphant events. "They took place in a public place, such as at the city gates or on a large square, with a large audience, songs and a parade," says Roelens, who compares it to football crowds or a big party.
Belgium leads the pack
These persecutions occurred throughout Europe, with a peak in the 15th and 16th centuries, certainly in Southern Europe. "But it must be said that our region, the Southern Netherlands, was unfortunately one of the leaders," says Roelens. "In fact, there is no city north of the Alps where so many sodomites were burned in the 15th century as in Bruges. In cities like Ghent and Leuven, the figures were also higher than in France or the present-day Netherlands."
There was no shortage of lifelong banishments, floggings and enormous pyres here. "A very strict regime was in place, especially when you compare it to other countries. The mortality rate among those accused in the Low Countries is 60 percent. That is a gigantic number. In comparison: during the Spanish Inquisition, the mortality rate was 10 to 15 percent, even though that court has a strict reputation."
In search of a scapegoat?
Why exactly there was so much homophobia in cities like Ghent and Bruges is a subject for debate. Roelens has his own theory. "I lean towards the scapegoat theory. It states that societies that are struggling feel the need to point the finger at a minority group." In the 15th century, sodomites were labelled as scapegoats. "Certainly, in Bruges," says Roelens. "Things were not going well at that time: there were urban revolts, the city rebelled against the ruler, merchants increasingly left, the Zwin estuary – Bruges' outlet to the North Sea - was silting up..."
In other words, the heyday of the 13th and 14th centuries was well beyond us. "Certain groups took control and punished sodomites. The idea was that if they didn't do it, God would intervene again bringing famine, war, the plague or other economic disasters."
Where the plague passed, convictions immediately became more frequent, Roelens explains.
Revealing the invisible
In order to map out sodomy and its persecution throughout history, Roelens delved into the archives. Although this was not always easy.
"The fact sodomy cannot be named is also present in legal sources," he says. "You can read pages and pages about the banal theft of a ball of wool, but when it comes to sodomy, the focus is often simply on the cost of the cremation. You are often left frustrated: was it a one-night stand? A relationship that lasted several years?" "Fortunately, there are also verdicts and witness accounts compiled by the city authorities, where details can be found."
Certain bathhouses and city gates were known as 'dating places'. "It is also striking that people do it quite publicly: in an inn, in a dormitory, in churches, fields, the hospital... no place is too crazy to perform sodomy."
"These are not the stories told in traditional history lessons or during a standard tourist tour," says Roelens. "Yet I think it is important to tell these kinds of stories. How as a society you deal with minority groups, perhaps says as much about Flanders as the splendor of the Flemish Primitives at this time."