In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the close bond between Hans Capon and Henry has sparked speculation about a possible romance – but could such a relationship between two men have realistically existed in late medieval Bohemia?
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is known for its obsessive attention to historical accuracy – mud, blood, and medieval misery included. But with the announcement of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, a question has stirred among fans: What if the gallant, wine-sodden Hans Capon and our ever-loyal Henry had actually fallen for each other?
Could a gay romance have realistically existed in the Bohemian world of the early 1400s – or would it have shattered the illusion of realism the series is built upon?
Let’s dig into the historical backdrop of same-gender desire in the Middle Ages to see whether such a storyline would be purely anachronistic fantasy – or an overlooked truth hiding beneath the chainmail.
Homosexuality: Then And Now
Today, the idea of queer relationships is framed within a modern context of identity, rights, and community. But in the pre-modern world, sexual behavior wasn’t interpreted through the same lens. Terms like "gay" or "homosexual" didn’t exist as categories of personal identity.
Instead, acts were judged – and often harshly – through the lens of sin, morality, and the all-dominating influence of Christian doctrine.Ancient Rome, where same-gender relations were once relatively normalized (though strictly within roles of dominance and submission), gave way to early Christian ideals that increasingly condemned such behavior.
Over the centuries, homosexuality was reframed as “against nature,” especially by theologians. By the late Middle Ages, such acts were not only sinful – they were criminal.
Same-Gender Desire In The Early 1400s
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is set in 15th-century Bohemia, a period when church and state were increasingly aligned in their condemnation of sodomy. Influenced by the teachings of theologists Aquinas, most Christian authorities by this time viewed homosexual acts as grave offenses against both divine and natural law.Civil penalties could be brutal. In parts of Europe, men accused of sodomy were castrated or even executed – burned at the stake, as in the infamous case of Richard Puller von Hohenburg in 1482. Lesbian relationships, though less frequently punished, were not exempt from mutilation or death.
However, this was also a period of contradiction and complexity. In monastic settings, same-gender emotional bonds and even erotic desire were acknowledged – though often wrapped in language of spiritual brotherhood or temptation.
Saints' lives and monastic writings offer glimpses of intimate male relationships, sometimes filled with longing, affection, and physical attraction. These texts weren’t necessarily supportive, but they suggest that same-gender intimacy was far from absent.In elite circles like that of Hans Capon – a nobleman with access to books, clergy, and private quarters – it’s possible that a discreet, emotionally intense relationship could have blossomed.
It would have required secrecy, subtlety, and social navigation, but it would not have been historically impossible.
Would A Gay Romance Be Realistic In Kingdom Come 2?
From a gameplay standpoint, a queer romance between Henry and Hans might raise eyebrows among purists – but not because it’s “unrealistic.”
Same-gender affection existed, even in the most devout corners of Christendom. The real constraint was not desire, but discretion.
A romantic relationship between Hans and his closest friend is indeed possible – their bond could deepen beyond mere friendship.
However, even if they did become intimate, the historical context would be a significant factor: as a young nobleman, Hans was expected to marry and continue his family line.
An openly gay relationship would have been highly unrealistic at that time, at least without serious social repercussions.
The game acknowledges this tension without fully resolving it, leaving it to the player to decide whether Henry and Hans's story is one of quiet tragedy, resistance or something in between.