Chappell Roan (R) has been in comparison with Seventeenth-century French noble swordswoman Julie d’Aubigny (L). However what’s a “sword lesbian?” (Inventive Commons/Getty)
Lesbian pop star Chappell Roan appeared on the MTV Video Music Awards this week, delivering a fiery efficiency that drew comparisons to Joan of Arc – and triggered the phrase “sword lesbian” to pattern in Google.
Chappell Roan was named finest new artist on the ceremony after being nominated in 4 classes and carried out her hit single “Good Luck, Babe!”, which had been up for track of the summer time.
Carrying a knight’s armour, she walked by means of the gates of a medieval fort earlier than firing a burning bolt from a crossbow, like a medieval Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
She was rapidly in comparison with historic heroine Joan of Arc, who led the French military to victory over the English at Orléans in 1429. Nonetheless, many viewers suppose she and her sword-brandishing dancers may even have been a nod to Julie d’Aubigny – one other well-known French girl.
Who was Julie d’Aubigny?
Julie d’Aubigny, also referred to as Mademoiselle Maupin, was a sword-wielding opera singer in Seventeenth-century France, who’s broadly believed to have been queer.
Little is understood for sure about her life, though she was typically the topic of gossip and hearsay – notably in regard to her sexuality and relationships, and a few historians consider d’Aubigny was LGBTQ+.
At some stage, she was undoubtedly in love with a younger girl – her first expertise with somebody of the identical intercourse – who was despatched away to a convent in Avignon to forestall the connection creating.
However, d’Aubigny wasn’t deterred and joined the convent herself to save lots of her lover from a life as a nun. The couple set a room on hearth and left the physique of a lifeless nun behind within the hope it could be mistaken for the younger girl. Mainly, they tried to pretend her dying.
So, it’s honest to theorise that Roan’s fiery efficiency might need been recreating that scene.
Though d’Aubigny was a famend opera singer, it was her sword-wielding and action-packed life that many know her for now.
Are Julie d’Aubigny and Chappell Roan sword lesbians?
So, with all that in thoughts: what’s a sword lesbian?
Merely put, it’s a lesbian considering swords or different comparable weapons. They may need to personal and wield these themselves or they may merely admire different girls or non-binary individuals who use them.
This can be a largely on-line time period, with subreddits devoted to the topic and discussions circulating throughout different social media platforms.
Many historic figures, equivalent to Joan of Arc and d’Aubigny, are thought-about to be queer in hindsight, they usually had been each sword-wielding icons. Additionally, highly effective feminine warrior characters on movie and in TV are sometimes queer coded – or are out and out LGBTQ+ icons in their very own proper, equivalent to 90s heroine Xena: Warrior Princess.
A e-newsletter exploring the topic quoted one Reddit consumer as saying that “a part of the sword lesbian trope is the results of historic lesbians… being invisible to historical past” or doing one thing that “commanded the respect of males” equivalent to becoming a member of the army.
After all, on condition that this can be a trendy time period, we are able to’t know for positive if d’Aubigny would have recognized as such however she did have lesbian relationships and carried a sword, so make of that what you’ll.
Equally, Roan has not described herself as a sword lesbian in these actual phrases, nevertheless she has beforehand expressed curiosity in swords or comparable weapons.
Share your ideas! Tell us within the feedback under, and keep in mind to maintain the dialog respectful.