Sex with the Queen – Eleanor Herman

And now, with the bride waiting, Alfonso's anxious ministers finally prevailed upon the king to row out to the ship. At first glance Maria Francisca finally understood all the rumors about her new husband. He was so terribly obese that he looked like a huge barrel set on two stubby pegs. Too lazy to leave his bed for meals, Alfonso was served his huge portions lying down. Required to hear Mass in the morning, he allowed the priests to celebrate it in his bedroom but insisted they not wake him.

Alfonso was so terrified of catching cold when he did venture forth that he wore six or seven mismatched coats, one on top of the other, and three or four hats, perched one on top of the other. When this epitome of royal grandeur was presented to his lovely bride, he made a face -- a grin thought some, a grimace said others -- and left. The new queen looked with shock at the ungainly bulk of her retreating husband, and then her eyes strayed to his handsome, slender brother bowing before her. It must have been a relief to her in the coming months that her repulsive husband never once touched her. The king rarely set foot in the queen's apartments, but his brother visited for several hours each day. Bereft of a real husband, Maria Francisca became close; some said too close; to her brother-in-law.

Because the marriage remained unconsummated, Prince Pedro and the queen were keenly aware of the possibility of an annulment. And if the marriage were annulled, perhaps they could receive a papal dispensation and marry each other. If Alfonso were put away for mental incompetence, they could rule Portugal. To this end they formed their own faction at court "the anti-Alfonso faction" and started winning powerful courtiers over to their side. For Alfonso was no better a king than he was a husband; his cruel favorites acted with impunity, and the country was swiftly falling into a state of anarchy. The queen?s relationship with Pedro offered political advantages to the nobles who encouraged it. No outraged accusations of adultery would echo through the Portuguese court to condemn the queen.

Alfonso, fascinated by sex despite his impotence, often hired talented prostitutes to climb into his bed and stimulate him as best they could. When he had had enough, he invited his friends, who had been watching, to jump into bed and finish the business. The king received a certain satisfaction from watching others reach climax even if he could not.

The queen, unconcerned by her husband's pathetic escapades with whores, was deeply concerned that he seemed desirous of doing the same thing with her; playing with her and then calling in his favorites to finish the job so she would become pregnant. A pregnancy would solve all his problems; he would remain king, a virile potent king, and eclipse the despised Pedro forever.