(Image copyright: Zürich, Zentralbibliothek, Ms. A 5, p. 994; ca. 1483) https://doi.org/10.7891/e-manuscripta-87065 (PDF-page: 1061), Public Domain)
At the core of ‘The 11th Code’ lies the question whether or not Martin Malterer can – should – live a life accepting himself as the person he is, or if he should abide by the Laws, Doctrines and Codes he had sworn to obey. Much of Martin’s moral dilemma circles around the fact that he feels attracted to other men: the sin of sodomy.
What is sodomy?
Back in the 14th century, when Martin lived, the word ‘homosexuality’ did not yet exist. Instead, same-sex love was referred to as ‘sodomy’. The word derives from the city of Sodom (as in Sodom and Gomorrah) which, according to the Old Testament, was destroyed by God because of its inhabitants’ evil deeds. There’s a passages that suggests that a mob raped Lot’s male guests, thus connecting the term to (male) homosexuality.
Sodomy as understood in the Middle Ages, however, encompassed every sexual practise outside what the Church sanctified. And the only sort of sex the Church allowed was that between a married man and woman, and only to perceive a child (God forbid anyone having fun in bed!)
Sodomy throughout the (Middle) Ages
From examples such as Alexander the Great /Hephaestion and Achilles/Patroclus, we know that same-sex relationships in the pre-Christian Ancient World were not forbidden, even accepted. As Christianity gained an ever surer foothold, however, sex between two men or two women was soon declared a sin. It was increasingly regarded as ‘unnatural’ and ‘against the divine order’.
Interestingly, until the 1200s, sodomy was rarely even punished however. Since all ‘unsanctioned’ forms of sex fell under the term sodomy, that also included intercourse with prostitutes. And even the Church did not dare go that far to prosecute the whores …
In the High/Late Middle Ages, the sin of sodomy – in the sense of homosexuality – had become Canon Law and would be actively persecuted. Punishment was swift, often without trial, and could even result in death. In other cases, fines or imprisonment was all the accused had to suffer.
Homosexuality & the Bible
The Bible was the Law – and the Law had to be obeyed. Interpretation of ‘God’s Word’ was the prerogative of the clergy.
Several verses can be cited that would held the Church to argue homosexuality as a sin:
“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.”
(Leviticus 18:22)
“Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
(Hebrews 13:4)
Verses like these made it of course easy for the clergy to condemn same-sex relationships as sinful (though you’ll see that Leopold in ‘The 11th Code’ will have his own interpretation of Leviticus … 😉).
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Note: These views and opinions do, of course, not reflect my personal opinion. This text does also not claim to be complete but wants to serve as a brief basis for what sort of historical and moral circumstances the characters in my book find themselves.
Sources: Wikipedia, various articles