Strength and Kindness Can Coexist: The World That Has Viewed Male Monarchs as "Mothers" - The Impact of "King = Mother": From the Bible to Francis I and Modern Politics

The Paradox of "King as Mother"

"A good ruler is not only a strong warrior but also a nurturing and protective figure." Such an "obvious" notion often becomes invisible in historical texts. Recent research has unearthed a long cultural history where kings have been referred to as "mothers" as well as "fathers." Historians Luis R. Corteguera from the University of Kansas and his collaborator Irene Olivares have systematically re-examined the vast metaphors, imagery, and vocabulary that liken kingship to motherhood, particularly in early modern Europe, demonstrating the validity of the paradox of "King as Mother." The research findings were published in the 'Journal of Women’s History' and also disseminated as news. Phys.orgJWomensHistory

Contents of the Research: Why "Mother"?

The authors argue that the legitimacy of kingship has been reinforced by the image of the "nurturer," using metaphors rooted in the Bible, classics, and observations of nature. For example, the words from the Book of Isaiah in the Bible—"Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers"—institutionally supported the imagination of the king as a "nurturing" figure. Such narratives expanded the relationship between king and subjects from merely "father-son" to the intimacy of "mother-child," functioning to justify law and governance. Phys.orgKU News

Visual Evidence: Androgynous Kings, Nursing Kings

The examples are vivid. A portrait of French King François I depicted as an ambiguous body with a bearded face and feminine physique, or the seemingly outlandish imagery of a "nursing king." These flamboyant allegories served as intuitive media to convey the qualities of governance—approachability, inclusiveness, forgiveness—to the people of the time. By layering the story of "milk" that nourishes the community over the stern decisiveness, a persuasive power of rule beyond mere force was created. Phys.org

Beyond Europe: Rivers, Kings, and the Metaphor of Breasts

The metaphor is not confined to the West. In ancient Egypt, the Nile River, which nourished the land, was personified as a male figure with breasts, and this image of "feeding" was also associated with the representation of the Pharaoh. The research points out that such symbols of nurturing can be found in diverse regions such as India, Japan, and China. The combination of masculine bravery and maternal care has been a recurring rhetoric of governance across time and space. Phys.org

How It Illuminates Female Authority

At first glance, "King as Mother" might seem like a device reinforcing male dominance. However, the authors argue that this rhetoric also contributed to understanding female authority. By likening male kings to mothers, the fixed notion of "motherhood = private/domestic" was extended into the public realm, potentially preparing a vocabulary to discuss women's political capabilities (at least on the level of metaphor). The concept of maternal rule is thought to have influenced debates over the legitimacy of female rulers. JWomensHistory

Associations with Modern Politics

Researchers point out that modern political figures also carry maternal aspects of "protection." Even for U.S. President Donald Trump (as of 2025), known for his rhetoric of being a "strong man," the language of "protection" and care is subtly present in his words to supporters, according to observers. The point here is not to evaluate good or bad, but to offer a historical insight that rule has always required narratives of "security" and "nurturing." Phys.org

What's New: Reading the History of Power through

While there is a rich history of discourse portraying kings as fathers, this research is novel in systematically shedding light on the duality of father and mother, interpreting across imagery, language, and natural metaphors. Care is not a virtue of the private sphere but a public technique and a resource for legitimacy—introducing this perspective reveals the king's mercy, pardons, aid for the poor, disaster response, and policies on childbirth and famine as a continuous "politics of nurturing."

"Snapshot of SNS Reactions"

Starting from news distribution (Phys.org, KU's public relations), secondary distribution by overseas media spread rapidly. The impactful headlines and symbolic expressions like "nursing king" were easily shared, and comments touching on religious text quotes were notable. On the other hand, there were cautious voices warning, "Isn't this too much reinterpretation of the past with modern gender views?" Opinions are divided. At the very least, it certainly challenged the linear understanding of kingship as masculinity. Phys.orgKU NewsJWomensHistoryLa República

Key Points Highlighted by the Media

The reports generally cover: ① that it is a peer-reviewed study published in an academic journal (Journal of Women’s History), ② examples of imagery such as François I and the "Nile with Breasts," and ③ implications for modern politics as "strength as protector." The tone of the research introduction is closer to presenting "overlooked auxiliary lines" than sensational assertions. Phys.orgJWomensHistory

Why It Is Gaining Attention Now

From corporate to administrative sectors, leaders worldwide are required to have a composite skill set of "strength + care." Crisis response, immigration and welfare, childcare and caregiving—all cannot be sustained by force alone, and policies that "nurture" society influence evaluations. Reading the politics of care from the history of kingship could help dismantle fixed gender role stereotypes and contribute to redesigning practical governance capabilities.

Perspective for Readers: How Metaphors Connect to Policy

• Communication: Messages of "protection" during crises quickly reinforce the legitimacy of power.

• Institutional Design: Designing redistribution and safety nets is easier to understand when linked to the narrative of "nurturing."

• Ethics of Representation: While reinterpretation of historical imagery requires caution not to overly project modern values, it also has the power to illuminate previously unseen relationships.

Conclusion

The seemingly radical proposition of "King as Mother" was actually a task of recalling a universal rhetoric of history. The tension between paternal decisiveness and maternal nurturing influences the sustainability of communities. The history of governance is also a history of care.

References (Main Sources)

• Phys.org "Male monarchs throughout history portrayed as 'mother' figures…" (September 8, 2025) Phys.org

• Journal of Women’s History (Summer 2025 Issue: Corteguera & Olivares "King as Mother… ") JWomensHistory

• University of Kansas (KU News Public Relations Article) KU News

• Examples of Secondary Distribution in Peripheral Media (SSBCrack, La República) SSBCrack NewsLa República

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