Abstract
Inter-sexual mate competition occurs any time opposite-sex individuals simultaneously seek to acquire or maintain exclusive access to the same sexual partner. This underappreciated form of mate competition has been anecdotally documented in several avian and mammalian species, and systematically described among Japanese macaques and humans. Here, we extend the concept of inter-sexual mate competition by reassessing a remarkable series of Portuguese letters, penned in 1664 and later discovered and translated by Mott and Assunção (J Homosex 16:91–104, 1989). The letters comprise one side of a correspondence between two males, former lovers who were scrutinized by the Portuguese Inquisition. After ending the relationship, the recipient of the letters was betrothed to a woman, which provoked a jealous response from his jilted male lover and pleas to reunite. We argue that the letters portray a prolonged sequence of inter-sexual mate competition in which a male and female competitor vied for the same man. An established taxonomy of mate competition tactics was applied to the behavior of both competitors illustrating many parallels with contemporary examples of inter-sexual mate competition. Through this comparison, we show that modern mate competition taxonomies can be fruitfully applied to historical texts and that inter-sexual mate competition occurred hundreds of years before the present. Other examples of inter-sexual mate competition are likely to exist in the historical record, providing a rich source of scientific information if appropriate theoretical frameworks are employed. Indeed, any time individuals are attracted to sexual partners who behave in a bisexual manner, then inter-sexual mate competition can ensue with members of the other sex.
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Notes
Much sexual behavior, especially among humans, does not result in reproduction. Here we employ these terms to differentiate sexual interactions between individuals who could potentially reproduce (i.e., opposite-sex interactions) from those for whom no reproduction could ever occur (i.e., same-sex interactions).
This terminology is not intended negatively, but instead conveys attempts to influence a target of competition through either benefit-provisioning (i.e., Positive Inducements including providing care, support, resources, etc.) or cost-inflicting tactics (i.e., Negative Inducements including emotional pressure or social punishment), consistent with other work on mate competition tactics (Barbaro et al., 2016; Buss, 1988; Shackelford et al., 2005).
Androphilia refers to sexual attraction and arousal to adult males.
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Portions of this work were completed while the first author was funded by a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada (grant number 756-2020-0107). The second author was supported by an Insight Grant from the SSHRC of Canada (grant number 435-2017-0866). These funding sources played no role in analysis or interpretation of data, writing of the report, or the decision to submit the article for publication.
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Appendix: Mott and Assunção (1989) Translated Letters
Appendix: Mott and Assunção (1989) Translated Letters
Below are the unabridged translations of the letters written by Francisco Correa Netto in 1664, which were translated from Portuguese to English by Mott and Assunção (1989). The translated letters were originally published in the Journal of Homosexuality (https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/wjhm20) and are reprinted with permission obtained from Taylor & Francis Ltd. (Mott & Assunção, 1989)
Letter 1:
Senhor Manoel Viegas:
If men sleep with me, it is not to find a pussy. They place the cock between my legs, and there they have their way. I do not achieve it. If Your Grace (Vossa Merce) would wish the same, dispose of me, I am at your service, to whom I swear unto death, to offer what is needed, and the losses are mine.
Francisco Correa Netto
(Mott & Assunção, 1989, p. 93).
Letter 2:
Tender gift to me and longing of my senses, the tranquility of my thoughts about you is the proof of how much I desire and love you!
Now I shall not have peace nor hope of having you, because I see that not even with the best argument will my pledge serve you, heart wounded to death, heart never to be released from my affection for you.
My love and bounty: my feelings cannot rest an hour, either by day or night, without bringing to mind your companionship and your sweet words that are continually reflected in my memory.
Mirror of my sight and joy, if I have any right to you, bring peace to my heart and confirm the news I received this evening, that you were betrothed to a niece of Francisco Luiz last Monday. I would have said that by Easter you would be betrothed to me. You implied that often, and you gave your word on it. But do as you please: in spite of this I shall not stop doing what I can to be at your service. And remembering your arms and the kiss you gave me, that is what torments me most! And you know this subject well, in that heart of your loins, it was that which desired me, with its craving to fly up. There was no Lent for that heart in your loins, when I touched it with my fingers, and instantly it sprang up! And you, so evil, who did not want to do what comes so naturally!
Goodbye, my darling, my happiness, my true love!
My idea is that, even though you may be married, you do not have to break your promise to be the betrothed of your devoted Francisquinha. It seems to me you told Manoel da Costa that if I complied with your whims, even then you would not come to me, because you do not care, and it was all sham.
Here is paper to answer: Now you have no excuse not to write for lack of paper.
(Mott & Assunção, 1989, pp. 94–95).
Letter 3:
Manual Viega:
Our Lord allow you to live as many happy years as you desire!
I was not so black-hearted that you should say publicly that I should not go to your house. If you wished to say that, you should write or tell me privately. However, not even for this affront will I become your enemy; and if you need something, advise me in writing.
I sent your clothes to be washed. Go to the house of Matias Araujo to order some shoes. And I will give you everything I have promised. And for the fiancée, thirty alqueires of wheat. As for my letters, tear them up, as I will destroy yours. Make me a guitar (viola) by your own hand, for which I will pay you. Heaven guard you all the years you desire, friend.
Francisco Correa Netto.
(Mott & Assunção, 1989, p. 96).
Letter 4:
False Traitor!
False deluded love: with what words can I express this sentiment? After Your Grace (Vossa Merce) left, news came to me that Your Grace intended to possess Maria Nunes, who does not conceal this from anyone, not even from me, saying that Your Grace gave her some beads and pin money, saying that you desired her much. And en route to the shoemaker's to repair some shoes, we talked about biscuits, and she said that Your Grace gave her some, and she said there were none so perfect. So it seems that Your Grace has a great love for her, because she says that you come from your lovers, bringing her their gifts.
My destiny is wretched. I was confident until this, thinking that I possessed Your Grace. Better that I were put to death a thousand times than to live with something that I remember that I did to some person some time ago. But after all, if she goes around telling everyone that she saw what you gave me on my finger, my heart will burst within my chest, and I had to excuse this by saying that I had purchased the ring from Your Grace. Vossa Merce has left my heart besieged, with my sentiments manifest in my tears; and when I see the person I desire,
I am sad and jealous, and so Your Grace grows happier. As the proverb says, "One remembers where the honey was" ("O melfazpor onde olembrem"), and this is how I must be with Your Grace, inasmuch as Your Grace pays so little attention. Your Grace has so many, and one will be the worse for it, and I am that one, because I had such love for Your Grace, that just seeing you made me so happy that I could not eat. It is certain that “whoever loves more strongly deserves least” (quem mais ama, menos merece). I will leave my heart afar, and I will look at the ground whenever I pass Your Grace.
Heaven protect Your Grace for the sake of your two lovers!
(Mott & Assunção, 1989, p. 97).
Letter 5:
False and Flatterer:
If I could mock, scoffing at someone in love! But in the end, quem mais ama menos merece. For me there were only tears, tears caused by you and by so many skirts. Now she has what I desired. So often I have sent you word not to pay attention to me, but why do you dine with your women friends rather than with me, and then why do you send me notes that are lies? Those women were jealous of me because I wore someone else’s ring. They said that I should return it to its owner. And here it is. I don’t want anything of yours in my possession. Do the same with what you have of mine, and that will give me much pleasure. Do not ever speak to me or look at me again. I return the ring to encourage the hilarity of your lady friends.
(Mott & Assunção, 1989, p. 98).
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Semenyna, S.W., Vasey, P.L. Inter-sexual Mate Competition in Humans: A Historical Example from Seventeenth Century Portugal. Arch Sex Behav (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-024-02833-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-024-02833-5