Exploring the eye-watering history of eunuchs

There were two categories of eunuch at the palace: black eunuchs and white eunuchs. Black eunuchs were Africans who served the concubines and officials in the harem together with chamber maidens of low rank. The white eunuchs were Europeans from the Balkans. They served the recruits at the palace school and were from 1582 prohibited from entering the harem.

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The eunuchs' guild -

Topkapi Palace is where the eunuchs' guild was established. This emasculated brotherhood eventually comprised around 200 eunuchs. As previously mentioned, some took to learning and literature, and served as tutors to the royal children; others rose to high administrative office.

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Middle Age spread -

The deliberate castration of males into eunuchs continued to flourish throughout the medieval period and into the 18th and 19th centuries.

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Bizarre and brutal -

The Skoptzy, or Skoptsy (meaning the castrated), also called the White Doves, were an obscure Christian sect that originated in 18th-century Czarist Russia. In order to attain their ideal of sanctity, its male members would subject themselves to painful castration. Women, meanwhile, chose a deliberate mastectomy, all in accordance with their teachings against sexual lust.

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Hitting the high notes -

The Italian practice of castrating boys in order to train them as adult soprano singers, or castrati, was a widespread custom in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was ended by Pope Leo XIII in 1878. Pictured is a portrait of the famous castrato singer Farinelli (1705–1782).

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Why become a eunuch? -

Besides protecting the virtue of a harem or the other previously mentioned motives, what other reasons were there for becoming a eunuch?

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Cash for cullions -

It was common among many families to 'donate' their young sons for emasculation in exchange for a cash reward. In this way it was also hoped the hapless youngsters would enjoy a more comfortable and prosperous life in a palace environment.

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The lesser of two evils -

Likewise, poverty also drove many adults to choose a life deprived of intercourse. With no economic means to lead an honest and worthwhile life, castration appeared the better option than turning to a life on the street and begging and stealing.

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A price worth paying -

Conversely, however, some men made a free choice in losing their "family jewels" for what they perceived as a far richer life enjoyed by palace eunuchs. Pictured is a eunuch of the Ottoman Sultan in the 1870s.

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Heads or tails? -

Equally, however, castration served as a barbaric form of punishment in many societies, quite often as an alternative to a death sentence.

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The emasculation method -

The emasculation method was crude and dangerous. A scalpel was used by knifers for the removal of external genitalia.

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Painful and primitive -

The operation was undertaken using primitive anesthetic: in China during the late Qing dynasty, hot chili sauce was applied to dull the pain.

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Eye-to-eye contact -

A pewter needle, or spigot, was carefully inserted into what was left of the patient's manhood to prevent urethral stricture. This also impeded his ability to urinate.

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Flow chart -

After three days the spigot was removed. The procedure was deemed successful if urine flowed out. If it didn't, the eunuch could expect a slow and painful death.

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The final cut -

Intentional castration was finally given the snip in the early 1920s, the eunuch's role having dried up by the early 20th century to put to an end to this barbaric and eye-watering job opportunity.

Sources: (Britannica) (South China Morning Post) (Oxford Academic)

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What is a eunuch? -

Put simply, a eunuch is a castrated male.

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When did eunuchs first appear? -

Eunuchs first appeared in remote antiquity, notably in China and the Middle East. Pictured is a group of court eunuchs depicted on a wall mural dating back to China's Tang dynasty (618–907 CE).

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Emasculated job opportunities -

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A cut above the rest -

But what kind of service are we talking about, and why would a man subject himself to such a brutal act of self-sabotage?

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Intentional castration -

Intentional castration was performed on those seeking employment as guards and servants in harems, or other women's quarters.

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Suitable applicants -

Eunuchs by definition were seen as the most suitable custodians of the many wives or concubines a ruler might have in his palace.

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Look but don't touch -

No matter how wild the desire or the temptation felt within, a eunuch's lot ended with his imagination.

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Chastity safeguarded -

His royal master, meanwhile, could relax knowing the chastity of his ladies was safeguarded.

Public Domain

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No threat -

As a less threatening servant, a eunuch actually wielded a fair bit of influence within his employer's inner circle.

NL Beeld

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Access all areas -

For example, as well as keeping a watchful eye on his master's maidens, a eunuch's position invariably allowed him unprecedented access to the royal court and the ear of the overlord.

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Rising to the occasion -

It was not unusual for eunuchs to raise themselves to positions of great power and trust.

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A position of power -

A eunuch of long standing could even become a bodyguard, better still a confidential adviser. And some were known to have held jobs as ministers and military commanders.

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Castrated caretakers -

The practice of employing eunuchs as court functionaries in China goes back to prehistory. But did you know that a small army of castrated caretakers actually ran the Forbidden City?

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Imperial duty -

History records eunuchs as being ensconced in the imperial residence during the reign of Han Huan Di, from 146 to 167 CE.

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Controlling presence -

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Mutilated menservants -

In the Ottoman Empire, eunuchs were typically slaves, seized from their homes and doomed to a life of mutilation and servitude.

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Guarding the Ottoman Court harem -

The Ottoman Court harem ensconced within the Topkapi Palace was under the strict administration of the eunuchs.

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Black and white -

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The eunuchs' guild -

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Middle Age spread -

The deliberate castration of males into eunuchs continued to flourish throughout the medieval period and into the 18th and 19th centuries.

Getty Images

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Bizarre and brutal -

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Hitting the high notes -

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Why become a eunuch? -

Besides protecting the virtue of a harem or the other previously mentioned motives, what other reasons were there for becoming a eunuch?

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Cash for cullions -

Getty Images

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The lesser of two evils -

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A price worth paying -

Public Domain

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Heads or tails? -

Equally, however, castration served as a barbaric form of punishment in many societies, quite often as an alternative to a death sentence.

NL Beeld

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The emasculation method -

The emasculation method was crude and dangerous. A scalpel was used by knifers for the removal of external genitalia.

Getty Images

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Painful and primitive -

The operation was undertaken using primitive anesthetic: in China during the late Qing dynasty, hot chili sauce was applied to dull the pain.

Getty Images

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Eye-to-eye contact -

A pewter needle, or spigot, was carefully inserted into what was left of the patient's manhood to prevent urethral stricture. This also impeded his ability to urinate.

Getty Images

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Flow chart -

After three days the spigot was removed. The procedure was deemed successful if urine flowed out. If it didn't, the eunuch could expect a slow and painful death.

Getty Images

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The final cut -

Intentional castration was finally given the snip in the early 1920s, the eunuch's role having dried up by the early 20th century to put to an end to this barbaric and eye-watering job opportunity.

Sources: (Britannica) (South China Morning Post) (Oxford Academic)

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Exploring the eye-watering history of eunuchs

An eye-watering account of the lives of eunuchs

22/10/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Society

To what end would you chase down a job? Well believe it or not, back in the day some guys were prepared to lose their manhood in order to work! Seriously. Two thousand years ago, securing a position as a eunuch was seen as a plum role. Except that as a condition of employment, any contract had to be signed off with castration. Yep, the "family jewels" would be handed over in exchange for a career that usually involved safeguarding the chastity of women. Incredibly though, a eunuch could end up wielding immense power and influence, even over the person who hired him in the first place, and the applications rolled in. But why would a man sacrifice the pleasures of the flesh for a vocation like this, and what were the long-term prospects?

Click through and read up on the eye-watering history of the eunuch.