10 Tragic REAL Star-Crossed Lovers From History

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at some of the most famous and heartbreaking star crossed couplings across history.

Lili Elbe & Gerda Wegener

It’s been said that it’s better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. This quote is encapsulated perfectly in the ill-fated yet genuine connection between Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. During the former’s transition, the latter was incredibly supportive. Lili was the muse behind some of Wegener’s famous paintings; a permanent reminder of their bond. Unfortunately, Danish law decreed that marriage between two women couldn’t be recognized. Thus, their 25-year union was officially annulled in 1930. Though this meant the end of their relationship, the sacrifice allowed Elbe to truly come into herself. Tragically, she died less than a year later, and Gerda remarried— but their previous attachment still lives on today in her work.

Charles V & Isabella of Portugal

It was a love so powerful that its end nearly drove a man to the brink of insanity. Despite being arranged, the relationship between Charles V and Isabella of Portugal was genuine. His romantic gestures even led to the carnation becoming Spain’s national flower, and a permanent reminder of their affections. Unfortunately, their union was short-lived. After 13 years, Isabella passed away in 1539 after childbirth. Charles was understandably devastated, and became a shell of the man he once was. He isolated himself for months to mourn, wore black every day, and never remarried. When he met his own end in 1558, he was reportedly holding the same cross Isabela held on her own deathbed.

Queen Victoria & Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha

Charles V wasn’t the only royal to be affected by the loss of his soulmate. Queen Victoria’s affection for Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was clear from the beginning. She waxed poetic both about his looks and the happiness he gave her. She proposed to him in 1839, making her own choice of spouse in a move that was rare for royal women throughout history. Their wedding in 1840 was reportedly the happiest day of her life. Just over 20 years later, Albert contracted typhoid and died— and Victoria was never the same. She withdrew from the public eye, and wore black to signify her permanent mourning. When she passed away in 1901, she had a cast of his hand placed in her own, before being buried next to him.

Clark Gable & Carole Lombard

It may seem like star-crossed couples are a classical phenomenon, but there have been more recent prominent pairings. Despite being known as a playboy, Hollywood giant Clark Gable found true love in his past co-star Carole Lombard. The two reconnected in 1936 and quickly fell for each other. By 1939, they were married. The period soon became known as one of the best in Gable’s life. Throughout World War II, Lombart became involved in the war effort, which led to her own demise in a plane crash in 1942. Gable was devastated by the loss. He lost 20 pounds and even joined the Air Force, fulfilling one of Lombard’s wishes, even though she wouldn’t be there to see it.

Shah Jahan & Mumtaz Mahal

This may be one of the most prominent displays of devotion in the world. Emperor Shah Jahan I and Mumtaz Mahal married in 1612, and were a powerful couple. The two ruled side-by-side until 1631, when Mahal passed away during childbirth. Her loss had an immediate impact on her children and husband, with the latter having regular bouts of sobbing and even reportedly isolating himself for a year. When he returned, he had a mausoleum built in Mumtaz’s honor. Twenty-two years later, the result was a breathtakingly beautiful structure made of ivory and marble, known as the Taj Mahal. To this day, it’s the ultimate symbol of their love, as well as their shared final resting place.

Salvador Dalí & Federico García Lorca

He’s so known for his eclectic art that it’s hard to imagine him in a romantic relationship at all. Yet, throughout the 1920s, Salvador Dalí and Federico García Lorca found themselves drawn to each other. As young creatives, they formed a strong bond that many felt was stronger than friendship. Lorca in particular felt an extreme passion for the painter, which opened his eyes to his own sexuality. The poet even penned “Ode to Dalí” in the mid 1920s. However, the surrealist artist claimed that the relationship was platonic, and ended up marrying a woman named Gala. Despite that, Dalí and Lorca maintained their emotionally intense connection up until the latter’s assassination in 1936. The speculation around their feelings still lives on today.

Qays ibn al-Mulawwah & Layla al-Aamiriya

To have a love so beautifully tragic that it becomes the topic of its own legend is truly special. In the 7th century, Qays ibn al-Mulawwah was a poet for the Banu ‘Amir tribe. He met his soulmate, Layla, when they were children. As an adult, his feelings never faded, and he began to write hauntingly beautiful poetry about her. Layla’s father separated the young couple before a relationship could fully blossom. What happened next isn’t known by historians. Apparently, Qays was eventually found by Layla’s grave and engraved a poem into it. While that hasn’t been verified, the poem itself is— and it’s so heartfelt that it could make even the most cynical individual believe in love again.

Mildred & Richard Loving

The government should have no place in a loving union between two consenting adults. Unfortunately, the laws preventing groups from marrying prove they don’t agree. One such decree was the Racial Integrity Act of 1924, which barred interracial marriages in Virginia. Mildred and Richard Loving defied the rule and were wed in 1958, with disastrous consequences. They were arrested in the middle of the night and tried, before having to choose between prison or leaving the state. They chose the latter, but that didn’t stop them from fighting for their rights. Their case made its way up to the Supreme Court, where they finally won. Unfortunately, Richard perished in a car accident less than a decade later.

Héloïse & Peter Abelard

It wouldn’t be a list about star-crossed lovers without them. Ill-fated from the very beginning, the complex story between Héloïse and Peter Abelard has mystified historians for centuries. They first fell for each other as student and tutor, a pairing that was frowned upon for good reason. The forbidden couple secretly got married following the joining of the church. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before things went awry. Peter had sent Héloïse to a nunnery, and in response her uncle arranged for him to be attacked and castrated in the dead of night. While they couldn’t be together physically, their affection was defined by a series of romantic letters, some of which have become the foundation of French literature.

Cleopatra & Mark Antony

It’s no wonder why retellings of their love have persisted well into the modern day. Despite Mark Antony having both a wife and a duty to Rome, he found himself inexplicably drawn to Cleopatra. The two started a highly controversial relationship, even coming together to overtake their rivals. Unfortunately, their high wouldn’t last. In 31 BC, the tides suddenly turned during the Battle of Actium. In a fit of panic, Antony attempted to take his own life, assuming Cleopatra had done the same. He ended up dying in her arms, leaving her alone to face the Romans. She joined him in death weeks later. To this day, Antony and Cleopatra remain one of the most tragic examples of doomed romance.

Which star-crossed relationship do you think was doomed from the start? Let us know in the comments below.