Queer Places:
Schloss Lübbenau, Schloßbezirk 6, 03222 Lübbenau/Spreewald, Germany

Johannes Hermann Rochus Maximilian zu Lynar (December 3, 1859 - June 30, 1934), holding the noble title of Graf zu Lynar, was born on Saturday, December 3, 1859, in Gross-Beuchow. He was born into an aristocratic family as the son of Graf Hermann Maximilian zu Lynar (1825–1914) and Gräfin Bertha Agnes Louise zu Solms-Baruth (1832–1909). His paternal grandparents were Hermann Rochus zu Lynar (1797–1878) and Gräfin Mathilde von Voss (1803–1838), while his maternal grandparents were Graf Friedrich Heinrich Ludwig zu Solms-Baruth (1795–1879) and Gräfin Amalie Therese Helene Bertha zu Solms-Baruth (1801–1832). He grew up alongside his brother, Rochus Friedrich zu Lynar (1857–1928), and extended family members including his paternal uncle Hermann Albert zu Lynar (1827–1887) and maternal relatives such as 1st Fürst Friedrich Hermann Carl Adolph zu Solms-Baruth (1821–1904) and Marie Wilhelmine zu Solms-Baruth (1823–1910).

Continuing his family's high social standing, Lynar became a brother-in-law to the Grand Duke of Hesse. On Saturday, September 28, 1889, he married Princess Anna Elisabeth zu Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1868–1950) in Lich. The couple had a son, Wilhelm Rochus zu Lynar (1891–1955), among other children.

During his professional life, Lynar served as a military officer. However, his career came to an abrupt end due to a scandal regarding his personal conduct. His valet formally requested to be reassigned to another officer, stating that he no longer wished to serve Lynar because, unlike others, Lynar expected his valet to allow him to masturbate him. Following this disclosure, Lynar resigned his military commission and retired with a suitable pension. He passed away on Saturday, June 30, 1934, at the age of 74 in Dresden, Germany.

References:

Homosexuals in History, A Study of Ambivalence in Society, Literature and the Arts, 1977 by A.L. Rowse

Homintern: How Gay Culture Liberated the Modern World Paperback – November 21, 2017 by Gregory Woods

Other references:

• Uniform Fantasies in Imperial Germany (and related historical texts such as Rite of Sodomy and Hidden from History: Reclaiming the Gay and Lesbian Past) – Document the military court records, trials, and charges involving Major Count Johannes zu Lynar within the exclusive Garde du Corps regiment in Potsdam.
• Anders als die Andern by Erwin in het Panhuis – Details the legal proceedings, the 1908 court-martial verdict, and subsequent imprisonment of Lynar under Paragraph 175 for homosexual acts.
• Genealogical and Archival Databases (such as historical nobility and family lineage records detailing the House of Lynar and the House of Solms) – Provide the vital statistics, birth and death dates, ancestral lineage, marriage records to Princess Anna Elisabeth zu Solms-Hohensolms-Lich, and information on his siblings and descendants.

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