The 20 Most Famous Love Triangles in History

It is one of the most famous love triangles in history, for it not only destroyed a marriage; it helped reshape a country. Henry VIII’s determination to leave Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn led to a major religious and political break with Rome. Catherine refused to step aside quietly, which only exacerbated the tensions. 

It was not a love triangle in the traditional sense—where two people are in love with the same person—but there was a great deal of love among the three of them. Julia was the daughter of Julius Caesar, who had offered her hand in marriage to his ally, Pompey, in order to strengthen their political alliance. Despite their 30-year age difference, Pompey and Julia formed a deep and affectionate bond, and she was regarded as the human link that held the empire together. It was only after her death in childbirth that things began to unravel, leading to the Roman Civil War.

Mark Antony really knew how to complicate both his love life and international politics. He was married to Octavia, who happened to be the sister of Octavian, Cleopatra’s sworn enemy, while remaining deeply attached to Cleopatra herself. This situation did little to maintain peace in Rome. As long as Cleopatra remained at the center of Antony’s life, this love triangle became at once a love story, a propaganda tool, and a disaster that shook the empire.

This love triangle intertwined marriage, power, and survival in a way that could only exist in the royal politics of antiquity. Cleopatra was married to her brother Ptolemy XIII, but her alliance and romance with Julius Caesar turned her entire world upside down. What might seem like a simple love story was, in reality, a struggle for control of Egypt. It is precisely this blend of love, ambition, and political intrigue that makes this story extraordinary even today.

Napoleon loved Josephine, but love has its limits when an emperor decides he needs an heir. After divorcing her, he married Marie-Louise of Austria, sparking one of the most talked-about romantic upheavals of his time. Josephine remained dear to his heart, which lent the whole story a lingering sadness.

It is one of the oldest and most famous love triangles in history, and it’s not exactly a happy story. David lusted after Bathsheba even though she was married to Uriah, his loyal soldier. After sleeping with Bathsheba, David had Uriah killed to cover up his adultery. This story remains famous because it shows just how destructive desire can become when mixed with power.

This affair was a veritable royal fiasco with major political consequences. Isabella of France was married to Edward II, but her affair with Roger Mortimer led to one of the most sensational scandals in medieval England. What began as nothing more than a marital breakdown escalated into a rebellion, a deposition, and a complete upheaval of power. 

This is one of the most famous love triangles in British history, and it featured all the dramatic twists and turns one would typically expect from this kind of story. Emma Hamilton was married to Sir William Hamilton, but she had an intimate relationship with Admiral Horatio Nelson while she was still married. Far from falling apart, her marriage evolved into an open relationship, with the trio living together as a threesome. 

Charles II managed to remain married while maintaining public relationships with influential mistresses, which was hardly discreet. Since she had relatively little power, his wife, Catherine of Braganza, had to accept that Barbara Villiers, who wielded far greater influence, was her husband’s favorite mistress. Despite pressure from Barbara, the king refused to grant a divorce, and Catherine remained faithful to him, even going so far as to maintain friendly relations with his subsequent mistresses.

The relationship between Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour became so significant that it upended the atmosphere at the French court. His queen, Marie Leszczyńska, remained in her position, but the king’s affection and attention were clearly elsewhere. What makes this love triangle memorable is that Madame de Pompadour remained a close and influential friend of the king, even after their romance had ended.

Before George IV’s marriage to Caroline was marred by scandal and mutual hatred, he had already fallen deeply in love with Maria Fitzherbert, a Catholic commoner. He continued to court Maria even after his marriage and remained deeply in love with her until his death. 

It was one of the most talked-about romantic scandals of its time, and it was marked by numerous heartbreaks. Shelley was married to Harriet Westbrook when he fell in love with Mary Godwin, who would later become Mary Shelley. Their relationship caused a veritable social uproar, particularly because the whole affair unfolded very publicly and amid a chaotic emotional climate. It’s the kind of love triangle that seems straight out of a novel, but unfortunately for everyone involved, it was very real.

Lord Byron and Lady Caroline Lamb were at the center of one of the most sensational romantic scandals of the Regency era. Caroline was married to William Lamb, but her affair with Byron took on considerable proportions and proved to be emotionally explosive. Byron’s reputation did little to ease the tensions, and Caroline’s obsession only served to intensify the affair even further. 

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera already had a marriage known for its turbulence; the arrival of Cristina, Frida’s sister, in the picture only made matters worse. Diego’s affair with Cristina was a profound betrayal that deeply affected Frida on a personal level. The emotional fallout from this love triangle is still evident today in the way their relationship is discussed. 

Ingrid Bergman’s marriage to Petter Lindström ended after she fell in love with filmmaker Roberto Rossellini, which sparked a strong reaction from the public. What made this love triangle particularly famous was the shock it caused among many people at the time. Ingrid Bergman’s reputation suffered greatly as a result—at least temporarily—as the media portrayed it as a “betrayal of her family.”

This love triangle became one of Hollywood’s most talked-about scandals, as the people involved were very famous and their friendships only made the situation worse. Eddie Fisher left Debbie Reynolds to start a relationship with Elizabeth Taylor, turning a private heartbreak into a massive public scandal. It was the talk of the town, as the story seemed both glamorous and cruel. It’s easy to see why it has remained etched in the collective memory of pop culture.

This was a love triangle with far-reaching consequences, not simply a love story with a clear beginning and end. Franklin Roosevelt was married to Eleanor Roosevelt, but his long affair with Lucy Mercer was one of the most painful betrayals of their marriage. Even after the affair was discovered, the emotional complications never completely disappeared.

Alexander II remained married to Empress Maria Alexandrovna, who was in poor health, while maintaining a long and highly controversial affair with Princess Catherine Dolgorukova. This affair became public knowledge and caused deep unease at court, particularly because it continued openly throughout the empress’s lifetime. Catherine even lived in the Winter Palace, which caused the empress profound emotional distress and led to intense tensions between Alexander II and his children. 

Few love triangles have been as closely scrutinized by the public as this one. Charles and Diana’s wedding took place under the global spotlight because of the affair Charles had been having with Camilla for decades. The story was painful and scandalous, and the public couldn’t help but follow it. Even today, it remains one of the most famous royal love triangles of the modern era.

Aristotle Onassis’s relationships with Maria Callas and Jacqueline Kennedy helped create one of the most talked-about romantic sagas of the 20th century. Callas was widely regarded as the woman who had been cast aside when Onassis married Jacqueline, which added an extra layer of intrigue to the story. Since all three were immensely famous, this love triangle took on a significance that far exceeded that of the individuals themselves.