How the legendary Marquess of Bath, who has died aged 87 from coronavirus, became Britain’s most eccentric aristocrat
HE was Britain’s most eccentric aristocrat, he housed 74 lovers on his sprawling country estate — and the elderly Marquess of Bath proudly boasted he had no need to take Viagra.
The controversial owner of Longleat Safari Park — home to its famous lions — counted the ex-wife of a rock star among his conquests.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
He dubbed them “wifelets” — and two even had a punch-up over who would share his bed.
Nicknamed The Loins Of Longleat, the lusty viscount filled his 130-room mansion with paintings of the Kama Sutra.
His death on Saturday aged 87 from coronavirus prompted tributes from celebrities mourning the death of a true eccentric.
Good Morning Britain’s Piers Morgan, described him as “one of Britain’s most colourful characters”.
To follow us on Facebook, simply .
Get Britain's best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day - find out more.
Too much is wrong with monogamy ...I like the excitement of variation
Lord Bath
Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath, was born in London but grew up at Longleat.
Educated at Ludgrove prep and Eton — the same schools as Princes William and Harry — he went on to study at Oxford, where he became president of the notorious toffs’ society The Bullingdon Club.
After National Service he toured Europe.
HIPPIE COMMUNE AT HIS LONGLEAT STATELY PILE WAS A 'NEST OF VIPERS’
But she revealed that the problems she faced at Longleat came from the other wifelets.
She said: “I thought it was a hippy-like commune but it was a nest of vipers.
“Many wifelets were back-biting, treacherous and double-dealing.
“I think Alexander enjoyed the cat-fights.”
JoJo Lane, the ex-wife of singer Denny Laine, was reported to be his favourite.
Long-term lover Trudie Juggernauth-Sharma said: “From the moment I met him I thought he looked fantastic — so deadly, but so beautifully deadly.”
Thynn once claimed: “I’ve tried Viagra but I didn’t find it as useful as I would have hoped.
“I just rely on myself to get my own steam.”
ARISTOCRATIC LINEAGE
His original surname was Thynne but in 1976 he dropped the final ‘e’ from to return to the historical spelling of the family name.
He became the 7th Viscount on the death of his father in 1992 and immediately sacked his brother Christopher, who ran the estate.
During his reign at Longleat he recreated a life-size Stonehenge and launched a branch of Center Parcs in nearby forests.
His attempts to run a nightclub on the estate ended in disaster as the venue was closed down due to problems with violence and drugs.
In 2010, Thynn admitted he had an eight-year-old daughter but “did not see enough of her”.
Son Ceawlin, 45, becomes the 8th Marquess of Bath, although he has been running the estate since 2010 with wife Emma, 34, who was on Strictly Come Dancing last year.
Ceawlin, then Viscount Weymouth, was said to have had a number of backstage tantrums on the show — and was even pictured urinating on a wheelie bin outside the studios.
The couple married in 2013 but their union caused a bitter family feud that tore the family apart.
Alexander and wife Anna were said to have been against it — and even boycotted the wedding.
- GOT a news story? RING us on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk