Anne of Kiev facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anne of Kiev
Queen consort of the Franks
Tenure	19 May 1051 - 4 August 1060
Coronation	19 May 1051
Born	c. 1030
Died	5 September c.1075
Spouse	Henry I of France Ralph IV of Valois
Issue more...	Philip I of France Hugh I of Vermandois
Dynasty	Rurik
Father	Yaroslav the Wise
Mother	Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden
Signature	Inscription of Anne's name in a charter of 1063

Anne of Kiev or Anna Yaroslavna (around 1030 – around 1075) was a Rus' princess. She became Queen of France in 1051 when she married King Henry I. After Henry's death in 1060, she ruled the kingdom as a regent for their young son, Philip I. This lasted until her marriage to Count Ralph IV of Valois. Anne also started the Abbey of St. Vincent in Senlis.

Early Life and Education

This fresco might show Anne (left) at Saint Sophia's Cathedral, Kiev.

Anne was the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, who was the Grand Prince of Kiev. Her mother was Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden. We don't know her exact birthdate, but historians believe it was around 1030. She was likely the youngest daughter in her family.

Not much is known about Anne's childhood. However, it is thought that she could read and write. Her signature in Cyrillic letters can be seen on a document from 1061. Her father, Yaroslav, started many schools. This suggests that learning was important in their family. Some historians believe Anne learned French to prepare for her marriage to King Henry I.

Becoming Queen of France

King Henry I of France needed a wife who was not related to him. This was important because the Church did not approve of marriages between close relatives. So, in the late 1040s, Henry sent people to Kiev to arrange a marriage with Anne.

Anne's father, Yaroslav, had married his other children to rulers in Western Europe. He did this to avoid the influence of the Byzantine Empire. Anne left Kiev in 1050 and traveled to Reims, France. She brought many valuable gifts with her.

Anne married King Henry on May 19, 1051. She was crowned queen right after the wedding. This made her the first French queen to be crowned in Reims Cathedral.

Royal Family and Influence

Anne and Henry were married for nine years. They had three sons: Philip, Robert (who died young), and Hugh. Anne is often said to have brought the Greek name "Philip" to Western European royal families. She gave this name to her first son.

As queen, Anne could join the royal council. However, there are not many records of her doing so. In one document from 1058, King Henry said he made a decision "with the approval of my wife Anne and our children Philip, Robert, and Hugh." This shows she had some influence.

Ruling as Regent

Anne on a 2014 Ukrainian coin.

King Henry died on August 4, 1060. Their son, Philip, became king. But Philip was still young, so Anne became a regent. This meant she ruled the kingdom until Philip was old enough. Count Baldwin V of Flanders was also Philip's guardian.

Anne played an active role in the government. Her name appears in many more official documents than Baldwin's. She also hired Philip's teacher, who had a Greek title.

Anne's only known signature is from this time. It is on a document from 1061. Under the king's mark, there is a cross and eight letters in Cyrillic. These letters likely mean "Ana Reina," which was French for "Queen Anne."

Second Marriage and Later Life

Anne's role in government changed around 1061. This was when she married Count Ralph IV of Valois. This marriage caused problems because Ralph was King Henry's cousin. Also, Ralph was still married to his second wife. Because of this, Ralph was excommunicated from the Church.

King Philip's advisers might have encouraged him to distance himself from his mother. They may have worried about Ralph's influence. Ralph died in 1074, and Anne became a widow again.

A document signed for Anne and her son Philip in 1063.

In 1062, Anne gave a lot of money to fix an old chapel in Senlis. This chapel was dedicated to St. Vincent. She also gave land and money to the new religious building so it could support itself. She wrote a letter explaining why she started the monastery. This letter shows her connection to Greek Orthodox beliefs.

Death and Legacy

A statue of Anne at the Abbey of Saint-Vincent.

The exact date Anne died is not known. Some historians believe she died on September 5, 1075. This is the day remembered at Senlis. Other historians suggest she died around 1080. We know she had died by 1089, from a document written by Philip I.

In 1682, a historian named Claude-Francois Menestrier said he found Anne's tomb. It was at the Cistercian Abbey of Villiers. However, this discovery was later questioned. Any monument that might have been there was destroyed during the French Revolution.

In recent centuries, people have become more interested in Anne of Kiev. In the 20th century, she became a symbol of Ukrainian nationalism. A film about her was made in the Soviet Union in 1978. An opera about her, called "Anna Yaroslavna," was performed in 1969. In 1998, the Ukrainian government honored her with a postage stamp. In 2005, a bronze statue of Queen Anne was put up in Senlis, France.

Images for kids

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  Inscription of Anne's name in a charter of 1063

See also

In Spanish: Ana de Kiev para niños