Anna Yaroslavna: a Kyiv princess on the French throne
Anne Yaroslavna is a legendary queen of France whose image is familiar to us from school textbooks. This remarkable woman, known as Anne de Kyiv, lived more than a decade ago, but her life is still shrouded in mystery, myths, and legends. Her ethnicity is still a matter of dispute between the countries that are descendants of Kievan Rus, as Anne Yaroslavna became not just a queen but also a symbol of the connection between Ukraine and France.
From Kyiv to Reims: Anna Yaroslavna's Path to the Throne
Today, the figure of Anna Yaroslavna takes on new significance in the context of strengthening Ukrainian-French relations. This makes the question even more relevant: what do we really know about this legendary queen? How can we separate reliable facts from later layers and conjecture?
It is important to note that Anna Yaroslavna is not mentioned in any ancient Russian source. All information about her is of Western European origin. Anna's date of birth is unknown, but given the date of her marriage, historians assume that she was born between 1024 and 1032.
Anna Yaroslavna was born into the family of Kyivan Prince Yaroslav the Wise. Her mother was Ingigerda (in Orthodoxy, Irene), the daughter of the first Christian king of Sweden, Olaf III Shetkonung. Since Anna was the last of Yaroslav's daughters to marry, historians assume that she was the youngest in the princely family.
Yaroslav the Wise was famous for his education and love of books, so there is no doubt that Anna received an excellent education. She was taught to read and write, and was introduced to the basics of science, religion, and diplomacy. This knowledge later came in handy when she found herself on the French throne.
In the middle of the eleventh century, Kievan Rus, which was experiencing a period of prosperity that time, tried to strengthen its position in the international arena. This was facilitated not only by active trade relations but also by dynastic marriages. One of these marriages was the union of the Kyivan princess Anna Yaroslavna with the French king Henry I.
The French kingdom at the time was in a state of feudal fragmentation, and Henry I of the Capetian dynasty was at odds with the powerful Holy Roman Empire, which united vast territories. In this situation, the king sought to achieve a military-political alliance with the Kyivan prince Yaroslav the Wise, who was famous for his wisdom and power.
In addition to political considerations, Henry I also had personal reasons for the marriage. In 1044, his first wife, Matilda of Frisia, died, and no heir to the throne was born from her marriage. The king needed a new wife who would not only give him an heir but also strengthen his political position.
Moreover, there were no princesses of royal blood left in the countries close to France who were not close relatives of Henry. This made Anna Yaroslavna an ideal candidate for the role of French queen.
In 1048, a solemn embassy from France arrived in Kyiv to ask for the hand of Princess Anna Yaroslavna of Kyiv for the French King Henry I.
Yaroslav the Wise, known for his skillful “marriage diplomacy,” had already married three of his sons to princesses from Poland, Germany, and Byzantium, and two daughters became wives of the kings of Norway and Hungary. Marriage to the French king promised not only a dynastic alliance but also new political and economic opportunities for Kievan Rus.
Therefore, after careful consideration of the proposal, Yaroslav the Wise agreed to the marriage of Anna and Henry.
Anna's journey to France was long and difficult. In two months, she traveled over two thousand kilometers, passing through almost all of Eastern Europe. To better adapt to her new life, she studied French.
After meeting her fiancé in 1049 or 1051, Anna Yaroslavna's wedding and coronation took place in the Reims Cathedral. It is highly likely that Anna converted to Western Christianity, as one of the sources mentions her under a new name, Agna.
Life at the court of the King of France
After moving to France, Anne faced significant cultural and linguistic differences. However, she quickly adapted to her new life and became a respected queen.
At the time of the marriage, the king was a little over 40 years old, while the queen was probably about half that age. This age difference was considered absolutely normal at the time. The bride, arriving from Kyiv, brought with her a generous dowry consisting of gold, including Byzantine coins, furs, and precious stones. Later, her grandson King Louis VI the Fat presented the Abbey of Saint-Denis near Paris with “the most precious hyacinth of my grandmother, the daughter of the King of the Ruthenians.” This generous gift testifies to the wealth and greatness of the Kyivan princely dynasty.
In her marriage to Henry I, Anna Yaroslavna gave birth to three sons. The first son of Anna and Henry was Philip (1052-1108), later known as “the Good” and who later became king of France. Anne herself probably chose the name of her eldest son, which had Greek roots and had not been used in France before. This is not surprising, as she was well acquainted with Greek (Byzantine) culture. In honor of his birth, the queen founded the monastery of St. Vincent in Sanlis.
Anne's choice turned out to be prophetic: the name Philip became a dynastic one for the kings of France. Six kings of this country bore this name, and one more was Louis Philippe.
Later, Anne gave birth to two more sons: Robert (1055-1060), who unfortunately died in infancy, and Hugo (1057-1102), who later became Count of Vermandois and became famous in the First Crusade.
Anne took care of her children's education, teaching them to read and write, languages, arithmetic, and history.
Her efforts were not in vain: the future King of France, Philip I, unlike his father, became one of the most educated monarchs of his time. Throughout their lives, Philip I and Hugo maintained a deep respect and sincere love for their mother.
In 1059, Pope Nicholas II sent Anna Yaroslavna a letter in which he expressed his deep respect for her. He praised her piety, wisdom, and care for her children.
Anna played a significant role in the political life of the country, participating in state affairs and signing diplomatic documents. She was also actively involved in charity work, founded monasteries and churches, and promoted education and culture.
Scandal, second marriage, and loss of influence
In 1060, King Henry I died suddenly, leaving the throne to his young son Philip I. Contrary to popular belief, his mother Anna Yaroslavna did not become regent. Count Baldwin of Flanders took over this role.
Although Anna Yaroslavna did not become an official regent, she still played an important role in her son's life and in the government of the state. Her wisdom, experience, and determination helped Philip I become a worthy king of France. Anne's authority is also evidenced by the fact that she participated in the signing of state documents. Diplomas issued to various monasteries have survived to this day, where her signature is clearly visible.
After the death of Henry I, Anne married Count Raoul de Crepy de Valois. This marriage caused a loud scandal at court, because Raoul had already been married twice.
He accused his second wife of adultery, drove her out, and married Anne without officially divorcing her.
Count Raoul de Crepy de Valois was a powerful feudal lord who led the opposition to Anne's ex-husband, King Henry I. His wealth and land holdings were almost as large as the royal domain.
As a result of the scandal, Anne lost her influence and authority at court, and Raoul, in turn, was excommunicated.
Death and inheritance
It was only after the death of her second husband Raoul de Crepy de Valois in 1074 that Anna Yaroslavna was able to return to the royal court. Some documents of that time bear her signature “ANA RYINA”, which means “Anna Regina” in Latin, i.e. “Queen Anna”.
In 1075, Anne, together with her son Philip I, signed a charter granted to the Notre Dame de Ponlevoix monastery. In this document, she is no longer referred to as a queen, but as “the mother of Philip the King.”
Unfortunately, this is the last reliable evidence of Anna Yaroslavna's life that has survived to this day. No other news about her has survived.
It was only in 1089 that Philip I made generous donations to the Church of St. Quentin in Beauvais. These donations were intended for memorial prayers for his parents, which suggests that Anna Yaroslavna had already died by that time.
The burial place of Anna Yaroslavna still remains a mystery. There are several versions of where she could have been buried: Villiers Abbey in the county of Gatineau, St. Vincent's Monastery in Sanlis, or one of the ancient Russian churches (there is a theory that Anna Yaroslavna could have returned to her homeland in her old age and been buried there).
However, none of these hypotheses has been conclusively confirmed. Researchers have not yet found any reliable evidence of Anna Yaroslavna's burial place. All that is known for certain is that her remains are not in the royal tomb in the Saint-Denis Abbey.
Unfortunately, not a single life portrait of Anna Yaroslavna has survived to this day. All the images that we see today are the products of the imagination of painters and sculptors who lived much later.
Thanks to the dynastic marriages of her descendants, Anna Yaroslavna became the ancestor of numerous royal families in Europe. Taking into account that the Capetian, Valois, Bourbon, and House of Orleans dynasties were on the French throne until 1848, Anna Yaroslavna became the ancestor of at least 32 French monarchs (including only those who reached the age of majority and actually ruled). Anna Yaroslavna's descendants, the Bourbons of Spain and Parma, are still on the throne in Spain and Luxembourg. Anna Yaroslavna's blood also flows in the veins of the British Tudor dynasty.
Thus, Anna Yaroslavna played a significant role in shaping the ruling dynasties of Europe. Her influence on the course of history is still felt today.
Myths and legends about Anna Yaroslavna
There are many legends and myths about Anna Yaroslavna's life. Some of them have a historical basis, while others are fiction. The most famous legend says that Anna brought with her to France the Reims Gospel, a manuscript from the famous library of Yaroslav the Wise, which was later used by all the kings of France to swore on.
However, there is a hypothesis that this ancient manuscript came to France only in 1574. It is known that in the middle of the fourteenth century, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV gave it to the Emmaus Monastery in Prague. Subsequently, the Hussites took it to Constantinople, and from there it came to France via Italy. Kings could swear on it only from the end of the sixteenth century. Thus, the Gospel's ownership by Anna Yaroslavna is quite possible, but not definitively proven.
There is also a widespread legend that Anna Yaroslavna wrote a letter to her father Yaroslav the Wise, complaining about life in France. In this letter, she allegedly described the country as “barbaric,” with “gloomy dwellings,” “ugly churches,” and “horrible customs.”
However, it is safe to say that Anna Yaroslavna's letter to Yaroslav the Wise is a forgery, as there is no evidence of its existence. Neither its original nor reliable evidence of its creation has survived. Most historians believe that this letter is an invention of later times. This legend was probably created to emphasize the contrast between life in Rus and Western Europe.
The birth of the royal family's daughter Emma, or Edinga, is also shrouded in mystery. There is a version that Anna did give birth to a daughter whose fate became almost a legend. In 1074, when Philip I decided to force the princess into marriage, Edinga fled Paris and, trying to hide, reached the Bavarian village of Puch on the outskirts of Munich. Local peasants gave her shelter, and she lived away from her family until her death, teaching local children and treating the sick.
The memory of Anna Yaroslavna in Ukraine and France
Today, Anna Yaroslavna is considered one of the most prominent figures in Ukrainian history. Her image is used to bring Ukraine and France closer together and strengthen relations.
There are many monuments dedicated to Anna Yaroslavna in Ukraine and France. Streets, squares, schools, and universities are named after her. The French Lyceum named after Anne of Kyiv (Lycée français Anne de Kyiv), the first French educational institution in Ukraine recognized by the French Ministry of Education, operates in the capital of Ukraine.
In 2005, a monument to Anna Yaroslavna was erected in the city of Sanlis. This monument became a symbol of honor and appreciation for her contribution to French and Ukrainian history.
Every year, Kyiv hosts the Anne de Kyiv Fest International Art Festival. This festival not only introduces the public to various types of art, but also popularizes the image of Anne de Kyiv and her role in the history of Ukraine and France.
In 2016, a monument to Anna Yaroslavna was unveiled on Lvivska Square in Kyiv. This monument is made in the form of a sculpture of a little girl, symbolizing the childhood years she spent in her hometown.
The image of Anna Yaroslavna is reflected not only in historical research, but also in works of literature and music. In Ukrainian literature, Anna Yaroslavna was written about by playwright Ivan Kocherha in his play Yaroslav the Wise, writers Pavlo Zahrebelnyi in his novel «The Miracle», and Ivan Fylypchak in his novel «Anna Yaroslavna, Queen of France». Composer Antin Rudnytskyi created the opera «Anna Yaroslavna». French writers also consider Anna Yaroslavna an interesting figure. French writers Regine Deforge wrote about her in her novel «Under the Sky of Novgorod», Jacqueline Doxois in her book «Anne of Kyiv, Queen of France», and Marie-Claude Monchot in her work «Anne of Kyiv. A Little Princess from the Land of Snow».
Anna Yaroslavna: a story that will live forever
Anna of Kyiv, or Anna Yaroslavna, is undoubtedly one of the most prominent and mysterious figures in the history of Ukraine and France. Her life, shrouded in legends and myths, is still of interest to historians, writers, and artists.
She left behind a majestic legacy - a numerous royal dynasty that ruled France for almost 800 years.
Anna Yaroslavna became a worthy representative of Ukraine in the European political arena, contributing to the establishment of cultural and diplomatic ties between the two countries. Her life and work serve as an example of wisdom, strength of mind, and diplomatic talent, and her name still inspires respect and admiration among people around the world.
It is important to note that Anna Yaroslavna's legacy has been the subject of geopolitical manipulation for centuries. For example, in 2017, during a meeting with French President Macron, Russian President Putin surprisingly called the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise a “Russian” queen.
This statement is untrue, as Anne of France ruled France a hundred years before the founding of Moscow, when there were only forests and swamps on the site of the current Russian capital.
Attempts to appropriate Anna Yaroslavna's legacy are evidence of historical illiteracy and a desire to distort historical facts.
Ukrainians, on the other hand, treat the memory of Anna of Kyiv with pride and respect, recognizing her as one of the most prominent daughters of the Ukrainian land.
