Princess Anna Yaroslavna - Queen of France

Anna Yaroslavna, daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, went down in history as the only Queen of France born in Kiev. She lived a rich and unusual life, saw wealth, marriage of convenience, unearthly love, felt the pain of loss. In addition to all this, historians note the very significant contribution that she made to the creation of the prestigious image of native lands.

Prehistory

In antiquity, one of the most important roles in shaping the foreign policy of any state were profitable marriages. Thus, the family of the great ruler of Kievan Rus - Yaroslav the Wise (1015-1054) was not an exception. Thanks to this tactical step, there was a rapprochement with many European kingdoms. It was on the shoulders of women that this duty was placed most of all. Having entered into such marriage, the women had a direct impact on the friendly relations between the countries, and with their help many international problems were solved.

One example is the marriage of Maria Vladimirovna (sister of the prince) to the King of Poland Kazimierz: in exchange for a large inheritance, 800 Russian prisoners were released from captivity. And more firmly consolidate these friendly relations helped the marriage of Izyaslav to the sister of King Gertrude.

Family of the future queen

Prince Yaroslav himself was married to the daughter of the Swedish king Ingigerde (1019-1050). As it is believed, a good dowry was obtained for such an alliance. During their life together they had three daughters and five sons. Mother took a direct part in the education and training of her children. And my father taught them to live in peace and love with each other. Thanks to this zeal, all of their heirs received a very good education. Very diligent and diligent was Anna Yaroslavna, the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, who had a difficult fate. After all, she will eventually have to marry the head of another European state to ensure the support of friendly and profitable foreign economic relations.

Biography of Anna

To date, historians can not name the exact date of birth of the youngest daughter of the princely family, but many of them tend to 1024. Some point to 1032 or 1036.

All her young years Princess Anna Yaroslavna spent in the palace in Kiev. She was a very diligent girl and since childhood she has been able to study history and study foreign languages.

Of course, the beauty and the mind, united in the princess, were not ignored by the representatives of the opposite sex. Tales of its splendor conquered the French King Henry I of Kapeting, who in 1848 sent representatives to distant Kiev for permission to marry.

Long way

Having received a parental blessing, Anna Yaroslavna bids farewell to her relatives and embarks on a long journey through the whole of Europe. Three years later, she arrives on the land of France, in one of its oldest cities - Reims. We met the long-awaited guest very solemnly. The king himself came to greet his future wife. This stranger, with whom she was to link her life, was almost 20 years older, stout and always gloomy.

May 19, 1051 was a luxurious wedding ceremony. The process of coronation took place in one of the most ancient temples of the Holy Cross. Already at the very beginning of the reign, the future Queen of France showed a firmness of character and swore an oath in the Slavic Gospel, which she brought from her native Kyiv instead of the Latin Bible, as was customary in Europe.

At first, she was unhappy with being in a foreign land. In her letters, she constantly rebuked her father about how it was possible to send her own daughter to such a terrible place. However, time is the best assistant, who helped her to cope with the difficult test.

Family life

A year later, the young queen of France gave birth to the first heir to the throne - Phillip, and in time - and two more sons: Roberto and Hugo. Therefore, all subsequent leaders of this state are considered her descendants. But everything was not so cloudless: Emma's only daughter died as an infant.

They lived, like many families, amicably. Henry often stayed in military campaigns, and his beloved wife was engaged in the education of sons. The king himself in almost everything relied on his wise wife. This is evidenced by some state documents, which indicated that the signing occurred with the consent or in the presence of the spouse. Evidence that the non-royal monarchy had the right to sign, neither before nor after Anna in the history of France was not.

Widowed the wife of the French king on March 4, 1060, when she was 28 years old. After the death of Henry I the question arose about the heir to the throne. The first son was Philip I, who was crowned during his father's lifetime. But at that time he was only eight years old, so Anna took over the government of France.

Buried her husband, she moved to the ancient castle of Sanlis, which is located near Paris. There the Queen founded a convent and a temple. Returning to normal life, she completely immersed in the care of the state.

Second marriage

At 36, Queen Anna Yaroslavna still looked great and was full of vitality. The queen attended feasts and was very fond of being on the hunt surrounded by a large number of courtiers. It was there that she drew attention to the earl of Raul de Crepy an en Valois, who had long been in love with her madly. A passionate feeling flared between them. But on their way there were very big difficulties. One of them is the situation in Anna's society, and the second is the count's wife, who did not want to give a divorce.

But the great feeling of love knows no obstacles. The Earl decides on a desperate act - to kidnap the Queen, of course, with her consent. Secluded in the Castle of Crepy, they secretly marry. On this act of the Count becomes known to the Pope Alexander XI, who was very angry, learning about the fact of bigamy, and ordered to return to his first wife. But the enamored Raul refused him, and then he was excommunicated from the church. In those days it was a terrible punishment.

The current situation has become critical. It did not help that the King of France, Philip I, himself became the protection of the newlyweds. Anna Yaroslavna, the queen of France, knew perfectly well what was putting relations with Rome under attack. Therefore, in order to avoid conflict, it renounces its status and ceases to take part in state affairs.

In the second marriage she lived a happy 12 years in the family estate of Valois. The only thing that bothered her at that time was relations with children. The eldest son Philip already became an adult and independent and no longer needed maternal advice. And her husband's sons treated her from the first marriage with dislike, and they did not hide this at all.

In 1074, Anna Yaroslavna was widowed a second time. Shortly before the death of her husband, their marriage was recognized by Pope Gregory VII. After Raoul's funeral, she returns to Paris and settles under the royal palace of her son. Trying to forget about the pain of loss, begins to engage in public affairs, signing decrees and orders. But now in the documents she pointed out the "mother of the king."

Sadness on the Soul

All this time, while away, Anna Yaroslavna was waiting impatiently for the news from her home. And they were not always good. Immediately after she left Kiev, her mother died. Four years later, Prince Yaroslav the Wise died. In life, her father did not have the strength to decide on the appointment of one of his sons as his successor. He simply divided the land between brothers, which led to a rivalry between them for the prince's throne.

Now, more than ever, Anna Yaroslavna felt lonely and sad. Many loved and loved people have passed away. To somehow unwind, she goes to travel.

Anna decided to find her brother Izyaslav Yaroslavich, who was defeated in the struggle for the throne. But all her attempts were unsuccessful. During the trip, she fell ill, this was further disappointed in the search results, and all this just broke her.

Eternal peace

Neither the date of death, nor even more information about the burial place, has reached our time. According to some historical statements, Anna died in France in 1075. Other sources give a later date - 1082 - and suggest that Anna Yaroslavna, the queen of France, returned to her homeland, where she was buried.