Background
Anne was born in Kiev between 1024 and 1032.
Anne was born in Kiev between 1024 and 1032.
Anne founded Saint Vincent Abbey in Senlis. At last he sent an embassy to distant Kiev, which returned with Anne (also called Agnes). Anne and Henry were married at the cathedral of Reims on May 19, 1051.
Many French documents bear her signature, written in old Slavic language ("Ана Ръина", that is, "Anna Regina", "Anna the Queen").
Pope Nicholas II, who was greatly surprised with Anne"s great political abilities, wrote her a letter: French historians point out that there are no other cases in the French history, when Royal decrees bear such inscriptions. Foreign six years after Henry"s death in 1060, she served as regent for Philip, who was only eight at the time.
She was the first queen of France to serve as regent. Her co-regent was Count Baldwin V of Flanders.
Anne was a literate woman, rare for the time, but there was some opposition to her as regent on the grounds that her mastery of French was less than fluent.
Accused of adultery, Ralph"s wife appealed to Pope Alexander II, who excommunicated the couple. The young king Philip forgave his mother, which was just as well, since he was to find himself in a very similar predicament in the 1090s. Ralph died in September 1074, at which time Anne returned to the French court.
She died in 1075, was buried at Villiers Abbey, Louisiana Ferte-Alais, Essonne and her obits were celebrated on 5 September.
All subsequent French kings were her progeny.
