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Biography of Anne of Bohemia Queen Consort England 1366-1394

Paternal Family Tree: Luxemburg

1382 Marriage of Richard II and Anne of Bohemia and her Coronation

1392 Death of Isabella of Castile

1394 Death and Funeral of Anne of Bohemia

1396 Marriage of Richard II and Isabella of Valois

1400 Death of Richard II

Before 1360 [her future husband] Bryan Stapleton (age 37) and Alice Philibert (age 29) were married.

On 11th May 1366 Anne of Bohemia Queen Consort England was born to Charles IV King Bohemia Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg (age 49) and Elizabeth Pomerania Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg (age 19) at Prague.

On 29th November 1378 [her father] Charles IV King Bohemia Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg (age 62) died.

Chronicle of Adam of Usk. 18th December 1381. In this same year there came into England one Pileus1, cardinal priest of Saint Praxedes, to treat, on behalf of the emperor of Germany and [her father] king of Bohemia, with the council of England of and about a marriage between our king and the lady Ann (age 15), sister of the same emperor2; who afterwards became thereby our most gracious queen, howbeit she died without issue. At his coming, this cardinal, falsely feigning himself legate a latere and as having the power of the pope, then did exercise the papal offices. And among other things he made me notary, though to no purpose, in the house of the friars preachers of London, where he was then dwelling. Thus did he gather to himself countless money, and, the treaty of marriage being settled, he departed from England with his gains, to his own condemnation; idly trusting that the pope would approve these his acts. And, after his departure, the said lady Ann was bought for a great price by our [her future husband] lord the king (age 14), for she was much sought in marriage by the king of France3; and she was then sent over into England to be crowned queen.

Note 1. Pileo di Prata, bishop of Padua, and, in 1370, archbishop of Ravenna. He was one of the papal legates employed, at Bruges, in negotiating a peace between England and France, in 1375. At the papal schism, in 1378, he threw in his lot with Urban VI., by whom he was made cardinal, and was sent nuncio to Germany. In 1386, he seceded to Clement VII., who employed him in an unsuccessful attempt to break the power of Urban in Florence. But three years after, on the death of Urban, he deserted Clement for Boniface IX., who made him cardinal bishop of Tusculum. By these agile changes he got the nickname of ‘"Cardinalis trium Pileorum," the Cardinal of Three Hats. He was further appointed legate at Viterbo; but he exasperated the people to such a degree that they drove him out. He died in 1401.—Ciaconius, Vite Pont. Rom. ij. 637.

Note 2. Wenceslaus, or Wenzel, emperor of Germany, 1378.

Note 3. This is not stated by the other chroniclers. The idea was no doubt suggested by the intention of the king of France, Charles V., to waylay and capture her on the sea, out of hostility to England. He desisted on the remonstrance of Ann's uncle, the [her uncle] duke of Brabant (age 44). Ann landed in England on the 18th December, 1381, and was married on the 14th January, 1382. Knighton (ij. 150) says:— "dedit imperatori, ut dicebatur, pro maritagio decem mille libras, preter alias expensas in querendo eam et adducendo eam sumptibus suis propriis."

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In 1382 Richard Adderbury of Donnington Casatle (age 51) was appointed Chamberlain to Anne of Bohemia Queen Consort England (age 15).

Marriage of Richard II and Anne of Bohemia and her Coronation

On 20th January 1382 King Richard II of England (age 15) and Anne of Bohemia Queen Consort England (age 15) were married at Westminster Abbey [Map] by Bishop Robert Braybrooke. She by marriage Queen Consort England. She the daughter of Charles IV King Bohemia Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg and Elizabeth Pomerania Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg (age 35). He the son of Edward "Black Prince" and Joan "Fair Maid of Kent" Princess Wales (age 53). They were fourth cousins. He a grandson of King Edward III of England.

It was the first royal wedding that including a Royal Procession from the Tower of London [Map] to Westminster Abbey [Map].

Arranged by Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk (age 52) the marriage not popular since it brought no dowry and little prospect of increased trade since Bohemia not a primary English trade partner.

On 22nd January 1382 Anne of Bohemia Queen Consort England (age 15) was crowned Queen Consort England by Archbishop William Courtenay (age 40) (even though he had not received his Pall from the Pope.)

In 1383 Bryan Stapleton (age 61) and Anne of Bohemia Queen Consort England (age 16) were divorced when in Calais [Map].

In 1384 [her sister-in-law] Joan Holland Duchess Brittany (age 34) died.

In May 1385 Ralph Stafford (age 18) was murdered by [her brother-in-law] John Holland 1st Duke Exeter (age 33). He was buried at King's Langley Priory, Hertfordshire [Map].

On 7th August 1385 [her mother-in-law] Joan "Fair Maid of Kent" Princess Wales (age 56) died at Wallingford Castle [Map]. She was buried at Blackfriars Friary, Stamford [Map] beside her first husband Thomas Holland 1st Earl Kent. Her son [her brother-in-law] Thomas (age 35) succeeded 6th Baron Wake of Liddell.

On 24th June 1386 [her brother-in-law] John Holland 1st Duke Exeter (age 34) and Elizabeth Lancaster Duchess Exeter (age 23) were married at Plymouth, Devon [Map]. She the daughter of John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 46) and Blanche Duchess of Lancaster. He the son of Thomas Holland 1st Earl Kent and [her mother-in-law] Joan "Fair Maid of Kent" Princess Wales. They were half second cousin once removed. He a great grandson of King Edward I of England. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In 1388 [her brother-in-law] John Holland 1st Duke Exeter (age 36) was created 1st Earl Huntingdon. Elizabeth Lancaster Duchess Exeter (age 24) by marriage Countess Huntingdon.

Death of Isabella of Castile

On 23rd December 1392 Isabella of Castile Duchess York (age 37) died. She was buried at King's Langley Priory, Hertfordshire [Map]. She the wife of Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York (age 51). Isabella had travelled to England with her sister Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster (age 38) who had married Edmund's elder brother John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 52). Isabella and Edmund's marriage was not, apparently, a happy one. She is known to have had an affair with [her brother-in-law] John Holland 1st Duke Exeter (age 40) who may have been the father of Richard of Conisbrough 1st Earl Cambridge (age 7) progenitor of the House of York.

In 1393 [her husband] King Richard II of England (age 25) and Anne of Bohemia Queen Consort England (age 26) stayed at Titchfield Abbey, Hampshire [Map].

On 15th April 1393 [her mother] Elizabeth Pomerania Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg (age 46) died.

Death and Funeral of Anne of Bohemia

On 7th June 1394 Anne of Bohemia Queen Consort England (age 28) died of plague (probably) at Sheen Palace [Map]. [her husband] King Richard II of England (age 27) was so distraught at her death he ordered the destruction of Sheen Palalce [Map].

On 3rd August 1394 Anne of Bohemia Queen Consort England was buried at Chapel of St Edward the Confessor, Westminster Abbey [Map] with Archbishop Thomas Fitzalan aka Arundel (age 41) presiding. [her former husband] King Richard II of England (age 27) attended. Richard Fitzalan 9th Earl of Surrey 4th or 11th Earl of Arundel (age 48), brother of the presiding Archbishop, and his wife Philippa Mortimer Countess Pembroke, Arundel and Surrey (age 18), arrived late causing Richard, in a rage, to snatch a wand and strike FitzAlan in the face drawing blood.

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The Deeds of King Henry V, or in Latin Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.

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Chronicle of Adam of Usk. 7th June 1394. In the year of our Lord 1394, on Whitsun-day (7th June), died that most gracious lady Ann, queen of England (age 28), at the manor of Shene [Map], which lies on Thames near to Brentford. Which manor, though a royal one and very fair, did king Richard, by reason that that lady's death happened therein, command and cause to be utterly destroyed. After the ceremony of her funeral, which was carried out with becoming honours on the morrow of Saint Peter ad Vincula (2nd August), the king, clad, with his train, in weeds of mourning, straightway passed over into Ireland with & great power, to subdue the rebellion of the Irish1. Yet he gained but little; for the Irish, then feigning submission to his will, straightway after his departure were in revolt, as all men know.

Note 1. Richard sailed for Iréland early in September, 1394, and returned in May of the next year.

On 25th July 1394 [her former husband] Bryan Stapleton (age 72) died at Wighill Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

Marriage of Richard II and Isabella of Valois

On 31st October 1396 [her former husband] King Richard II of England (age 29) and Isabella Valois Queen Consort England (age 6) were married. The marriage being one of the terms of a twenty-eight year peace treaty with France. He twenty-nine, she six. The marriage sowed the seeds subsequent rebellion since there was no prospect of an heir to secure the Crown. The difference in their ages was 22 years. She the daughter of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France (age 27) and Isabeau Wittelsbach Queen Consort France (age 26). He the son of Edward "Black Prince" and [her former mother-in-law] Joan "Fair Maid of Kent" Princess Wales. They were half third cousins. He a grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

William Ros 6th Baron Ros Helmsley (age 26) attended.

Chronicle of the Betrayal of Richard II. 17th September 1397. It was the Sunday before the day of the Holy Cross in September, when King Richard entered London, and all the other nobles of the kingdom with him; and on the morrow began the great Parliament, which the King opened by complaining of the government of those lords1, and that they had deprived him of the crown in his youth, and that the Queen was three hours on her knees interceding for one of her knights, named John of Burley2, Jwho, notwithstanding, was beheaded; which Earl answered the Queen, 'My friend, pray for yourself and for your husband ; you had much better3.'

Note 1. The thirteen commissioners, ail of Gloucester's faction, who with the Archbishop of York held the reins of government after the King had attained his majority. (Hume.)

Note 2. The party intended is evidently Sir Simon Burley, Richard's tutor during his minority. At the same time it should be stated, that mention is made of a j Sir John Burley being associated with the poet Chaucer in some secret business, for which he received £13. 6s. 8d., 23rd Dec. 1376. (Issue Roll, Michs. 51 | Edw. III.) I know not whelher it was another party, or whether Sir Simon Burley is there misnamed. Sir Simon Burley was a K. G., Governor of Windsor Castle, "W'arden of the Cinque Ports, and Vice-chamberlain, Nov. 3, 1382. He was often employed in public embassies, and was the persoual friend of Froissart.

Note 3. I am much inclined to think that the version of MS. Y is the correct one, and that the intercessor was the widow of the Black Prince. It is not a valid objection to urge that her husband was dead; for, as a Roman Catholic, she could still pray for him. She would be more likely to be interested in the tutor of her son than even the 'good Queen Anne.' Dr. Vaughan, in his Life of Wycliffe, (a work of extensive research,) characterises her (ii. 157) as * a female whose intellectual character, and known solicitude for the tranquility of the nation, seemed to authorize that interference with the disputes of the period which is not unfrequent in her history.' It was owing to her interposition by Sir Lewis Clifford that no definite sentence was passed on Wycliffe by the Synod at Lambeth; and on another occasion she delegated Sir Simon Burley, with Sir Alfred Lewes, and the same Sir Lewis Clifford, to terminate a dispute between the Londoners and the Duke of Lancaster; when the Londoners answered, that 'they for the honour of the Princess would obey, and do with ail reverence what she would require (Fox's Acts and Monuments, i. 559.) In the 8th of Richard she travelled incessantly between Pomfret Castle and London to reconcile the Duke of Lancaster and Richard, notwithstanding she was both corpulent and in years. (Sir J. Hayward.)

In Rymer, 12th June 1385, I find the appointment of four parties 'to attend upon the person of our very dear mother the Queen, wherever in our kingdom she may wish to go for her comfort and security.' I may perhaps be allowed to add, that Queen Anne possessed the Gospel written in Bohemian, German, and Latin; and Archbp. Arundel remarked that 'she studied the four GospeIs constantly in English, examined by the expositions of the doctors; and in the study of these, and reading of godly books, she was more diligent than even the preIates themselves.' She appears to have imbibed the spirit of a pure Christianily froni Matthias Janovius, a native of Prague, and had several attendants who participated in lier religions feelings. (Fox, Acts, &c., and the History of the Bohemian Persecution, from the beginning of their conversion to Christianity in the year 894, to the year 1632, as quoted by Dr. Vaughan.)

I believe it is not generally known that a translation of the Old Testament into the French language was made as early as the year 1377, by Raoul de Presles, 'maître du requestre du Roi Charles.' It still exists. The MS. is in three volumes folio, two of them being at Paris, and one at Grenoble. (Vie des Ducs d'Orléans, par Champollion, i. 149.)

The greatest charge laid to good Queen Anne is that of Stow. 'Since the 5th of Richard II.,' says he, ' (when he took to wife Anne, daughter of Wenceslaus, King of Bohemia,) by her example the English people had used piked shoes to their knees, with silken laces or chains of silver and gilt.' (Survey of London, B. 200.) In the following reign the length of these pikes was restrained by statute.

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Death of Richard II

On 14th February 1400 (exact date not known) [her former husband] King Richard II (age 33) died at Pontefract Castle [Map] where he had been imprisoned three months before; possibly murdered, possibly starved to death. His death was a consequence of the Epiphany Rising; he was still considered a threat.

Edmund Mortimer 5th Earl March 7th Earl of Ulster (age 8) de jure Heir to the Throne of England since he was descended from Philippa Plantagenet Countess March 2nd Countess Ulster the daughter of Lionel of Antwerp 1st Duke of Clarence. The new King Henry IV (age 32) ignored his claim. Edmund Mortimer 5th Earl March 7th Earl of Ulster and his brother Roger Mortimer (age 6) were imprisoned in Windsor and Berkhamstead castles respectively; they were treated well.

On 17th February 1400 Richard's corpse was displayed at St Paul's Cathedral [Map].

On 6th March 1400 Richard's remains were buried at King's Langley Priory, Hertfordshire [Map].

Monumental Effigies. [her former husband] King Richard II and his Queen Anne of Bohemia. Remarkable decoration of White Harts, sunbursts, broom cods on his clothes, as well as the initials A and R. Similarly, her clothes are decorated with the Ostriches with a nail in the beak, a symbol of Bohemia, from which the ostrich feathers, and entwined knots. Note his beard as also seen in portraits.

Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. 1413. Ande that year the kyng (age 26) made to be brought the bonys of [her former husband] Kyng Rychard to Westemyster, and they were beryd and put in his owne sepulture, that he let make him selfe with Quene Anne his wyfe. [th]is was the laste year8 of raygne of the fadyr, and the first year of the raygne of the sone, Kyng Harry the v.

Note 8. These words between are repeated in the MS.

[her father] Charles IV King Bohemia Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg and Anna Schweidnitz Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg were married. She by marriage Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg. He the son of [her grandfather] King John I of Bohemia and [her grandmother] Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia.

[her father] Charles IV King Bohemia Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg and Anna Bavaria Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg were married. She by marriage Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg. He the son of [her grandfather] King John I of Bohemia and [her grandmother] Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia.

[her father] Charles IV King Bohemia Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg and [her mother] Elizabeth Pomerania Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg were married. She by marriage Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg. The difference in their ages was 30 years. He the son of [her grandfather] King John I of Bohemia and [her grandmother] Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia.

All About History Books

The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

Archaeologia Volume 29 Section III. The volume of Monumental Effigies, drawn and engraved by Mr. Charles Alfred Stothard, F.S.A. the late draughtsman to the Society, is so generally known and so highly appreciated wherever known, that it is only necessary, in order to introduce the subject of the following remarks, to remind the reader that it was left imperfect, in consequence of the author's sudden death, from a lamentable accident which occurred in the pursuit of his congenial profession. It was a part of Mr. Stothard's plan to have included in his work a complete series of the effigies of the Kings and Queens of this country; and for that purpose he visited France, and brought from Fontevraud [Map] his drawings of the statues of Henry the Second and his Queen, of Richard the First, and of Isabella Queen of John; and from the Abbey of L'Espan, near le Mans, the effigy of Berengaria, Queen of Richard I., as well as the figure of Geoffrey, Comte of Anjou, from an enamelled Plate in the church of St. Julien at le Mans [Map]. There were others, however, and those by no means inferior to any in beauty or interest, which had been left, perhaps from the very reason of their being within immediate reach, until some convenient opportunity, which was frustrated by the premature close of the artist's career. I allude particularly to thosea of Queen Philippa, King Richard the Second, and his Queen Anne of Bohemia, all in Westminster Abbey.

Note a. Mr. Stothard also intended to have included in his work all the knightly effigies in the Temple church. Those he omitted will be given by the Messrs. Hollis.

Agnes Launcekrona Duchess Ireland was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber to Anne of Bohemia Queen Consort England.

[her father] Charles IV King Bohemia Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg and Blanche Valois Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg were married. She by marriage Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg. She the daughter of Charles Valois I Count Valois and Mahaut Chatillon Countess Valois. He the son of [her grandfather] King John I of Bohemia and [her grandmother] Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia. They were fourth cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

Royal Ancestors of Anne of Bohemia Queen Consort England 1366-1394

Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex

Kings England: Great x 8 Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Kings Franks: Great x 6 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of Robert "Pious" II King France

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 14 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Ancestors of Anne of Bohemia Queen Consort England 1366-1394

Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Luxemburg VI Count Luxemburg 5 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry of Bar II Count of Bar 3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret of Bar Countess Luxemburg and Namur 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Philippa Capet Countess of Bar

Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Luxemburg VII Holy Roman Emperor 5 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: James Avesnes

Great x 3 Grandfather: Bouchard Avesnes

Great x 4 Grandmother: Adela Guise

Great x 2 Grandmother: Beatrice Avesnes Countess Luxemburg 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret II Countess Flanders 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie Blois Countess Flanders 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

GrandFather: King John I of Bohemia 6 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: John I Brabant

Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Brabant Countess Luxemburg and Namur

Father: Charles IV King Bohemia Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg 7 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Ottokar I of Bohemia

Great x 3 Grandfather: King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia

Great x 2 Grandfather: Ottokar "Iron King" II King Bohemia

Great x 1 Grandfather: King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia and Poland

Great x 2 Grandmother: Kunigunda Rostislavna Přemyslovna

GrandMother: Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia

Great x 2 Grandfather: Rudolph I King Romans

Great x 1 Grandmother: Queen Judith of Bohemia and Poland

Great x 3 Grandfather: Burkhard V Count Hohenberg

Great x 2 Grandmother: Gertrude Hohenburg

Great x 4 Grandfather: Rudolph II Count Palatine of Tubingen

Great x 3 Grandmother: Mathilda of Tubingen

Anne of Bohemia Queen Consort England 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

GrandFather: Bogislaw V Duke of Pomerania

Mother: Elizabeth Pomerania Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg