Biography of Anne of Bohemia Queen Consort England 1366-1394

Paternal Family Tree: Luxemburg

1346 Battle of Crécy

1376 Death of the Black Prince

1377 Death of Edward III

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

1394 Death and Funeral of Anne of Bohemia

1396 Marriage of Richard II and Isabella of Valois

1400 Death of Richard II

Battle of Crécy

On 26 Aug 1346 the army of King Edward III of England (age 33) defeated the French army at the Battle of Crécy. The English army was commanded by King Edward III of England (age 33), his son Edward "Black Prince" (age 16), Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick (age 33), William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton (age 36) and John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick (age 30).

The English army was included: Bishop Thomas of Hatfield (age 36), Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 38), Bernard Brocas (age 16), Thomas Felton (age 16), James Audley (age 28), Robert Bourchier 1st Baron Bourchier, Bartholomew "The Elder" Burghesh 1st Baron Burghesh (age 59), Bartholomew "The Younger" Burghesh 2nd Baron Burghesh (age 18), Reginald Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 51), John Darcy 1st Baron Darcy of Knayth (age 66), Robert Ferrers 3rd Baron Ferrers of Chartley (age 37), Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 19), William Scrope (age 21), Stephen Scrope (age 21), William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby (age 16), John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle (age 28), Gerard Lisle 1st Baron Lisle (age 42), Nicholas Longford (age 61), Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu, Walter Paveley 4th Baron Burghesh (age 27), Michael Poynings 1st Baron Poynings (age 28), Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 48), John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford (age 34), Thomas West (age 34), John Willoughby 2nd Baron Willoughby (age 43), John Wingfield (age 26), Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy (age 25), Hugh Courtenay 10th Earl Devon (age 43) (possibly), Walter "Elder" Devereux (age 37), John Devereux (age 44), Enion Sais Brecon, John Chandos (age 26), Richard Pembridge (age 26) and John Sully (age 63).

The French army suffered significant casualties. King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France (age 52) was wounded. William de Coucy (age 60) and his son Enguerrand 6th Lord de Coucy (age 33) and were killed.

Charles Valois Count Alençon (age 49) was killed. His son Charles Valois Archbishop Lyons (age 9) succeeded Count Alençon.

Louis Chatillon II Count Blois I Count Chatillon was killed. His son Louis Chatillon III Count Blois Count Soissons succeeded III Count Blois.

Louis Dampierre II Count Nevers I Count Flanders (age 42) was killed. His son Louis Dampierre III Count Nevers II Count Flanders (age 15) succeeded III Count Nevers, II Count Flanders.

[her grandfather] King John I of Bohemia (age 50) was killed. His son [her father] Charles IV King Bohemia Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg (age 30) succeeded IV King Bohemia.

Rudolph "Valiant" Metz I Duke Lorraine (age 26) was killed. His son John Metz I Duke Lorraine succeeded I Duke Lorraine.

Jean IV de Harcourt (age 39) was killed.

Before 1360 [her future husband] Bryan Stapleton (age 38) and Alice Philibert (age 29) were married.

On 05 Sep 1363 Hugh Courtenay (age 18) and [her future sister-in-law] Maud Holland (age 4) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Holland 1st Earl Kent and Joan "Fair Maid of Kent" Princess Wales (age 34). They were half second cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England. She a great granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

On 11 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.

Death of the Black Prince

On 08 Jun 1376 Edward "Black Prince" (age 45) died of dysentery at Westminster Palace [Map]. He was buried in Canterbury Cathedral [Map]. His son [her future husband] Richard  (age 9) succeeded King England. His niece Philippa Plantagenet Countess March 5th Countess Ulster (age 20) succeeded Heir to the Throne of England.

Death of Edward III

On 21 Jun 1377 King Edward III of England (age 64) died of a stroke at Sheen Palace [Map]. He was buried in the Chapel of St Edward the Confessor, Westminster Abbey [Map]. His grandson [her future husband] King Richard II of England (age 10) succeeded II King England.

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

In 1380 Waleran Luxemburg (age 25) and [her future sister-in-law] Maud Holland (age 21) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Holland 1st Earl Kent and Joan "Fair Maid of Kent" Princess Wales (age 51). He the son of Guy of Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol and Ligny and Mathilde Chatillon Countess Saint Pol. They were third cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great granddaughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England.

The Chronicle of Adam of Usk. 18 Dec 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 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 (age 15) was bought for a great price by our 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."

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 20 Jan 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 22 Jan 1382 Anne of Bohemia Queen Consort England (age 15) was crowned Queen Consort England by Archbishop William de 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 1391 [her sister-in-law] Maud Holland (age 32) died.

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

The Chronicle of Adam of Usk. 07 Jun 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.

Death and Funeral of Anne of Bohemia

On 07 Jun 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 03 Aug 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 Surrey 11th Earl 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.

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

Marriage of Richard II and Isabella of Valois

On 31 Oct 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 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.

Death of Richard II

On 14 Feb 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. His first cousin Philippa Plantagenet Countess March 5th Countess Ulster de jure Heir to the Throne of England since she was the daughter of Lionel Plantagenet 1st Duke of Clarence. She at this time had four children with her husband Edmund Mortimer 3rd Earl March, Earl Ulster. The new King Henry IV (age 32) ignored her claim.

On 17 Feb 1400 Richard's (deceased) corpse was displayed at St Paul's Cathedral [Map].

On 06 Mar 1400 Richard's (deceased) 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 1403-1419. 1414. Ande that yere the kyng (age 27) 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 hym selfe with Quene Anne his wyfe8. [th]is was the laste yere of raygne of the fadyr, and the fyrste yere of the raygne of the sone, Kyng Harry the v.

Note 8. The words betweenb bare repeated in the MS.

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 succeeded Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg.

[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 King John I of Bohemia and Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia.

[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 King John I of Bohemia and Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

[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 King John I of Bohemia and Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia.

[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 King John I of Bohemia and Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia.

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

Kings Wessex: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons

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 7 Grand Daughter of Louis "Fat" VI King France

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