Anne of Kiev (or Anna Yaroslavna) (between 1024 and 1032–1075) was the queen consort of France as the second wife of Henry I, and regent for her son Philip I.
Her parents were Yaroslav I the Wise and princess Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden.
After the death of his first wife, Matilda, King Henry searched the courts of Europe for a suitable bride, but could not locate a princess who was not related to him within illegal degrees of kinship. 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 19 May 1051.
Anne is credited with bringing the name Philip to Western Europe. She imported this Greek name (Philippos, from philos and hippos, meaning "the one that love horses") from her Eastern Orthodox culture.
Young Queen immediately proved to be a visionary and energetic statesman. On the French documents of the time, along with the signatures of her husband, and found the Cyrillic 'Anna Rina "(Queen Anne). The pope, Nicholas II, surprised remarkable political talents of Anne wrote in her letter:
"Hearing about your virtues, a delightful woman who came to our ears, and with great joy, we hear that you are doing in this very Christian state their royal duties with commendable zeal and remarkable intelligence."
For 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.
Anna moved into the castle Senlis, 40 km from Paris. Here it was established and a convent and church.
A year after the king's death, Anne, acting as regent, took a passionate fancy for Count Ralph III of Valois, a man whose political ambition encouraged him to repudiate his wife to marry Anne in 1062. 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, La-Ferte-Alais, Essonne and her obits were celebrated on 5 September.
Anna and Henry I had four children:
Philip I (23 May 1052 – 30 July 1108)
Emma (born 1054, date of death unknown)
Robert (c. 1055 – c. 1060)
Hugh the Great (1057–1102)
