Anne of Bohemia was born in 1366 in modern-day Czech Republic. Her father was Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, the most powerful man in Europe, and her brother was King Wenceslaus IV, King of Bohemia.
Charles IV was interested in education and in promoting Bohemia’s culture and language. He encouraged his people to learn and write in the Czech language, started a university in Prague, and commissioned scholars to translate the Bible into the common language. He ensured that all his children had a good education. When Anne was a child, she studied Czech, Latin and German. The Bible played a large role her education, and she learned to love it, memorizing large portions of it.
When she was 15, Anne was betrothed to Richard II of England. Richard II was also 15, and had become king around 5 years earlier when his grandfather died. The marriage was purely political, as they tended to be at the time. Pope Urban VI proposed the betrothal as to gain more influence over central Europe (in an attempt to win the Great Papal Schism); for his part, the king of Bohemia would get influence in England. Contrary to the custom of the time, Anne did not bring a dowry into her marriage; rather, Richard paid 20,000 Florins for her (around 4 million pounds today). For this reason, and because she brought few diplomatic benefits to England, the English nobles did not want her as queen, and hoped she died on her way to England. In fact, Anne was almost kidnapped by the French during a short stop in Calais, but her relation to French nobles saved her. Once Anne arrived in England, the people harshly critiqued her and made sure she knew she was unwelcome.
Altogether, it was not a good start for Queen Anne in England, but she persevered in her faith and good conduct. She was accompanied by friends and servants who were true believers, and they were an aid and comfort to her. She had the Bible in Bohemian and Latin, and asked for English translations of the Gospels to help her learn the language (much to the dismay of the Archbishop of York, although he could do nothing about it), and read it faithfully.
Despite a rocky start, Anne was always respectful and submissive to her husband, eventually winning him over; he was devoted to her and called her “My Beloved Bohemian”. Anne used her influence as Queen wisely. She interceded on behalf of the people before the king, begging him to pardon a number of people, including some of the leaders of the Peasant’s Revolt. When Wycliffe was on trial, Anne protected him from his enemies and pleaded with the King on his behalf, convincing him that he did not want to be guilty of killing one of God’s prophets. Anne was also involved in helping the poor, orphans, and widows. Eventually, her gentleness and kindness won over the English people, and she became known as Good Queen Anne. In 1394, Anne died when the plague swept through England. She was only 27 years old. The nation grieved for her and Richard II was so despondent that he had Sheen Manor, where she died, destroyed.
Although her life was short, Anne of Bohemia was faithful and used it well for God’s glory. When she was betrothed to a young, spoiled king and sent to a country that had already rejected her, she did not rebel or fight God’s will, but remained respectful towards her husband and kind towards the people who had wished her dead. In doing so, Anne was able to help the needy, save people from execution, and protect Wycliffe, allowing him to continue preaching and translating the Bible. She also encouraged Bohemian students to come and study under Wycliffe, thereby facilitating the spread of his teachings and books to Bohemia, where they were ready for Jan Hus, an early reformer, to study a few years later. It is impossible to say how many lives were changed and how far the gospel spread as a result of Queen Anne’s life of faithful service to her husband and people.
~ Ms. Dorothy
