When we look into the past, independently of the period we are studying, especially when it comes to royals, it is commonly thought that love was not the reason why they married between the greatest and most important dynasties that ruled in Europe. To perpetuate their lineages through a male heir and, with it, to keep peace with kingdoms that were enemies in past or allies in the present, most kings were advised well before they could choose the one who would be his crowned queen.
However, unlike popular belief, love was not rare and it could be found amongst most arranged marriages. Inside British History, few stories of the sort are recorded in people's mind, except, perhaps, the famous love story of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Today, we will approach one that is not very known in the public eyes, one love that rose unexpectedly in days that duties were expected to be filled, nothing else or even so less.
King Richard II, born Richard Plantagenet, was the second son of the Prince of Wales Edward (who would later receive the nickname Black Prince) and his wife, Joan of Kent (known as the 'Fair Maid of Kent' due to her beauty and kindness) and was not prepared to become king. His grandfather, King Edward III, was still alive and so was his father, who would be the monarch of England before this young man... but Prince Edward died suddenly and Richard would inherit the crown from his grandfather at the age of ten.
At the age of 13, Richard was recommended the Bohemian princess as a good match by his favourite Michael de la Pole, despite the fact she was poor and that her brother, King Wenzel of Bohemia, could not afford her dowry. As seen here: "Soon after the 1381 rebellion, marriage arrangements began in earnest. Sir Simon travelled abroad and, along with the Earl of Suffolk, negotiated a match between his pupil and the daughter of the late Emperor Charles IV, and sister of King Wenzel of Bohemia (also known as Wenceslas, but NOT the one of the Christmas carol). Anne was, by all accounts, a cultured young woman with royal connections throughout Europe." In those days, it is important to remember that Rome was divided by two rival popes, Urban VI and Clement of Avignon, but the first one was supported by both the Bohemians and the English.
Anne was born in Prague, on the eleventh day of May. The year was 1366. Her parents were the Holy Roman Emperor Charles and his fourth wife, Empress Elisabeth of Pomerania. She was a very well educated woman of her time and her character was known to be gentle, as well as being described as a beauty. "Anne was described as a Godly, intelligent young girl with an inquiring mind, renowned for her love of reading and for her possession of the Scriptures in three languages. Her favourite books of the Bible were the four Gospels, which she constantly studied."Being her father one of the most powerful men in the 14th century, Pope Urban VI enjoyed the situation to arrange an alliance and gain support over Clement of Avignon, who was supported by the French.
Nevertheless, when the match was finally arranged with Anne being fifteen and Richard, fourteen, she was accompanied by the her uncle and aunt, duke and duchess of Saxony, as it was expected the journey to end in Calais before they sailed to Dover. But they were intercepted by Normans vassals sent by the King, who would later excuse himself for merely being concerned to his cousin's safety in her travel to England.
In January 22nd 1382, she was eventually married to King Richard II and crowned Queen of England. In this excerpt, it is said that the "(...) ceremony was performed in Westminster chapel (...). King Richard appeared delighted with his bride, and after a week spent with her and the court in festivities and celebrations, they left for Windsor by barge, accompanied by Richard's mother, Joan of Kent."
At first, she was not very welcomed by the nobility because she came to England with no dowry and Richard had to pay for her arrival, but with her kind heart and good manners, she soon became popular and would later be remembered as the Good Queen Anne. At court, she introduced the headdress and sidesaddles, "(...) seats made of wood strapped to the horse's back with a pommel for a hand grip, and a wooden plank, wide enough to accomodate both feet, hung along the left side of the animal."
As for the nature of their relationship, it was said to be successful and loving since the start. Richard did dote on Anne, and so did she on him. When "in a letter to his mother-in-law, Elizabeth of Pomerania, he refers to her as "mater nostra carissima", which translates to 'mother of my beloved'", it is perceptible how much he loved her, and how faithful he was towards her, just by the fact he had not taken any mistress, rarely leaving Anne's side. With the death of Richard's mother, the Princess Dowager of Wales, he relied heavily on his wife. It is also presumed that she was the one who calmed his temper and, even when she rarely meddled in politics, he gave her ears as when she intercepted on the behalf of people with rebellions happening, as well as happened in other causes.
In the following excerpt, we can understand better the feelings Richard had for Anne when the plague put her life to a sad end. "For twelve years they lived together, deeply in love and seeing each other through several crises. In 1394, however, the plague struck again, taking with it Queen Anne, aged only 27. "On 7 Junae Anne, Queen of England, and daughter of the Emperor, died at the manor of Sheen;..." [10] Richard has variously been described as "wild with grief", "utterly inconsolable" and "distraught in the aftermath". [11] When the Earl of Arundel was late arriving at the funeral, Richard struck him for showing such disrespect to the queen's memory. [12] Saul mentions that for a year after her death he refused to go into any room she'd been in [13]. The following spring, John Gedney, Clerk of the Works, received a writ, ordering him to destroy the Manor of Sheen including "the houses and buildings within the moat..." and "the houses and buildings in la Neyt" [14] Sheen itself was a sprawling collection of buildings, it was in Neyt that Anne had died. Richard had spent time expanding Sheen earlier in his reign and la Neyt had been among the favourite residences of the royal couple."
This devotion we see in the couple has even more a romantic ideal, especially if we consider the love stories as a social product, a consequence of the Victorian period. Richard was not a charming prince, but the deep affection he had for Anne and his grief for her when she died shows us another side, softer but at the same time more intense of arranged marriages that grew to love. It cannot be compared to a more modern example, as happened to Queen Victoria, but the feeling was there. Also, it is not possible to mistake duty with lack of feelings by any part of the couple, remembering that marrying for affection was not the main cause for arrangements to be done, as said before.
Finally, this story that many has forgotten probably because the fame of bad tempered the Plantagenets carried with themselves until the last one, Richard III, to rule England and through the many Civil Wars they engaged to, whether failing or not in another several wars, should not be put aside by merely faults of others or because we have more wide known monarchs. Every one had its part in History and this is not different. Although it's rather easier to question ourselves about possibilities that clearly never happened.
What makes us look up at Richard II and Anne is that both were humans and how they loved each other, regardless each other's faults. They supported each other in difficult times, enjoyed each one's company... That being said, I'll finish this post with a poem that very likely was written by Richard himself.
"The dust of Anne, the second Richard's queen,
Lies now entombed beneath this spacious stone;
Her lovely form enchained wherever seen,
Her face with meek and radiant beauty shone.
Dear was her Saviour to her loving heart;
Her love and gentleness to all she showed;
In healing strifes she ever did her part;
To her the poor, with want and care oppressed,
Could look with hope for pity and relief;
With heart and hand she succoured the distressed,
Nor grudged to cost of want and pain and grief.
The lonely widow's tears she wiped away,
And to the sick the healing draught she brought,
Whoever suffered found in her a stay;
To live for others--this she daily sought."
Sources: http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com.br/2012/08/a-royal-love-story-richard-ii-and-anne.html
http://www.triviumpublishing.com/articles/richard_ii_anne_bohemia.html
http://www.leben.us/volume-7-volume-7-issue-3/355-the-royal-wedding-1382-anne-of-bohemia-and-richard-ii
http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/plantagenet_61.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_of_Bohemia
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