Agnes of Rus’: The Russian Princess Who Became Queen of France Anna Yaroslavna was the youngest daughter of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, ruler of ancient Rus’. In France, she became known as Anna of Rus’ or Agnes de Russie. She was highly educated for her time. She could read and write, knew history, math, and the arts, and spoke several languages, including Old Russian, Greek, and Latin. She could even write in two different alphabets: Cyrillic and Glagolitic. In 1051, Anna traveled to France and married King Henry I in the city of Reims. On her wedding day, she insisted on taking her oath of loyalty using a Russian Gospel book. That same book was later kept in the cathedral and became known as the Reims Gospel. French kings used it for centuries during their coronations. Anna became Queen of France. She quickly learned the French language and became popular among the people. But she was shocked by how things were done in her new country. For example, during the wedding, her husband Henry I didn’t sign the documents, he just drew an “X” 🙊. He couldn’t read or write. In fact, most people in France at that time were illiterate, and there wasn’t a single educated woman in all of Paris. Anna, on the other hand, signed her name in Old Russian, using Cyrillic letters. Her signature “Ана Ръина” which means “Anna the Queen”, and it’s one of the earliest examples of a Cyrillic signature in Western Europe. She was also shocked that the French didn’t bathe 🫣. They only washed their hands and faces, and thought washing the whole body was a sin. Paris was small, dirty, and had no plumbing. People dumped waste right onto the streets. Anna introduced big changes at the French court. In Rus’, people bathed regularly, and she believed keeping clean in body and soul was important. She taught the French how to bathe. Smart and confident, Anna soon became involved in politics. King Henry was so impressed by her that he made her his co-ruler, a very rare thing for a woman back then. She even signed important government documents alongside the king. During their rule, France’s economy grew. Cities started to break free from feudal lords, trade expanded, and the country collected more taxes. This helped unify France and build ties with other nations. Anna was also the only woman in Europe at the time who exchanged letters with Pope Nicholas II, which shocked many people. Thanks to her, schools, libraries, and churches were built. She also taught the French court how to read and write. People loved Anna for her intelligence, kindness, and patience. She brought wisdom, culture, and dignity from Rus’ to medieval France, and left a legacy that still impresses historians today.