Anne of Bohemia

Chaucer's tale relates to an actual courtship that included three suitors and ended in the wedding of two 15-year-olds: Richard II and the princess Anne of Bohemia, in 1382.

The earliest sidesaddles were mostly a means to transport female passengers — such as Princess Anne of Bohemia, who rode aside while traveling across Europe to marry England’s King Richard II in 1382.

In reply to her opening remarks, I merely observe, "use is second nature," and had she happened to have lived before "Anne of Bohemia" introduced side-saddles she would have had no room for "indignation"; possibly in that case she would have always ridden pillion.

But that," Basset interposed, "was Queen Anne of Bohemia--she died seven years before.

Chaucer refers to it in his poem, Parliament of Fowls, composed in honour of the marriage of Richard II and Anne of Bohemia: "For this was on Seynte Valentyne's day/ When every fowl cometh there to choose his mate."