Helena Dragaš

Early 15th-century miniature depicting Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos with his family: empress Helena Dragaš, and three of their sons, John, Andronikos and Theodore.

Jelena Dragaš (Template:Lang-sr, (Template:Lang-el / Elenē Dragasē, Helena Dragases); c. 1372 – 23 March 1450), also known by her monastic name Hypomone (Ὑπομονὴ), was the empress consort of Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaiologos. She was well known for her piety, wisdom, and justice. Her husband (as a former emperor) became a monk with the name Mathieu (Ματθαῑος). After his death she became a nun at the Monastery of Kira–Martha (κυρὰ Μάρθα), taking her monastic name. She helped to establish a home for old people, with the name "The Hope of the Despaired". The home was located at the Monastery of St. John of the Stone where the relics of St. Patapius of Thebes are also kept. She is venerated by the Greek Orthodox Church as a saint. Her memory is commemorated March 13, the day she fell asleep, and May 29, the day Constantinople fell and the death of her son Constantine XI Palaiologos. Her skull, as a holy relic, is treasured inside the Church of Mary in the Monastery of St. Patapius in Loutraki, Greece.

Family

Jelena was born to Constantine Dragaš of the noble House of Dejanović. Her father was a Serbian provincial lord, in a post-Imperial southeastern realm centered at Velbăžd (Kyustendil). Her mother was Constantine's unnamed first wife (not his second wife, Jelena's stepmother Eudokia of Trebizond). Her stepmother was a daughter of Alexios III of Trebizond and Theodora Kantakouzene, and the widow of Tadjeddin Pasha of Sinop, Emir of Limnia.

Her father died in 1395 at the battle of Rovine. Constantine Dragaš was killed while fighting for his overlord Sultan Bayezid I of the Ottoman Empire against the rebel Mircea I of Wallachia.

Marriage

On 10 February, 1392, Helena married Manuel II Palaiologos, Byzantine Emperor. They had several children. The list follows the orders of births given by George Sphrantzes:

• A daughter. Mentioned as the eldest daughter but not named. Possibly confused with Isabella Palaiologina, an illegitimate daughter of Manuel II known to have married Ilario Doria.
• Constantine Palaiologos. Died young.
• John VIII Palaiologos (18 December, 1392 - 31 October, 1448). Byzantine emperor 1425-1448.
• Andronikos Palaiologos, Lord of Thessalonike (d. 1429).
• A second daughter. Also not named in the text.
• Theodore II Palaiologos, Lord of Morea (d. 1448).
• Michael Palaiologos. Died young.
• Constantine XI Dragaš-Palaiologos (8 February, 1405 - 29 May, 1453). The last Byzantine emperor 1448-1453.
• Demetrios Palaiologos (c. 1407 - 1470). Despotēs in Morea.
• Thomas Palaiologos (c. 1409 - 12 May, 1465). Despotēs in Morea.

Manuel II died on 21 July, 1425. Helena survived him by almost twenty five years. She retired to a monastery under the monastic name Hypomone (Patience). Helena died on March 23, 1450 in Constantinople.

Her children included the last two Byzantine emperors. Constantine XI renamed himself after her maiden name Dragaš (in Greek, Dragasēs), adding it to his own.

External links

• Her listing in "Medieval lands" by Charles Cawley. The project "involves extracting and analysing detailed information from primary sources, including contemporary chronicles, cartularies, necrologies and testaments."