Jelena of Zadar
Encyclopedia
Helen I (died 8 October 976
), also known as Helen of Zadar
or Helen the Glorious, was the queen consort
of the Kingdom of Croatia
, the wife of King Michael Krešimir II. They jointly ruled from 946
to 969
, a period which was allegedly marked by "peace, order and expeditious growth". Queen Helen was "revered by her subjects" and "most adored for her charity
".
She originated from the patrician family Madi
, an old dynasty from Zadar
.
of Croatian Kings and is preserved to the present day. Helen was also known by her subjects as "Mother of the Kingdom and protectress of orphans and widows". Jelena played a central role in uniting Croatian and Latin
elements within the Kingdom thus laying the groundwork for her son, Stephen Držislav, to assume sovereignty over the Dalmatia
n thema (which was under nominal Byzantine
rule).
and is buried next to her husband in St Mary's. The royal inscription on her sarcophagus
was an epitaph
discovered by archaeologists. The epitaph, which shed light on the genealogy of early Croatian rulers, was discovered by Don Frane Bulić
on 28 August 1989. The epitaph also shows that older rulers, prior to her son Stephen Držislav bore the title of kings. The English translation of the epitaph is:
976
Year 976 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :* January 10 – Basil II becomes Eastern Roman Emperor .- Europe :...
), also known as Helen of Zadar
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
or Helen the Glorious, was the queen consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
of the Kingdom of Croatia
Kingdom of Croatia (medieval)
The Kingdom of Croatia , also known as the Kingdom of the Croats , was a medieval kingdom covering most of what is today Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Balkans.Established in 925, it ruled as a sovereign state for almost two centuries...
, the wife of King Michael Krešimir II. They jointly ruled from 946
946
Year 946 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Religion :* May 10 – Pope Agapitus II succeeds Pope Marinus II as the 129th pope.- Deaths :...
to 969
969
Year 969 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :* December 11 – John I Tzimiskes becomes Byzantine Emperor after assassinating Nikephoros II Phokas....
, a period which was allegedly marked by "peace, order and expeditious growth". Queen Helen was "revered by her subjects" and "most adored for her charity
Charity (practice)
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need who are not related to the giver.- Etymology :The word "charity" entered the English language through the Old French word "charité" which was derived from the Latin "caritas".Originally in Latin the word caritas meant...
".
She originated from the patrician family Madi
House of Madi
House of Madi was a patrician family from Zadar. They were influential in Croatian politics from 10th till 12th century.-History:The Madii were the leading family of Zadar, the capital of the Byzantine theme of Dalmatia, from the late tenth until the end of the eleventh century...
, an old dynasty from Zadar
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
.
Life
Queen Helen built the churches of St Stephen and St. Mary in Solin. The atrium of the St Stephen latter became the MausoleumMausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
of Croatian Kings and is preserved to the present day. Helen was also known by her subjects as "Mother of the Kingdom and protectress of orphans and widows". Jelena played a central role in uniting Croatian and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
elements within the Kingdom thus laying the groundwork for her son, Stephen Držislav, to assume sovereignty over the Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
n thema (which was under nominal Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
rule).
Epitaph
Helen died in October 976976
Year 976 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :* January 10 – Basil II becomes Eastern Roman Emperor .- Europe :...
and is buried next to her husband in St Mary's. The royal inscription on her sarcophagus
Sarcophagus
A sarcophagus is a funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone. The word "sarcophagus" comes from the Greek σαρξ sarx meaning "flesh", and φαγειν phagein meaning "to eat", hence sarkophagus means "flesh-eating"; from the phrase lithos sarkophagos...
was an epitaph
Epitaph
An epitaph is a short text honoring a deceased person, strictly speaking that is inscribed on their tombstone or plaque, but also used figuratively. Some are specified by the dead person beforehand, others chosen by those responsible for the burial...
discovered by archaeologists. The epitaph, which shed light on the genealogy of early Croatian rulers, was discovered by Don Frane Bulić
Frane Bulic
Frane Bulić was a Croatian priest, archeologist, and historian.Bulić was born in Vranjic near Split and studied theology in Zadar and then classical philology and archeology in Vienna...
on 28 August 1989. The epitaph also shows that older rulers, prior to her son Stephen Držislav bore the title of kings. The English translation of the epitaph is:
External links
- http://members.tripod.com/royalcroatia/kresimir2.htm