Life
The Chronographia by Michael Psellos mentions her only briefly:
"Constantine while still a young man, had married a lady called Helena. She was a daughter of the renowned Alypius, then the leading man in the city and member of a noble family held in high repute. This lady, who was not only beautiful but also virtuous, bore him three daughters before she died."
Their three daughters were:
- Eudokia. Eldest daughter. According to the Chronographia "in childhood she had been attacked by some infectious illness, and her looks had been marred ever since". She later became a nun.
- Zoe.
- Theodora.
At the time of their marriage Constantine VIII was the co-ruler of his older brother Basil II. Basil reigned as senior Byzantine Emperor from 976 to 1025 but never married. Which would make Helena the only Augusta during his reign. Constantine VIII would only become senior Emperor in 1025. Psellos does not mention if she was still alive by that point.
Read more about this topic: Helena, Daughter Of Alypius
Famous quotes containing the word life:
“And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”
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