Helena (daughter of Alypius)
Byzantine empress (fl. late 10th century)
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Helena Alypia (Greek: Ελένη Αλυπία, Helénē Alypía; 960s? – c. 989?) was a Byzantine empress consort as the wife of Byzantine Emperor Constantine VIII.
| Helena | |
|---|---|
| Augusta | |
| Empress of the Byzantine Empire | |
| Tenure | 976?–before 1025 |
| Born | 960s? |
| Died | c. 989? definitely before 1025 |
| Spouse | Constantine VIII |
| Issue | Eudokia Zoe Porphyrogenita Theodora Porphyrogenita |
| Father | Alypius |
Life
Very little is known about her, as she is only briefly mentioned in the Chronographia of Michael Psellos, followed by the works of John Skylitzes and Zonaras.[1] Psellos writes of her only that:
- "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."[2]
Apart from this reference in Psellos, her father Alypius (Αλυπίος) is otherwise unknown.[3] The marriage probably took place ca. 976, and Helena died at some unknown point, apparently long before her husband became sole emperor in 1025.[1] The historian Gunther G. Wolf theorized that she died ca. 989, possibly during the birth of her third daughter.[1] Theodora is generally thought to have been born in the early rather than late 980s, however.
Their three daughters were:[1]
- Eudokia (Ευδοκία). Eldest daughter. According to the Chronographia "in childhood she had been attacked by some infectious illness, and her looks had been marred ever since".[4] She later became a nun.
- Zoë Porphyrogenita. Augusta 1028–1050, empress consort for much of that time (except from 1041-1042), and empress regnant in spring 1042.
- Theodora Porphyrogenita. Empress regnant in spring 1042 (sharing with Zoe) and sole empress regnant 1055–56.
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.