1. Helena Palaiologina was a Byzantine princess of the Palaiologos family, who became Queen of Cyprus and Armenia, titular Queen consort of Jerusalem, and Princess of Antioch through her marriage to King John II of Cyprus and Armenia.
10 Facts About Helena Palaiologina
1. 2.
Helena Palaiologina was the mother of Queen Charlotte of Cyprus.
3.
Helena Palaiologina did welcome and assist many Byzantine refugees in Cyprus after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453.
4.
Helena Palaiologina had turned fourteen years old on the day of her wedding, and John was twenty-seven.
5.
Shortly after their marriage, Helena Palaiologina ordered the nose of her husband's beautiful mistress, Marietta de Patras, to be cut off.
6.
Helena Palaiologina resented her husband having appointed James Archbishop of Nicosia when he was sixteen years old.
7.
Helena Palaiologina was largely responsible for the revival of Greek influence in Cyprus due to the numerous members of the Byzantine court who arrived in her wake and were given positions at the Lusignan court.
8.
Helena Palaiologina was described as having been "stronger in character than her husband".
9.
Helena Palaiologina took charge of the kingdom, and her policies in favour of the Orthodox faith and Greek culture enraged the Franks who looked upon her as a dangerous enemy; however she had become far too powerful for them to attack.
10.
Helena Palaiologina was buried in the Royal Monastery of Saint Dominic's.