Empress
John V and John VI were rival emperors in a civil war fought from 1341 to 1347. The two sides at last reached an agreement. According to its terms John VI would be recognized as senior co-emperor with John V as his junior. The marriage was sealed with the marriage of Helena to John V.
The marriage occurred on 28 May 1347 – 29 May 1347. Helena was about thirteen years old while her groom was a month short of his fifteenth birthday. Peace only lasted until 1352 when her husband resumed hostilities against her father. John VI was forced to resign the throne on 4 December 1354. Her brother Matthew would retain his title as co-emperor until his own defeat in 1357.
Helena and John V had at least nine children:
- Andronikos IV Palaiologos (2 April 1348 – 28 June 1385).
- Irene Palaiologina (c. 1349 – after 1362). Married her first cousin Khalil of Bithynia. Her husband was a son of Orhan I and Helena's sister Theodora Kantakouzene.
- Manuel II Palaiologos (27 June 1350 – 21 July 1425).
- Theodore I Palaiologos, Lord of Morea (c. 1355 – 24 June 1407).
- Michael Palaiologos (d. 1376/1377). Claimed the throne of the Empire of Trebizond from Alexios III. Assassinated while his campaign was ongoing.
- Maria Palaiologina (d. 1376). Betrothed to Murad I. She died before the marriage could take place.
- A daughter betrothed to Peter II of Cyprus.
- One of two unnamed daughters reported to have entered a monastery in 1373.
- The second of two unnamed daughters reported to have entered a monastery in 1373.
Read more about this topic: Helena Kantakouzene
Famous quotes containing the word empress:
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—Napoleon Bonaparte III (1808–1873)