Helena Palaiologina | |
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Queen consort of Cyprus and Armenia | |
Tenure | 3 February 1442 – 11 April 1458 |
Born | 3 February 1428 Castle of Mistras, Morea, Greece |
Died | 11 April 1458 (aged 30) The fortress of Nicosia, Cyprus |
Burial | Royal Monastery of Saint Dominic's, Nicosia |
Spouse | King John II of Cyprus |
Issue | Charlotte, Queen of Cyprus Cleopha de Lusignan |
House | Palaiologos Lusignan |
Father | Theodore II Palaiologos |
Mother | Cleofa Malatesta |
Religion | Greek Orthodox |
Helena Palaiologina (Greek: Ἑλένη Παλαιολογίνα; 3 February 1428 – 11 April 1458) 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. She was the mother of Queen Charlotte of Cyprus.
She may have poisoned her son-in-law John of Portugal, and ordered the nose of her husband's mistress to be cut off. She did, however, welcome and assist many Byzantine refugees in Cyprus after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453.