Helena
Family: Britons · Role: daughter of Coel and wife of Constantius · First appears: Book V 4–7
After Coel’s death, Constantius was crowned and married Helena, Coel’s daughter. They had a son, Constantine, and during an expedition Constantius brought Helena’s three uncles, Leolin, Trahern, and Marius, with him, advancing them to the rank of senators. Later, at London, Octavius bestowed the kingdom and Helena in marriage upon Maximian.
In Book X, Helena is described as the niece of Hoel. A giant forcibly took her from her guard and fled with her to Michael’s Mount; while he attempted to assault her, she fainted from fear and died. Grieving for his niece, Hoel ordered a mausoleum built over her body, and the mountain became known as Helena’s Tomb.
Relationship record
Life events
- Constantius was crowned and married Helena, Coel's daughter.(Book V 4–7)
- With: Constantius
- “After his decease, Constantius himself was crowned, and married the daughter of Coel, whose name was Helena.”
- Constantius and Helena had a son named Constantine.(Book V 4–7)
- With: Constantius Constantine, son of Helena
- “Constantius, therefore, having made her partner of his bed, had a son by her called Constantine.”
- Octavius bestowed the kingdom and Helena upon Maximian in marriage.(Book V 10–12 · 📍 London)
- The giant forcibly abducts Helena and flees with her to Michael's Mount.(Book X 3 · 📍 Michael's Mount)
- With: the giant
- “had forcibly taken away Helena, the niece of duke Hoel, from her guard, and fled with her to the top of that which is now called Michael's Mount”
- Helena dies after fainting during the giant's attempted assault.(Book X 3)
- With: the giant
- “This most illustrious princess, sinking under the fear her tender heart conceived, while the foul monster would have embraced her, fainted away and expired.”
- Hoel orders a mausoleum built over Helena's body, creating Helena's Tomb.(Book X 3 · 📍 Helena's Tomb)
- With: Hoel
- “Hoel, in great grief for the loss of his niece, commanded a mausoleum to be built over her body in the mountain where she was buried, which, taking the damsel's name, is called Helena's Tomb to this day.”
Book V 4–7
- parent: Coel (Helena is identified as Coel's daughter.) “After his decease, Constantius himself was crowned, and married the daughter of Coel, whose name was Helena.”
- married with Constantius “After his decease, Constantius himself was crowned, and married the daughter of Coel, whose name was Helena.”
- child: Constantine, son of Helena “Constantius, therefore, having made her partner of his bed, had a son by her called Constantine.”
Book V 8–9
- elder kin: Leolin “In this expedition he carried along with him three uncles of Helena, viz. Leolin, Trahern, and Marius, and advanced them to the degree of senators.”
- elder kin: Trahern “In this expedition he carried along with him three uncles of Helena, viz. Leolin, Trahern, and Marius, and advanced them to the degree of senators.”
- elder kin: Marius “In this expedition he carried along with him three uncles of Helena, viz. Leolin, Trahern, and Marius, and advanced them to the degree of senators.”
Book V 10–12
- parent: Coel “For he is the cousin of Constantine, and the nephew of king Coel, whose daughter Helena possessed the crown by an undeniable hereditary right.”
Book IX 14–16
- child: Constantine, son of Helena “Likewise Constantine, the son of Helena, and Maximian, who were both my kinsmen, and both wore the crown of Britain, gained the imperial throne of Rome.”
Book X 3
- elder kin: Hoel “a giant of monstrous size was come from the shores of Spain, and had forcibly taken away Helena, the niece of duke Hoel, from her guard, and fled with her to the top of that which is now called Michael's Mount”
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Extracted from the original text of The History of the Kings of Britain. Made with Rho MD.