Helena Kantakouzene

Helena Kantakouzene (Greek: Ἑλένη Καντακουζηνή, romanized: Eleni Kantakuzini; 1333 – 10 December 1396) was the Empress consort of John V Palaiologos of the Byzantine Empire.

Shortly after her own wedding, Orhan sent an agent to Constantinople to assassinate her husband, thinking he was doing John VI Kantakouzenos a favor.

In 1352 Helena accompanied with her husband and her younger son Manuel to Thrace to accept control of the cities John VI had allotted him.

[3] When her son Andronikos IV deposed his father 12 August 1376 in the struggle of the ongoing civil war, Helena tried to reconcile the two parties.

Andronikos IV then fled to Galata, taking with him as hostages Helena, her elderly father John VI, and her two sisters Maria and Theodora.

They were released after John V and Andronikos signed a treaty in May 1381, and according to Demetrios Kydones, received a tumultuous welcome from the people of Constantinople.