during the siege of the fortress of Galata. 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. After John V died in 1391, Helena became a nun in the convent of Kyra Martha in Constantinople, adopting the name of Hypomone. Nicol suggests she took up her vocation after July 1392, for there is evidence that she was still taking an active part in the affairs of state at that time. She died in 1396, sometime between October and December. Family Helena and John V had at least eleven children— five sons and at least six daughters. These known children include: Andronikos IV Palaiologos (2 April 1348 – 28 June 1385); Irene Palaiologina (c. 1349 – after 1362), who married her first cousin Khalil of Bithynia. Her husband was a son of Orhan I and Helena's sister Theodora Kantakouzene. The couple had two sons, Prince Gunduz and Prince Omer. 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), who claimed the throne of the Empire of Trebizond from Alexios III; Maria Palaiologina, married Murad I; One daughter betrothed to Peter II of Cyprus, who may not be Irene or Maria; An unnamed daughter reported to have entered a monastery in 1373, who may be different women from the ones listed above. An unnamed daughter who married Bayezid I, son of Murad I; An unnamed daughter who married Yakub Çelebi, son of Murad I. Depictions in fiction A fictionalised form of her character features prominently in the novel Adora by Bertrice Small, published 1980. References Sources Further reading Frances Kianka, "The Letters of Demetrios Kydones to Empress Helena Kantakouzene Palaiologina", Dumbarton Oaks Papers: Homo Byzantinus: Papers in Honor of Alexander Kazhdan, 46 (1992), pp. 155–164 1333 births 1396 deaths 14th-century Byzantine empresses Helena Helena Daughters of Byzantine emperors Mothers of Byzantine emperors