Helena Palaiologina, Despotitsa of Serbia

Who was Helena Palaiologina, Despotitsa of Serbia?

Helena Palaiologina was a Byzantine despotitsa of Serbia as the wife of Despot Lazar Branković, who ruled from 1456 until his death in 1458. Together they had three daughters.

Helena was the eldest daughter and child of Thomas Palaiologos, Despot of the Morea.

After Smederevo fell to the Ottoman Turks on 20 June 1459, Helena left Serbia and fled to the Greek island of Leukas where she converted to Catholicism. She later became a nun, assuming the name of Hypomone.