4668) Helen of Zadar (Croatian: Jelena) also known as Helen the Glorious or Jelena Slavna). Croatia: The Croatian Mint (Croatian:
Hrvatska kovnica novca) has minted a 2-ounce silver €6 coin with partial gold plating and a ruthenium coating also featuring the Velebit degenia flower in coordination with ther Croatian National Bank: Date/Yesar of Coin issue: 28.05.2026:
Helen of Zadar (Croatian: Jelena) (died 8 October 976), also known as Helen the Glorious (Croatian: Jelena Slavna), was the queen consort of the Kingdom of Croatia, as the wife of King Michael Krešimir II, from 946 to 969, a period which was marked by "peace, order and expeditious growth".
She was the regent of Croatia after the passing away of her spouse during the minority of her son Stephen Držislav of Croatia and ruled from 969 until 976.
Queen Jelena’s name is preserved on fragments of a funerary epitaph discovered in Solin in the late 19th century.
The royal inscription on her sarcophagus, an epitaph, was discovered by archaeologist Don Frane Bulic on Aug. 28, 1898. The epitaph shed light on the genealogy of early Croatian rulers.
The inscription states that Jelena was the wife of King Mihajlo Krešimir II and the mother of King Stjepan Držislav, and also a ruler remembered for caring for the poor, orphans and widows.
It is precisely because of this role that she became known in history as Jelena the Glorious.
She was a queen consort of the Kingdom of Croatia who ruled alongside her husband.
Jelena famously built a tomb for herself and her husband inside the church of St. Stephen in Solin.
Jelena became the queen dowager of Croatia after the passing away of her husband in 969. However, since her husband was succeeded by their son, a minor, she also became the regent of Croatia on behalf of her son.
As such, she ruled until her own demise in October 976. She is buried next to her husband in St. Mary’s Church cemetery.
The epitaph also shows that older rulers, prior to her son, The Latin & English translations of the Latin epitaph read:
“IN HOC TUMULO QUIESCIT HELENA FAMOSA, QUE FUIT UXOR MIHAELI REGI, MATERQUE STEFANI REGIS, HABENAS RENUIT REGNI. VIII IDUS MENSIS OCTOBRIS IN PACE HIC ORDINATA FUIT ANNO AB INCARNATIONE DOMINI DCCLXXVI INDICTIONE IV, CICLO LUNARE V, EPACTA XVII, CICLO SOLARI FIT PUPILLORUIM TUTORQUE VIDUARUM. ICQUE ASPICIENS VIR ANIME DIC MISERERE DEUS”.
“In this grave rests the famous Jelena who was the wife of King Michael and mother of King Stjepan. She ruled the kingdom. On the eighth day before the Ides of October she was buried here in peace 976 years of the fourth indiction after the incarnation of the Lord, in the fifth cycle of the Moon, the seventeenth epact, and the fifth cycle of the Sun which is concurrent with the sixth. And she who during her life was a queen, was also the mother of orphans and the protectress of widows. May he who looks (hereon) say: 'Lord, have mercy on her soul!'.
According to the Thomas the Archdeacon's 13th century Historia Salonitana, Queen Helen built the churches of St. Stephen and St. Mary in Salona (today's Solin).
The atrium of the St. Stephen became the Mausoleum of Croatian Kings and is preserved to the present day.
"...sancti Stephani et sancte Marie in Salona cum omnibus earum bonis. Has siquidem ecclesias edificauit et dotauit quedam Helena regina, donans eas Spalatine sedi iure perpetuo possidendas. Que ob reuerentiam regalium sepulchrorum concesse fuerant quibusdam regularibus ad tempus, qui assidue in eis officiorum ministeria exercebant. Ibi namque magnificus uir Cresimirus rex, in atrio uidelicet basilice sancti Stephani, tumulatus est cum pluribus aliis regibus et reginis."
Jelena played a central role in uniting Croatian and Latin elements within the Kingdom thus laying the groundwork for her son, Stephen Držislav, to assume sovereignty over the Dalmatian thema (which was under nominal Byzantine rule).
The Commemorative Coin:
This release in the "Queen Jelena the Glorious series of commemorative issues" from the Croatian Mint
is a 2-ounce silver €6 coin with partial gold plating and a ruthenium coating in a limited edition of 500 coins.
The commemorative coin has been issued by the Croatian
National Bank in cooperation with the Croatian Mint.
The coin’s designer, Nikola
Vudrag, depicted Queen Jelena alongside the motif of the Velebit degenia, (a
plant that grows from stone and withstands the demanding conditions of the
Croatian mountain range Velebit).
The degenia motif further
emphasises the symbolism of endurance, strength and a legacy that has lasted
for more than a thousand years.
Links to Posts on Croatia on this Blog:
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19) Shunting Locomotives, Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a set of two stamps of HRK 10 each featuring shunting locomotives: Date of Stamp set issue: 06.10.2022
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21) i) The World's smallest Gold Coin minted by the Croatian National Bank (CNB) marks farewell to Kuna currency as Croatia adopts the Euro: ii) The last 1000-Kuna commemorative coin of Croatia for 2022 is dedicated to the Visnjan Observatory: Date/Year of Coin issue: 12/2022
22) Croatian Postage Stamps (or Hrvatske Postanske Marke"), Croatia: A Stamp Album of 29 Postage Stamps issued by Croatian Post in 2016
23) Introduction of the Euro as the Official Currency of the Republic of Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a postage stamp of 1.14 Euro celebrating the inclusion of the country in the Euro Area (EU): Date of Stamp issue: 25.01.2023
24) Plastic Waste in the Seas, Croatia: "Climate Change Stamp Series": Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a postage stamp of 1.14 Euro depicting the harmful effects of Plastic pollution in the World Oceans on Marine life and the ecological balance: Date of Stamp issue: 20.04.2023
25) The Croats Military Units - Contour Necktie, Croatia: First Coins issued in Euros after Croatia joined the European Union (EU): 6 Euro Silver and 100 Euro Gold Coins minted by the Mint of Croatia at their facilities in Sveta Nedelja, on behalf of the National Bank of Croatia: Date/Year of Coins issue: 02.05.2023
26) International Day of Families (15th May), Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a postage stamp of 0.47 Euro highlighting the importance of the International Day of Families: Date of Stamp issue: 15.05.2023
27) Castles in Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a set of four postage stamps depicting i) Batthyany, Ludbreg: ii Old Town, Varazdin: iii) Zrinski, Cakovec and iv) Festitic, Pribislavec - Castles, Fortresses, Palaces etc: Date of Stamp set issue: 18.05.2023
28) Professor Balthazar motifs feature on Croatia's Fifth Crypto Stamp of 7.80 Euro issued by Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post): Date of Crypto Stamp issue: 07.09.2023
29) Trsat Dragon, Croatia: 100 Euro (Gold) and 4 Euro (Silver) Bullion Collector Coins minted by the Croatian Mint at their facilities in Sveta Nedelja on behalf of the Croatian National Bank: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2024
30) Croatia: Elusive Brusnik Black Lizard features on ne Gold (10 Euro) and Silver (4 Euro) Commemorative Coins: "Autochthonous Croatia Coin Series": Coins issued by the Croatian National Bank (CNB): Date/Year of Coins issue: 18.03.2024
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32) Plastic Waste in the Seas, Croatia: "Climate Change Stamp Series": Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a postage stamp of 1.14 Euro depicting the harmful effects of Plastic pollution in the World Oceans on Marine life and the ecological balance: Date of Stamp issue: 20.04.2023
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Castles of Croatia Stamp Series:
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34) ii) Castles in Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a set of four postage stamps depicting i) Batthyany, Ludbreg: ii Old Town, Varazdin: iii) Zrinski, Cakovec and iv) Festitic, Pribislavec - Castles, Fortresses, Palaces etc: Date of Stamp set issue: 18.05.2023
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Santosh Khanna has commented: ·
ReplyDelete"A very interesting and informative post thanks for sharing,"
Thank you so much, Khanna sahab.
DeleteRajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"A very interesting & historical post."
Thank you so much Trikha sahab
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