  Citation: Marinkovi´ c, ˇ C. Helen Nemanji´ c (?–1314). Encyclopedia 2022, 2, 14–25. https://doi.org/10.3390/ encyclopedia2010002 Academic Editor: Mirko Vagnoni Received: 12 November 2021 Accepted: 16 December 2021 Published: 22 December 2021 Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affil- iations. Copyright: © 2021 by the author. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). Entry Helen Nemanji´ c (?–1314) ˇ Cedomila Marinkovi´ c Institute of Ethnography, Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; cedomilamila@gmail.com; Tel.: +381-63-8767-872 Definition: DefinitionQueen Helen Nemanji´ c (?–Brnjaci near Zubin Potok, February 8, 1314) was a Serbian medieval queen and consort of King Stefan Uroš I (r. 1243–1276), the fifth ruler of the Serbian Nemanide dynasty. She was the mother of the kings Stefan Dragutin and Stefan Uroš II Milutin. Today, she is known as Helen of Anjou (Jelena Anžujska in Serbian) although her real name was most probably Heleni Angelina (Eλ ´ ενη Aγγελ´ ινα). She was the founder of the Serbian Orthodox monastery of Gradac as well as four Franciscan abbeys in Kotor, Bar, Ulcinj, and Shkodër. Together with her sons, Kings Stefan Dragutin and Stefan Uroš II Milutin she helpedrenovation of Benedictine abbey of Sts. Sergius and Bacchus near Shkodër on Boyana river in present-day Albania. After the death of her husband, she ruled Zeta and Travunija until 1306. She was known for her religious tolerance and charitable and educational endeavors. She was elevated to sainthood by the Serbian Orthodox Church. Along with Empress Helen, the wife of Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan, Queen Helen was the most frequently painted woman of Serbian medieval art. Six of her portraits can be found in the monumental painting ensembles of the Serbian medieval monasteries of Sopo´ cani, Gradac, Arilje, Ður ¯ devi Stupovi (Pillars of St. George), and Graˇ canica, as well as on two icons and one seal. Queen Helen is also the only female Serbian medieval ruler whose vita was included in the famous collection of the “Lives of Serbian Kings and Archbishops” by Archbishop Danilo II, a prominent church leader, warrior, and writer. Keywords: Helen of Anjou; Nemanide dynasty; Sopo´ cani Monastery; Gradac Monastery; Queen Helen’s seal; Vatican icon; Graˇ canica Monastery 1. Introduction Queen Helen is popularly known as Helen of Anjou. This identification is based on the statement of her biographer, Archbishop Danilo II, who, as her contemporary, interlocutor, and admirer, writes that Helen was of French origin. Queen Helen was indeed, in the charters of Charles I and Charles II of Anjou, kings of Sicily and Naples, called a dear cousin—consanguinea nostra carissima, cognata nostra, affinis nostra carissima [1] (p. 46). There is proof that Helen’s sister Maria was married to Anselm de Keu (in some documents also spelled as de Chau), Captain General of Charles I of Anjou in Albania. However, based on the latest research, Helen’s origins are connected with the French and Hungarian nobility in Slavonia and Srem. In 1984, Gordon McDaniel made a very convincing case that Helen and Maria were daughters of the Hungarian nobleman, ruler of Srem and Count of Kovin, John Angelos ( Ἰ ω ´ αννης Ἄ γγελoς) also known as Good John (Kαλo ϊ ω ´ αννης), the son of the Byzantine Emperor Isaac II and the French Matildis Vianden of Posaga (Požega), granddaughter of Peter II Courtenay, the Latin ruler of Constantinople [1] (p. 43). This assumption is still valid today and according to the most recent research, it reflects the very complex political relations between Byzantium, Hungary, and Serbia around the mid-13th century [2] (p. 53). Princess Heleni Angelina married the Serbian king Stefan Uroš I Nemanji´ c (r. 1243– 1276) probably in mid1250. They had three children: two sons, subsequently kings, Ste- fan Uroš Dragutin (r. 1276–1282) and Stefan Uroš II Milutin (r. 1282–1321), and one daughter, Brnj(a)ˇ ca (Berenice). Recently, during the excavation of the Church of the Holy Encyclopedia 2022, 2, 14–25. https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia2010002 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/encyclopedia