Helen of Zadar

Helen of Zadar
Bust of Queen Helen, Solin (artists's impression)
Queen consort of Croatia
Tenure	946–976
Coronation	946
Successor	Stephen Držislav
Born	Zadar
Died	8 October 976 Croatia
Burial	Church of St. Mary, Solin
Spouse	Michael Krešimir II of Croatia
House	House of Madi House of Trpimirović

Helen of Zadar (Croatian: Jelena) (died 8 October 976), also known as Helen the Glorious, 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 became the queen dowager of Croatia after her husband and reigned until her death.

She is said to have originated from the old patrician family Madi from Zadar.

Queen Helen built the churches of St Stephen and St. Mary in Solin. The atrium of the St Stephen latter became the Mausoleum of Croatian Kings and is preserved to the present day. Helen was also known by her subjects as "Mother of the Kingdom and protectress of orphans and widows". 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).

Helen died in October 976 and is buried next to her husband in St Mary's. The royal inscription on her sarcophagus was an epitaph discovered by archaeologists. The epitaph, which shed light on the genealogy of early Croatian rulers, was discovered by Don Frane Bulić on 28 August 1898. The epitaph also shows that older rulers, prior to her son Stephen Držislav bore the title of kings. The English translation of the epitaph is: