Editing Helena, mother of Constantine I (section)

== Marriage to Constantius ==
It is unknown where she first met [[Constantius Chlorus|Constantius]].<ref name="Lieu and Montserrat, 49">Lieu and Montserrat, 49.</ref> The historian [[Timothy Barnes (classicist)|Timothy Barnes]] has suggested that [[Constantius Chlorus|Constantius]], while serving under Emperor [[Aurelian]], could have met her while stationed in Asia Minor for the campaign against [[Zenobia]]. It is said that upon meeting they were wearing identical silver bracelets; [[Constantius Chlorus|Constantius]] saw her as his divinely-sent soulmate.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} Barnes calls attention to an epitaph at [[Nicomedia]] of one of Aurelian's protectors, which could indicate the emperor's presence in the Bithynian region soon after AD&nbsp;270.<ref>''[[Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae]]'' 2776, cited in Barnes, "New Empire," 36.</ref> The precise legal nature of the relationship between Helena and [[Constantius Chlorus|Constantius]] is also unknown. The sources are equivocal on the point, sometimes calling Helena Constantius' "wife", and sometimes, following the dismissive propaganda of Constantine's rival [[Maxentius]],<ref>Paul Stephenson, ''Constantine, Roman Emperor, Christian Victor'', 2010:126f.:130.</ref> calling her his "[[concubine]]".<ref name="Lieu and Montserrat, 49"/> [[Jerome]], perhaps confused by the vague terminology of his own sources, manages to do both.<ref>Hieronymus, ''Chronica'', ''s.a.'' 292, p. 226, 4 and ''s.a.'' 306, p. 228, 23/4, cited in Lieu and Montserrat, 49.</ref>

Some scholars, such as the historian Jan Drijvers, assert that Constantius and Helena were joined in a [[common-law marriage]], a cohabitation recognized in fact but not in law.<ref>Drijvers, ''Helena Augusta'', 17–19.</ref> Others, like Timothy Barnes, assert that Constantius and Helena were joined in an official marriage, on the grounds that the sources claiming an official marriage are more reliable.<ref>Barnes, ''New Empire'', 36.</ref>

Helena gave birth to the future emperor [[Constantine I]] on 27 February of an uncertain year soon after 270<ref>Barnes, ''CE'', 3, 39–42; Elliott, ''Christianity of Constantine'', 17; Odahl, 15; Pohlsander, "Constantine I"; Southern, 169, 341.</ref> (probably around 272).<ref>Barnes, ''CE'', 3; Barnes, ''New Empire'', 39–42; Elliott, "Constantine's Conversion," 425–6; Elliott, "Eusebian Frauds," 163; Elliott, ''Christianity of Constantine'', 17; Jones, 13–14; Lenski, "Reign of Constantine" (CC), 59; Odahl, 16; Pohlsander, ''Emperor Constantine'', 14; Rodgers, 238; Wright, 495, 507.</ref> At the time, she was in Naissus ([[Niš]], [[Serbia]]).<ref>Barnes, ''CE'', 3.</ref> In order to obtain a wife more consonant with his rising status, Constantius divorced Helena some time before 289, when he married [[Flavia Maximiana Theodora|Theodora]], [[Maximian]]'s daughter under his command.<ref>Barnes, ''CE'', 8–9.</ref> The narrative sources date the marriage to 293, when Constantius was appointed ''[[Caesar (title)|caesar]]'' (heir-apparent) of Maximian, but the [[Panegyrici Latini|Latin panegyric]] of 289 refers to the new couple as already married.<ref>''Origo'' 1; Victor, ''Caes''. 39.24f; Eutropius, ''Brev''. 9.22.1; ''Epitome'' 39.2; ''Pan''. ''Lat''. 10(2).11.4, cited in Barnes, ''CE'', 288 n.55.</ref> Helena and her son were dispatched to the court of [[Diocletian]] at Nicomedia, where Constantine grew to be a member of the inner circle. Helena never remarried and lived for a time in obscurity, though close to her only son, who had a deep regard and affection for her.