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ArchivesRe: Elen - Welsh form of Helen?
in reply to a message by Dawn
Doubtful that Elen would be from Welsh, and especially doubtful that it could mean nymph, as that is an effectively untranslatable word from Greek mythology (which is why we use "nymph" rather than the alternate meaning of "bride"). Christianity was well established in Britain by the 4th C., and most recorded names of people in Wales from the period and indeed for the next few centuries are primarily Latin, Greek or Germanic (Franks, Goths, Saxons, Vandals etc. making up a sizable portion of the Roman army at all levels, from legionaries to magister militum (Master of the Soldiers). Indeed a high proportion of the names recorded in later medieval Welsh histories are later corruptions of Germanic and Latin names or even positions, Triffyn, for example is just the Latin Tribune, a rank between Centurion and Legate. It's not until the 6th C. that genuine Welsh names become the norm for rulers in all the Welsh kingdoms. In contrast the east of Britain seems to have had a more strained relationship with Rome, and the earliest post-Roman rulers of the "Saxon" kingdoms have more consistently British names, indeed the kings of Wessex had British names into the 7th C and it was nearly the 8th C before the Kings of Wessex had consistently Saxon rather than British names.
St Elen's purported husband was Magnus Maximus, her sons Constantine and Publicus, and her father Octavius. Although the 12th or 13th C welsh legends place her as the daughter of a northern Welsh chief, this is pure fantasy. If she was a real person at all she may have been from Roman Gaul or Spain, like her husband. Since they had 5 sons and at least two daughters, and Maximus only entered Britain 8 years before his death, and stayed there only three, it seems doubtful they met in Britain, especially as the Welsh legend places him as Emperor before they married, giving her lass than five years to have at least 7 children. The ecclesiastical stry of St Elen however is more consistent with being the otherwise unnamed wife of Maximus, who sought spiritual council from St Martin of Tours while her husband governed as Emperor in Trier. As she lived some 60 years after the venerated St Helen mother of Constantine the Great, it is entirely plausible she also would have that Greek name.
St Elen's purported husband was Magnus Maximus, her sons Constantine and Publicus, and her father Octavius. Although the 12th or 13th C welsh legends place her as the daughter of a northern Welsh chief, this is pure fantasy. If she was a real person at all she may have been from Roman Gaul or Spain, like her husband. Since they had 5 sons and at least two daughters, and Maximus only entered Britain 8 years before his death, and stayed there only three, it seems doubtful they met in Britain, especially as the Welsh legend places him as Emperor before they married, giving her lass than five years to have at least 7 children. The ecclesiastical stry of St Elen however is more consistent with being the otherwise unnamed wife of Maximus, who sought spiritual council from St Martin of Tours while her husband governed as Emperor in Trier. As she lived some 60 years after the venerated St Helen mother of Constantine the Great, it is entirely plausible she also would have that Greek name.
This message was edited 2/24/2018, 12:16 AM
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