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Helen of Greece and Denmark

Also known as Sitta (nickname)

Athens, 2 May 1896 – Lausanne, 28 Nov 1982

11 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born2 May 1896, Athensnot verified1 source
  • MarriedCarol II of Romanianot verified1 source
  • EventWedding of Crown Prince Carol of Romania and Princess Helen of Greece and Denmarknot verified1 source
  • Died28 Nov 1982, Lausannenot verified1 source
  • FatherConstantine I of Greecenot verified1 source
  • MotherSophia of Prussianot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 2 May 1896

    Born in Athens

  2. 25 Oct 1921

    A son is born

  3. 28 Nov 1982

    Dies in Lausanne, aged 86

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 1

During her lifetime

She lived through 10 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Athens.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1890s · Helen is born in Athens

In the news1893

Greek state bankruptcy in 1893

The Greek state declared bankruptcy in 1893 after the country's borrowing capacity was exhausted following years of heavy foreign lending.

What people wore

Men wore the iconic fustanella skirt

Men often wore the fustanella, a full-pleated skirt that originated from southern Albania and became a national symbol. It was commonly paired with a vest, a sleeveless coat, and a leather belt used to carry weapons.

Getting around

Leisurely train travel in Greece

Trains in Greece often made leisurely stops of several minutes at stations, where passengers alighted to socialize while hawkers sold goods and wine shops opened.

The “Russian flu”. A flu pandemic travelled the world by rail and steamship in a few months, killing about a million people.Around the world · 1889–1890

The “Russian flu”. A flu pandemic travelled the world by rail and steamship in a few months, killing about a million people.

Unknown · CC BY 4.0

In the news1896

First modern Olympics held in 1896

Athens hosted the opening ceremonies of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, a significant cultural event for the capital.

Music

Singing heroic ballads at table feasts

Heroic songs, or klephtic ballads, were often sung by soloists at banquets while seated around tables filled with food and wine. Singers and their audience used these songs to emotionally relive stories of bravery and life's challenges.

Daily life

Democratic and Accessible Public Education

Schools of all grades were abundant and free to all, and it was common to see children from diverse social backgrounds, such as a cabdriver's daughter and a government official's child, sitting side by side in class.