The work
Theophanes Continuatus was a continuation of the chronicle of
Theophanes the Confessor by other writers, active during the reign of her husband. The description of her marriage in the chronicle places the event in April or May 919. Constantine was still four or five months short of his 14th birthday. The Helena's age is not recorded but she was likely also of minor age. They would not have children until the 930s. Romanos was proclaimed
basileopatōr ("father of the emperor") on the occasion of the marriage. In September 920, Romanos was invested as
kaisar (
Caesar). On 17 December 920, Romanos was crowned co-emperor and in effect became the senior of the two associate emperors. Helena now was married to the junior co-ruler. Her mother Theodora was crowned Augusta in January 921 and was her senior in palace hierarchy until Theodora's death on 20 February 922. Helena became in effect the senior co-empress of the palace following the death of her mother. Her brother
Christopher Lekapenos became co-emperor in 921. Before his elevation to the throne, Christopher was married to Sophia, daughter of
magistros Niketas. Sophia was crowned empress in February 922. They had three children. In 924, there was a senior emperor (Romanos), two junior emperors (Constantine VII and Christopher), and two empresses (Helena and Sophia). However Romanos crowned two more of his sons as co-emperors,
Stephen Lekapenos and
Constantine Lekapenos. By 933, Stephen was married to Anna, daughter of Gabalos. No children are mentioned by the chronicle. By 939, Constantine Lekapenos was married to another Helena, daughter of
patrikios Hadrian. This other Helena died on 14 January 940, and Constantine married Theophano Mamas on 2 February 940. Constantine had a son but the identity of the child's mother was not recorded. With the favor of Romanos, Christopher held seniority among the four junior co-emperors. He was the heir to the throne while Constantine VII, Stephen, and Constantine Lekapenos were to remain junior co-rulers. However, Christopher died in 931. Romanos did not advance his younger sons in precedence over Constantine VII. His son-in-law was now the heir over his own sons. Helena was bound to become the principal empress upon the death of her father. This period lasted until 16 December 944. Fearing that Romanos would allow Constantine VII to succeed him instead of them, his younger sons Stephen and Constantine arrested their father and took him to the
Prince Islands, compelling him to become a
monk. ==Reign of Constantine==