Hélène Carrère d'Encausse (born Hélène Zourabichvili) was the permanent secretary of the Académie Française and a historian specializing in Russian history. She was a graduate of the elite Paris Institute of Political Studies (better known as Sciences Po).
In 1991, Goudji created the academician's sword for her.
Her son, Emmanuel Carrère (born 1957), is an author, screenwriter and director.