Alexandru Callimachi
Encyclopedia
Alexandru Callimachi was Prince of Moldavia during the period of 6 May 1795 through 18 March 1799.
, the capital of the Ottoman Empire
. His family
were an established Moldavia
n-Greek
Phanariote
boyar
and princely
house. He was the son of Ioan Teodor Callimachi
, Prince of Moldavia, and Raliţa Chrisoscoleo. Alexandru had three siblings: Grigore Callimachi (1735–1769), Prince of Moldavia; sister, Sevastiţa (born 1736), who married Mihai Suţu
, Prince of Moldavia; and sister, Maria (1740–1831). His uncle Gavriil Callimachi
(1689–1786) was a monk at Putna Monastery
before he founded the St. George Cathedral in Iaşi
.
of the Sublime Porte from 1785 to 1794. He gained the title of Prince of Moldavia in 1795. After Callimachi was deposed, he was succeeded by son-in-law Constantine Ypsilantis
.
With his reign over, Callimachi retired to Constantinople
.
, Prince of Moldavia and Prince of Wallachia
. They had four children. Their oldest was daughter, Ralu (1769–1797), who married Ypsilantis in 1783. Their first son, the hospodar
Scarlat Callimachi
, was Prince of Moldavia at three different times, while Scarlat's son Alexandros
was conferred the Ottoman
title of Bala in June 1861, the first Christian to be so honored. They had two younger children, daughter, Eufrosina (1776–1835), and son, Ioan (1775–1821).
Callimachi died in Bolu
in 1821, the same year that Phanariote rule ended with the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence
against the Ottoman Empire
.
Early years
Alexandru Callimachi was born in ConstantinopleConstantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, the capital of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. His family
Callimachi family
Callimachi, Calimachi, or Kallimachi was a Moldavian boyar and princely family, originating with a group of free peasants living in the Orhei area of Bessarabia. It still remains present today in modern Romania.-Members:*Vasile Călmaşul: b...
were an established Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
n-Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
Phanariote
Phanariotes
Phanariots, Phanariotes, or Phanariote Greeks were members of those prominent Greek families residing in Phanar , the chief Greek quarter of Constantinople, where the Ecumenical Patriarchate is situated.For all their cosmopolitanism and often Western education, the Phanariots were...
boyar
Boyar
A boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century....
and princely
Hospodar
Hospodar or gospodar is a term of Slavonic origin, meaning "lord" or "master".The rulers of Wallachia and Moldavia were styled hospodars in Slavic writings from the 15th century to 1866. Hospodar was used in addition to the title voivod...
house. He was the son of Ioan Teodor Callimachi
Ioan Teodor Callimachi
Ioan Teodor Callimachi was Prince of Moldavia from 1758 to 1761.-Early years:Ioan was the second son of Teodor Calmăşul. Teodor, born Calmăşul, changed the family name to Callimachi. Ioan's older brother, Gavriil Callimachi was a monk at Putna Monastery. Ioan pursued his studies at Lvov...
, Prince of Moldavia, and Raliţa Chrisoscoleo. Alexandru had three siblings: Grigore Callimachi (1735–1769), Prince of Moldavia; sister, Sevastiţa (born 1736), who married Mihai Suţu
Mihai Sutu
Mihai Draco Suţu was a Prince of Moldavia between 1792 and 1795. A member of the Soutzos family of Phanariotes, he was the uncle of Mihail Suţu, himself a ruler of Moldavia between 1819 and 1821.-Third ruler of Wallachia:...
, Prince of Moldavia; and sister, Maria (1740–1831). His uncle Gavriil Callimachi
Gavriil Callimachi
Gavriil Callimachi was a monk at Putna Monastery who rose eventually to the position of Metropolitan of Moldavia. He was born Gheorghe Călmaşul, son of the Câmpulung headman, Teodor Călmaşul, and younger brother of Ioan Teodor Callimachi, Prince of Moldavia from 1758 to 1761.Gheorghe Callimachi...
(1689–1786) was a monk at Putna Monastery
Putna Monastery
The Putna monastery is a Romanian Orthodox monastery, one of the most important cultural, religious and artistic centers established in medieval Moldavia; as with many others, it was built and dedicated by Prince Stephen the Great. Putna was founded on the lands perambulated by the Putna...
before he founded the St. George Cathedral in Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
.
Career
Callimachi served as Grand DragomanDragoman
A dragoman was an interpreter, translator and official guide between Turkish, Arabic, and Persian-speaking countries and polities of the Middle East and European embassies, consulates, vice-consulates and trading posts...
of the Sublime Porte from 1785 to 1794. He gained the title of Prince of Moldavia in 1795. After Callimachi was deposed, he was succeeded by son-in-law Constantine Ypsilantis
Constantine Ypsilantis
Constantine Ypsilantis , was the son of Alexander Ypsilanti, a key member of an important Phanariote family, Grand dragoman of the Porte , hospodar of Moldavia and Walachia , and a Prince through marriage to the daughter of Alexandru Callimachi.-The Liberation of Greece from the Ottoman...
.
With his reign over, Callimachi retired to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
.
Personal life
Callimachi sealed a matrimonial alliance with his marriage to Elena Ghika, daughter of Scarlat Ghika VodǎScarlat Ghica
Prince Scarlat Ghica was a Prince of Moldavia , and twice Prince of Wallachia . He was a member of the Ghica family....
, Prince of Moldavia and Prince of Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
. They had four children. Their oldest was daughter, Ralu (1769–1797), who married Ypsilantis in 1783. Their first son, the hospodar
Hospodar
Hospodar or gospodar is a term of Slavonic origin, meaning "lord" or "master".The rulers of Wallachia and Moldavia were styled hospodars in Slavic writings from the 15th century to 1866. Hospodar was used in addition to the title voivod...
Scarlat Callimachi
Scarlat Callimachi (hospodar)
Scarlat Callimachi was Grand Dragoman of the Sublime Porte 1801–1806, Prince of Moldavia between August 24 1806 – October 26 1806, August 4 1807 – June 13 1810, September 17 1812 – June 1819 and Prince of Wallachia between February 1821 – June 1821.A member of the Callimachi family, he was the son...
, was Prince of Moldavia at three different times, while Scarlat's son Alexandros
Alexandros Kallimachis
Son of Scarlat Callimachi, Alexandru Callimachi fled Moldavia with his mother and other members of his family in 1821, at the time of his father's death. The family sought refuge in Russia, where Alexander finished his studies, at the University of Kiev...
was conferred the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
title of Bala in June 1861, the first Christian to be so honored. They had two younger children, daughter, Eufrosina (1776–1835), and son, Ioan (1775–1821).
Callimachi died in Bolu
Bolu
- Places of interest :The countryside around Bolu offers excellent walking and other outdoor pursuits. There are hotels in the town for visitors. Sights near the town include:* The 14th century mosque, Ulu Camii...
in 1821, the same year that Phanariote rule ended with the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
against the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
.