Cantacuzino family
Encyclopedia
The Cantacuzino or Cantacuzène family is an old boyar
family of Wallachia
and Moldavia
, a branch of Greek Kantakouzinos family, allegedly descended from the Byzantine Emperor John VI Cantacuzenus. No definite genealogical
links between Byzantine Greek
and Romanian
Cantacuzinos have been established so far, however some researchersclaim otherwise. In Russia, the family received princely (Knyaz
) status. In 1944, Prince Ștefan Cantacuzino settled in Sweden, where his descendants form part of the unintroduced nobility of the country.
family can be traced back to Smyrna
. The name allegedly originates in a corruption of the Greek language
phrase identifying their estates on a mountain just outside of Smyrna.
The Greek Kantakouzenos family had been active in Constantinople, Greece and the Greek war of independence, however several branches of the original Greek family were created via the migrations and establishment of Kantakouzenos family members to different parts of Europe. One of those new branches was the Romanian (Wallachian
and Moldavian
) Cantacuzino as well as the Russia
n branch (which is an offshoot of the Moldavian branch). As a consequence of the Russian Revolution
and the Soviet occupation of Romania after World War II
, the last two branches now mostly live in Western Europe
and North America
.
According to Jean-Michel Cantacuzène, the origin of the Cantacuzino family in Romania is traced to Andronikos Kantakouzenos (d 1601), Greek financier from Constantinople, son of the "Prince of the Greeks" Michael Kantakouzenos. Andronikos had among his several sons two who became boyars in what today is Romania and founded yet-surviving branches of Cantacuzino:
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....
family 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...
and 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...
, a branch of Greek Kantakouzinos family, allegedly descended from the Byzantine Emperor John VI Cantacuzenus. No definite genealogical
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
links between Byzantine Greek
Byzantine Greeks
Byzantine Greeks or Byzantines is a conventional term used by modern historians to refer to the medieval Greek or Hellenised citizens of the Byzantine Empire, centered mainly in Constantinople, the southern Balkans, the Greek islands, Asia Minor , Cyprus and the large urban centres of the Near East...
and Romanian
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
Cantacuzinos have been established so far, however some researchersclaim otherwise. In Russia, the family received princely (Knyaz
Knyaz
Kniaz, knyaz or knez is a Slavic title found in most Slavic languages, denoting a royal nobility rank. It is usually translated into English as either Prince or less commonly as Duke....
) status. In 1944, Prince Ștefan Cantacuzino settled in Sweden, where his descendants form part of the unintroduced nobility of the country.
Origin of the family
The origin of the Byzantine KantakouzenosKantakouzenos
The House of Kantakouzenos , latinized as Cantacuzenus and anglicized as Cantacuzene, was one of the most prominent noble families of the Byzantine Empire in the last centuries of its existence. The family was one of the Empire's wealthiest and provided several prominent governors and generals, as...
family can be traced back to Smyrna
Smyrna
Smyrna was an ancient city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Thanks to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence. The ancient city is located at two sites within modern İzmir, Turkey...
. The name allegedly originates in a corruption of the Greek language
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
phrase identifying their estates on a mountain just outside of Smyrna.
Origin of the Romanian branch
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...
and Moldavian
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
) Cantacuzino as well as the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n branch (which is an offshoot of the Moldavian branch). As a consequence of the Russian Revolution
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
and the Soviet occupation of Romania after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the last two branches now mostly live in Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
According to Jean-Michel Cantacuzène, the origin of the Cantacuzino family in Romania is traced to Andronikos Kantakouzenos (d 1601), Greek financier from Constantinople, son of the "Prince of the Greeks" Michael Kantakouzenos. Andronikos had among his several sons two who became boyars in what today is Romania and founded yet-surviving branches of Cantacuzino:
- boyar Georgios 'Iordaki' Kantakouzenos became forefather of the Moldavian branch, whoch soon branched to Cantacuzino-Deleanu and Cantacuzino-Pasceanu.
- boyar Konstantinos 'Kostaki' Kantakouzenos married an heiress (daughter) of the deceased reigning prince Radu Șerban, onetime ruler of Valachia, and they founded the Valachian branches which soon clashed against the Ghika family over power.
Notable members
- Constantin CantacuzinoConstantin Cantacuzino (aviator)Constantin Cantacuzino was a Romanian aviator, one of his country's leading World War II fighter aces, and a member of the Cantacuzino family.-World War II:...
, World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
flying aceFlying aceA flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more... - Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino, Prime Minister of RomaniaRomaniaRomania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
- Ioan CantacuzinoIoan CantacuzinoIoan C. Cantacuzino was a renowned Romanian physician and bacteriologist, a professor at the Romanian School of Medicine and Pharmacy and a member of the Romanian Academy...
, physician and scientist - Pârvu CantacuzinoPârvu CantacuzinoPârvu or Pîrvu Cantacuzino was a high-ranking Wallachian boyar, ban of Oltenia, and anti-Ottoman rebellion leader who also briefly served as an officer in Russia's Imperial Army during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774...
, Ban of Oltenia, the leader of an anti-OttomanOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
rebellion in 1769 - Şerban CantacuzinoSerban CantacuzinoȘerban Cantacuzino was a Prince of Wallachia between 1678 and 1688.He took part in the Ottoman campaign ending in their defeat at the Battle of Vienna...
, Voivode of Wallachia - Ştefan CantacuzinoStefan CantacuzinoŞtefan Cantacuzino , was a Prince of Wallachia between April 1714 and January 21, 1716, the son of stolnic Constantin Cantacuzino.-Life:Ştefan was involved in his father's intrigue against Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu, denouncing him to the Ottoman Empire , and surrendering Brâncoveanu's secret...
, Voivode of Wallachia - Prince Mikhail CantacuzènePrince Mikhail CantacuzèneMikhail Mikhailovich Cantacuzène, Prince Cantacuzène, Count Speransky was an Imperial Russia minister Chief of Staff to Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia...
, Count Spiransky: Russian Representative to the U.S. 1892-1895; Russian representative to Rome 1895-1899; aide-de-camp to Nicholas II, last TsarTsarTsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
of RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
1900-1917 - Julia Dent Cantacuzène Spiransky-GrantJulia Dent Cantacuzène Spiransky-GrantJulia Dent Grant Cantacuzène Spiransky, Princess Cantacuzène, Countess Spiransky, was an American author and the first born grandchild of Ulysses S. Grant and Julia Grant, born in the White House during her grandfather's presidency. She was the daughter of Frederick Dent Grant, and Frederick's...
granddaughter of US President Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
, author, wife of Prince Mikhail CantacuzènePrince Mikhail CantacuzèneMikhail Mikhailovich Cantacuzène, Prince Cantacuzène, Count Speransky was an Imperial Russia minister Chief of Staff to Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia...