Constantine Ducas (Moldavian ruler)
Encyclopedia
Constantine Ducas son of George Ducas
, was a Voivode (Prince) of Moldavia
between April 1693 and December 18, 1695 and September 12, 1700–July 26, 1703.
Although backed to the throne by his father-in-law, Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu
of Wallachia
, Constantine Ducas had indebted himself to Istanbul
creditor
s. This made him raise taxes and reintroduce the văcărit (the confiscation of every tenth head of cattle).
He sealed matrimonial alliances with the Costineşti boyar
family (to which Miron Costin
belonged) and persecuted the Cantemireşti
one (the family of Constantin Cantemir
).
After delaying payments of the tribute
and ordering the killing of the inspecting kapucu
, Ducas was deposed by the Ottoman
overlord.
He came to the throne for a second time, after Brâncoveanu had obtained the removal of their common rival Antioh Cantemir
. Yet again reacting against the Cantemireşti (who fled the country), doubling taxes and enforcing the văcărit, Ducas only fell into disgrace after his relations with Brâncoveanu soured.
George Ducas
Voivode George Ducas was three times Prince of Moldavia and one time Prince of Wallachia .He was married to Anastasia, the daughter of Eustratie Dabija, and later to Dafina Doamna; George Ducas...
, was a Voivode (Prince) of 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...
between April 1693 and December 18, 1695 and September 12, 1700–July 26, 1703.
Although backed to the throne by his father-in-law, Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu
Constantin Brâncoveanu
Constantin Brâncoveanu was Prince of Wallachia between 1688 and 1714.-Ascension:A descendant of the Craioveşti boyar family and related to Matei Basarab, Brâncoveanu was born at the estate of Brâncoveni and raised in the house of his uncle, stolnic Constantin Cantacuzino...
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...
, Constantine Ducas had indebted himself to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
creditor
Creditor
A creditor is a party that has a claim to the services of a second party. It is a person or institution to whom money is owed. The first party, in general, has provided some property or service to the second party under the assumption that the second party will return an equivalent property or...
s. This made him raise taxes and reintroduce the văcărit (the confiscation of every tenth head of cattle).
He sealed matrimonial alliances with the Costineşti 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....
family (to which Miron Costin
Miron Costin
Miron Costin was a Moldavian political figure and chronicler. His main work, Letopiseţul Ţărâi Moldovei [de la Aron Vodă încoace] was meant to extend Grigore Ureche's narrative, covering events from 1594 to 1660...
belonged) and persecuted the Cantemireşti
Cantemiresti
Cantemireşti was a Moldavian boyar family. In the 17th and 18th century it brought forth several Voivodes of Moldavia. In the 18th century, the family moved to Russia.The most famous members are:*Constantin Cantemir , Voivode of Moldavia...
one (the family of Constantin Cantemir
Constantin Cantemir
Constantin Cantemir was a Moldavian Voivode between June 25, 1685 and March 27, 1693.-Life:Cantemir became a voivode at the age of 71, after being favored by the Ottoman Empire in his conflict with Dumitraşcu Cantacuzino...
).
After delaying payments of the tribute
Tribute
A tribute is wealth, often in kind, that one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often the case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. Various ancient states, which could be called suzerains, exacted tribute from areas they had conquered or threatened to conquer...
and ordering the killing of the inspecting kapucu
Kapucu
Kapucu was designated official envoy of the Ottoman Sultan in medieval Wallachia and Moldovia. His missions are mostly associated with, but not limited to, the recalling of subject Hospodars ....
, Ducas was deposed by 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...
overlord.
He came to the throne for a second time, after Brâncoveanu had obtained the removal of their common rival Antioh Cantemir
Antioh Cantemir
Antioh Cantemir , son of Constantin Cantemir and older brother of Dimitrie Cantemir , was a Moldavian Voivode between December 18, 1695 and September 12, 1700, and again from February 23, 1705 to July 31, 1707.-Reigns:He and Dimitrie successfully plotted against Prince Constantin...
. Yet again reacting against the Cantemireşti (who fled the country), doubling taxes and enforcing the văcărit, Ducas only fell into disgrace after his relations with Brâncoveanu soured.