Miron Costin
Encyclopedia
Miron Costin was a Moldavia
n (Romanian
) political figure and chronicler. His main work, Letopiseţul Ţărâi Moldovei [de la Aron Vodă încoace] (The Chronicles of the land of Moldavia [from the rule of Aron Vodă
]) was meant to extend Grigore Ureche
's narrative, covering events from 1594 to 1660. The Chronicles were first published in 1675.
He also wrote Istoria în versuri polone despre Ţara Moldovei şi Munteniei (Polish
verse history of Moldavia and Wallachia
), also known under the title Poema polonă (The Polish poem).
(Ion or Iancu). He spent his earliest years in Poland
, where his family had taken refuge from Ottoman
violence in Moldavia. His father had become a Polish magnate
, which gave Miron the right to study at the Jesuit College in Bar
, then at Kamienec Podolski
.
He returned to Moldavia in 1653, and became a trainee of the country's treasury
. Valued by the administration, he rose quickly, becoming Vornic
in 1669 (i.e.: overseer of the Court, with several political responsibilities both inside the state and abroad).
In 1691 his relation with Prince Constantin Cantemir
deteriorated. He and his brother (Hatman Velicico) were believed to have tried to usurp the throne in Iaşi
: both were executed.
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 (Romanian
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
) political figure and chronicler. His main work, Letopiseţul Ţărâi Moldovei [de la Aron Vodă încoace] (The Chronicles of the land of Moldavia [from the rule of Aron Vodă
Aron Tiranul
Aaron the Tyrant , sometimes credited as Aron Emanoil or Emanuel Aaron , was twice Moldavian Voivode : between September 1591 and June 1592, and October 24, 1592 to May 3, 1595. He was Alexandru Lăpuşneanu's son....
]) was meant to extend Grigore Ureche
Grigore Ureche
Grigore Ureche was a Moldavian chronicler who wrote on Moldavian history in his Letopiseţul Ţării Moldovei , covering the period from 1359 to 1594....
's narrative, covering events from 1594 to 1660. The Chronicles were first published in 1675.
He also wrote Istoria în versuri polone despre Ţara Moldovei şi Munteniei (Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
verse history of Moldavia and 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...
), also known under the title Poema polonă (The Polish poem).
Life
Miron Costin was born as the son of a rich Moldavian boyarBoyar
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....
(Ion or Iancu). He spent his earliest years in Poland
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
, where his family had taken refuge from 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...
violence in Moldavia. His father had become a Polish magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
, which gave Miron the right to study at the Jesuit College in Bar
Bar, Ukraine
Bar is a city located on the Rov River in the Vinnytsia Oblast of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Barskyi Raion , and is part of the historic region of Podolia. The current estimated population is 17,200 .-History:The city was a small trade outpost named Row...
, then at Kamienec Podolski
Kamianets-Podilskyi
Kamyanets-Podilsky or Kamienets-Podolsky is a city located on the Smotrych River in western Ukraine, to the north-east of Chernivtsi...
.
He returned to Moldavia in 1653, and became a trainee of the country's treasury
Treasury
A treasury is either*A government department related to finance and taxation.*A place where currency or precious items is/are kept....
. Valued by the administration, he rose quickly, becoming Vornic
Vornic
Vornic was a historical rank for an official in charge of justice and internal affairs. He was overseeing the Royal Court. It originated in the Slovak nádvorník. In the 16th century in Moldavia were two high vornics: one for "Ţara de Sus" , and other for "Ţara de Jos" ....
in 1669 (i.e.: overseer of the Court, with several political responsibilities both inside the state and abroad).
In 1691 his relation with Prince 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...
deteriorated. He and his brother (Hatman Velicico) were believed to have tried to usurp the throne 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...
: both were executed.
Works
- Viiaţa lumii 1672
- The translation of Origines et occasus Transsylvanorum (LyonLyonLyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, 1667) by Laurenţiu Toppeltin of MediaşMediasMediaș is the second largest city in Sibiu County, Transylvania, Romania.-Geographic location:Mediaș is located in the middle basin of Târnava Mare River, at 39 km from Sighișoara and 41 km from Blaj. The health resort Bazna, officially recognized for the first time in 1302, is... - Letopiseţul Ţărâi Moldovei de la Aron Vodă încoace 1675 German translation
- Istoria în versuri polone despre Ţara Moldovei şi Munteniei (Poema polonă) 1684
- De neamul moldovenilor approx. 1687