Mourousis family
Encyclopedia
The Mourousis or Moruzi are a family which was first mentioned in the Empire of Trebizond
. Its origins have been lost, but the two prevalent theories are that they were either a local family originating in a village which has a related name or else one that arrived with the Venetians
during the Fourth Crusade
(since there are records of a Venetian family with a similar name a generation earlier). They became one of the leading families of Greek
Phanariotes
. The family moved to present-day Romania
(the Danubian Principalities
) in the 17th century, became Dragoman
s and boyars, and gave Wallachia
and Moldavia
two hospodars – Princes Constantine
and Alexander
. Great grandson of Constantine — Dmitri after appraisal of Greeks in 1821 fled to Russia
. His progeny was permitted to use Prince title in 1893 и 1905. Members of the family remained in Romania and Bessarabia
until the Soviet
occupation post-World War II.
Empire of Trebizond
The Empire of Trebizond, founded in April 1204, was one of three Byzantine successor states of the Byzantine Empire. However, the creation of the Empire of Trebizond was not directly related to the capture of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade, rather it had broken away from the Byzantine Empire...
. Its origins have been lost, but the two prevalent theories are that they were either a local family originating in a village which has a related name or else one that arrived with the Venetians
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
during the Fourth Crusade
Fourth Crusade
The Fourth Crusade was originally intended to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. Instead, in April 1204, the Crusaders of Western Europe invaded and conquered the Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire...
(since there are records of a Venetian family with a similar name a generation earlier). They became one of the leading families of 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....
Phanariotes
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...
. The family moved to present-day Romania
Romania
Romania 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...
(the Danubian Principalities
Danubian Principalities
Danubian Principalities was a conventional name given to the Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia, which emerged in the early 14th century. The term was coined in the Habsburg Monarchy after the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca in order to designate an area on the lower Danube with a common...
) in the 17th century, became Dragoman
Dragoman
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...
s and boyars, and gave 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...
two hospodars – Princes Constantine
Constantine Mourousis
Constantine Demetrius Mourousis was a Phanariote Prince of Moldavia, and member of the Mourousis family...
and Alexander
Alexander Mourousis
Alexander Mourousis was a Great Dragoman of the Ottoman Empire who served as Prince of Moldavia and Prince of Wallachia. Open to Enlightenment ideas, and noted for his interest in hydrological engineering, Mourousis was forced to deal with the intrusions of Osman Pazvantoğlu's rebellious troops...
. Great grandson of Constantine — Dmitri after appraisal of Greeks in 1821 fled to 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...
. His progeny was permitted to use Prince title in 1893 и 1905. Members of the family remained in Romania and Bessarabia
Bessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
until the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
occupation post-World War II.
Other members
- Nicholas Morousis (d. 1821) Grand DragomanDragomanA 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 Ottoman Fleet - Alexandru Constantin MoruziAlexandru Constantin MoruziAlexandru Constantin Moruzi , a Moldavian-born Romanian politician and member of the Mourousis family, was the Prime Minister of Moldavia between December 23, 1861 and February 15, 1862.He was not a party affiliate....
(1815–1878), economist and politician - Dumitru C. Moruzi (1850–1914), folkorist and writer
- Maria Moruzi-Cuza (d.1921), wife of Ion I. C. BrătianuIon I. C. BratianuIon I. C. Brătianu was a Romanian politician, leader of the National Liberal Party , the Prime Minister of Romania for five terms, and Foreign Minister on several occasions; he was the eldest son of statesman and PNL leader Ion Brătianu, the brother of Vintilă and Dinu Brătianu, and the father of...
, and mother of Gheorghe I. BrătianuGheorghe I. BratianuGheorghe I. Brătianu was a Romanian politician and historian. A member of the Brătianu family and initially affiliated with the National Liberal Party, he broke away from the movement to create and lead the National Liberal Party-Brătianu.Born in Ruginoasa, Baia County to Ion I.C...