George Ghica

Summary

George Ghica (Albanian: Gjergj Gjika, Romanian: Gheorghe Ghica) (3 March[citation needed] 1600 – 2 November[citation needed] 1664) founder of the Ghica family, was Prince of Moldavia in 1658–1659 and Prince of Wallachia in 1659–1660.

George Ghica
Prince of Moldavia
Reign3 March 1658 – 2 November 1659
PredecessorGheorghe Ștefan
SuccessorConstantin Șerban
Prince of Wallachia
Reign20 November 1659 – 1 November 1660
PredecessorMihnea III
SuccessorGrigore I Ghica
Born3 March 1600[citation needed]
Köprülü, Rumelia Eyalet, Ottoman Empire
Died2 November 1664[citation needed]
Istanbul
SpouseSmaragda (Smada) Lâna
IssueGrigore I Ghica
DynastyGhica
FatherMatei Ghica
ReligionOrthodox
SignatureGeorge Ghica's signature

George Ghica was born in Köprülü, present day Veles, to Albanian[1][2] parents. At a young age, Ghica was involved in trading and dealings with merchandise. George, along with his father expanded their business and moved to Moldavia. Accumulating a substantial amount of wealth, George became a nobleman and was sent to the Sublime Porte as an ambassador. He was in favour with Vasile Lupu in Moldavia and while in Istanbul, he became close friends with the Grand Vizier Köprülü Mehmed Pasha and helped him on to high positions. As Prince of Wallachia he moved the capital from Târgoviște to Bucharest.[3]

From him are descended the numerous branches of the family which became notable in the history of Moldavia and Wallachia.[3] His son was Grigore I Ghica.

References edit

  1. ^ Spânu, Vlad (2004). Historical Dictionary of Moldova. 4501 forbes blvd lanham md 20706: Scarecrow Press, INC. p. 164. ISBN 978-0-8108-5607-3. Retrieved 14 October 2013.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. ^ Richardson, Charles Francis (1898). The International Cyclopedia: A Compendium of Human Knowledge, Rev. with Large Additions, Volume 6. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  3. ^ a b   One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainGaster, Moses (1911). "Ghica s.v. 1. George or Gheorghe". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 11 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 921.
Preceded by Prince/Voivode of Moldavia
1658–1659
Succeeded by
Preceded by Prince of Wallachia
1659–1660
Succeeded by

Bibliography edit

  • Cernovodeanu, Paul (1982). "Ştiri privitoare la Gheorghe Ghica vodă al Moldovei ( 1658– 1659 ) şi la familia sa (I)". Anuarul Institutului de Istorie și Arheologie "A.D. Xenopol." (in Romanian). 19. Institutul de Istorie și Arheologie "A.D. Xenopol.".
  • Wasiucionek, Michal (2012). "Ethnic solidary in the wider Ottoman Empire revisited: cins and local political elites in 17th century Moldavia and Wallachia". In Sariyannis, Marinos (ed.). New Trends in Ottoman Studies: Papers presented at the 20th CIÉPO Symposium Rethymno, 27 June – 1 July 2012. University of Crete – Department of History and Archaeology.
  • Wasiucionek, Michal (2016). Politics and Watermelons: Cross-Border Political Networks in the Polish-Moldavian-Ottoman Context in the Seventeenth Century (PDF) (Thesis). European University Institute.