Cantacuzino family
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Cantacuzino (Cantacuzène) family is an old boyar family of Wallachia that claims to have its roots in the Byzantine Greek emperor John VI Kantakouzenos. However no definite genealogical links between Byzantium's rulers and Romanian Cantacuzinos have been established so far.
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[edit] Byzantine family
The origin of the Byzantine family Kantakouzenos 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.
Anna Komnena recorded that a General Na. Cantacuzino led Byzantine troops at the siege of Antioch during the First Crusade.[citation needed]
[edit] Romanian family
The Romanian family's earliest lineally attested ancestor was a civil servant in Constantinople at the era of Ottoman conquest. The family is currently divided into several branches: the Greek branch, which was downgraded to the level of peasantry during the Ottoman period, the Romanian (Wallachian and Moldavian) branches and the Russian 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.
[edit] Notable members
- Dumitraşcu Cantacuzino, Voivode of Moldavia
- Şerban Cantacuzino, Voivode of Wallachia
- Ştefan Cantacuzino, Voivode of Wallachia
- Constantin Cantacuzino, stolnic, diplomat, historian, geographer; author of Istoria Ţării Rumâneşti ("History of Wallachia")
- Mihai Cantacuzino, spătar
- Pârvu Cantacuzino, Ban of Oltenia, the leader of an anti-Ottoman rebellion in 1769
- Mihai Cantacuzino, Ban of Oltenia and associate of Pârvu in the 1769 rebellion
- I. A. Cantacuzino, Caimacam of Moldavia
- Alexandru Cantacuzino, Foreign Affairs Minister of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia
- Gheorghe Cantacuzino, Prime Minister of Romania
- Ioan Cantacuzino, physician and scientist
- Gheorghe Cantacuzino-Grănicerul, political leader of the fascist Iron Guard
- Maruca Cantacuzino, socialite and philanthropist
- George Matei Cantacuzino, architect and painter
- Constantine Cantacuzino, World War II flying ace
- Maria-Ioana Cantacuzino, novelist
