Grigore II Ghica

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Grigore II Ghica was Voivode (Prince) of Moldavia at four different intervals - from October 1726 to April 16, 1733, from November 27, 1735 to 14 September 1739, from October 1739 to September 1741 and from May 1747 to April 1748^[1] - and twice Voivode (Prince) of Wallachia - April 16, 1733 - November 27, 1735 and April 1748 to September 3, 1752.^[2]

[edit] Reigns

He was helped to gain the throne in Iaşi by previous Prince Nicolae Mavrocordat, upon Mihai Racoviţă's deposition by the Ottoman overlord. He decreased taxes, but chose to continue the established policy of awarding offices to Greeks and Levantines instead of local boyars. Thus, he faced mounting opposition from Dimitrie Racoviţă, who tried to remove Scarlat by enlisting Budjak Tatars' help - he was however rejected after clashing with Ghica and his Wallachian and Ottoman allies. With the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War came Imperial Russian occupation, forcing Grigore II Ghica to leave the Moldavia briefly, in September-October 1739.

Although he tried to counter Constantin Mavrocordat's intrigue at the Porte, Ghica was deposed and exiled in 1741, gaining the throne for a final, brief time in 1747-1748. He effectively purchased the throne in Bucharest - the exhorbitant payment made him rely on further increased taxation.^[3]

[edit] Legacy

He repaired several monasteries and built the Frumoasa one in Iaşi,^[4]^[5]and the one at Pantelimon^[6] - the church's patron saint, Panteleimon, is the eponym for both the commune Pantelimon, Ilfov, on the edge of Bucharest, and the Pantelimon Quarter of the capital; Ghica also built and furnished the area's hospital (staffed with Eastern Orthodox monks), the basis for the modern one.

Preceded by Mihai Racoviţă	Prince of Moldavia 1726-1733	Succeeded by Constantin Mavrocordat
Preceded by Constantin Mavrocordat	Prince of Moldavia 1735-1739	Succeeded by Russian occupation
Preceded by Russian occupation	Prince of Moldavia 1739-1741	Succeeded by Constantin Mavrocordat
Preceded by Ioan Mavrocordat	Prince of Moldavia 1747-1748	Succeeded by Constantin Mavrocordat

Preceded by Constantin Mavrocordat	Prince/Voivode of Wallachia 1733-1735	Succeeded by Constantin Mavrocordat
Preceded by Constantin Mavrocordat	Prince/Voivode of Wallachia 1748-1752	Succeeded by Matei Ghica