Iuga of Moldavia

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Iuga Koriatovici (known also as Iurg or Iurie in modern Moldovan and Romanian literature, Yury in Ruthenian, Jerzy in Polish; patronymic - Koriatovich in Ruthenian, Koriatowicz in Polish; byname Ologul "the Limp") was a Ruthenian Prince of Podolia, son of Koriat and grandson of Gediminas. He was Voivode (Prince) of Moldavia from 1374 to 1377, and again between 1399 and 1400.

Of Eastern Orthodox faith, like the rest of his relatives, Yury married Anastasia (Laţcu's daughter) and was first brought to the throne as a boyar reaction against Costea's pro-Roman Catholic policies.

Iuga consolidated the Eastern Church's position by placing the Metropolitan Seat of Moldavia under the jurisdiction of the Bulgarian Patriarchate of Ohrid. Later, under Alexandru cel Bun, it was to submit to the Byzantine Patriarchy of Constantinople.

When deposed, Iuga fled to Jagiellon Poland, where documents show that he kept his title.

He ascended to the throne for a second time, after renewed conflicts between pretenders and support from his cousin Švitrigaila (brother of Moldavia's overlord, Wladislaus II of Poland) and Vytautas the Great of Lithuania. His rule was ended by the military intervention of Wallachians under Prince Mircea cel Bătrân that set Iuga's son-in-law, Alexandru cel Bun, on the throne.

Iuga died in Moldavia, and was buried at a monastery in Vaslui.

Preceded by
Costea
Prince/Voivode of Moldavia
1374-1377
Succeeded by
Petru I
Preceded by
Ştefan I
Prince/Voivode of Moldavia
1399-1400
Succeeded by
Alexandru cel Bun