Constantine Mourouzis

Constantin Moruzi

Constantine Demetrius Mourouzis (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Δημήτριος Μουρούζης, Konstantinos Demetrios Mourouzis, Romanian: Constantin Dimitrie Moruzi; died 1783) was a Phanariote Prince of Moldavia, and member of the Mourousis family. A remarkable polyglot, he spoke five languages: Greek, Latin, French, Arabic and Turkish.

In 1761, he became Grand Postelnic (foreign minister) in Moldavia, and soon after Second Dragoman (deputy minister) of the Ottoman Admiralty, and eventually Grand Dragoman. There are indications that he was politically involved in the dismissal and assassination of his predecessor, Grigore III Ghica, by the Porte.[1] Trusted by the Porte, he obtained the throne of Moldavia on October 12, 1770.

Mourouzis spent much of his time in Iaşi, supervising the gathering of agricultural resources demanded by the Porte, but also fought extravagant luxury and surrounded himself with scholars, paying particular attention to schools and founding scholarships. He was deposed on June 7, 1782 and exiled to the island of Tenedos. He returned in 1783, but died soon after.

Notes

  1. Brezianu, Andrei and Spânu, Vlad (eds.) (2007) "Moruzi. Constantin" Historical Dictionary of Moldova (2nd ed.) Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Maryland, USA, p. 250, ISBN 978-0-8108-5607-3
Preceded by
Alexander Ypsilantis
Grand Dragoman of the Porte
1774–1777
Succeeded by
Nicolae Caradja
Preceded by
Grigore III Ghica
Prince/Voivode of Moldavia
1777–1782
Succeeded by
Alexandru Mavrocordat


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