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Ioan Sturdza

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Prince Ioan Sturdza
2008 stamp of Moldova
Prince of Moldavia
Reign21 June 1822 – 5 May 1828
PredecessorMichael Soutzos
SuccessorPrince Mihail Sturdza
Born1762
Iași
Died2 February 1842 (aged 79-80)
Bessarabia
HouseSturdza family
ReligionOrthodox

Prince Ioan Sandu Sturdza or Ioniță Sandu Sturdza (1762 – 2 February 1842) was the ruler (hospodar) of Moldavia from 21 June 1822 to 5 May 1828.

Biography

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Sturdza is considered the first indigenous ruler with the end of Phanariote rule (as a move the Ottoman Empire undertook after seeing the political disadvantages of Greek domination after the troubles in the Greek War of Independence).

Immediately after the Greek revolution, Prince Ioan Sturdza took an active part in subduing the roving bands of Eterists in Moldavia; he transformed the Greek language elementary schools into Romanian language ones and laid the foundation for that scientific national development which Prince Mihai Sturdza continued after 1834,[1] especially after his founding of an upper school in the Trei Ierarhi Cathedral complex in Iași. Although his project for the confiscation of some Church properties was initially blocked by Russia, Sturdza opted not to revise his position.

Opposed by the boyars who had taken refuge in Imperial Russia during Ypsilanti's military rule, and threatened with the loss of his throne after the 1826 Russo-Turkish Akkerman Convention that established a seven-year term in office for Princes elected by the Sfatul boieresc (confirmed by the Ottomans, with Russia's approval), Sturdza agreed to many boyar demands, including tax cuts and exemptions from conscription. However, he ensured meritocratic criteria in access to public offices. At the same time, a conflict became apparent between high- and low-ranking boyars, after the proposed constitution of Ionică Tăutu was rejected by most of the former (a vocal minority under the leadership of Mihail Sturdza). In 1828, the Russians entered the country during the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-29 and took Prince Ioan prisoner. He died while being kept in Bessarabia and was later buried in Iași.

Marriage and issue

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He married Princess Ecaterina Rosetti-Roznoveanu (1764-1847). They had:

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainGaster, Moses (1911). "Sturdza s.v. John [Ioan] Sturdza". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 1051.
  2. ^ Mitican 2008.
  3. ^ "Familia Sturdza- Genealogia lui Lovendal". Archived from the original on 2016-09-22.

Sources

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Preceded by
Turkish occupation
Prince of Moldavia
1822–1828
Succeeded by
Russian occupation