The House of Mavrocordatos (also Mavrocordato, Mavrokordatos, Mavrocordat, Mavrogordato or Maurogordato; el, Μαυροκορδάτος) is the name of a family of

Phanariot Phanariots, Phanariotes, or Fanariots ( el, Φαναριώτες, ro, Fanarioți, tr, Fenerliler) were members of prominent Greek families in Phanar (Φανάρι, modern ''Fener''), the chief Greek quarter of Constantinople where the Ecumen ...

Greeks The Greeks or Hellenes (; el, Έλληνες, ''Éllines'' ) are an ethnic group and nation indigenous to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions, namely Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, and, to a lesser extent, oth ...

originally from

Chios Chios (; el, Χίος, Chíos , traditionally known as Scio in English) is the fifth largest Greek island, situated in the northern Aegean Sea. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. Chios is notable for its exports of masti ...

, a branch of which was distinguished in the history of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

Wallachia Wallachia or Walachia (; ro, Țara Românească, lit=The Romanian Land' or 'The Romanian Country, ; archaic: ', Romanian Cyrillic alphabet: ) is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Lower Danube and s ...

Moldavia Moldavia ( ro, Moldova, or , literally "The Country of Moldavia"; in Romanian Cyrillic alphabet, Romanian Cyrillic: or ; chu, Землѧ Молдавскаѧ; el, Ἡγεμονία τῆς Μολδαβίας) is a historical region and for ...

, and modern

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...

History

The family – whose members were given a status equal to a Prince of the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire was a political entity in Western, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. From the accession of Otto I in 962 ...

and later became

hospodar Hospodar or gospodar is a term of Slavonic origin, meaning "lord" or " master". Etymology and Slavic usage In the Slavonic language, ''hospodar'' is usually applied to the master/owner of a house or other properties and also the head of a family. ...

s – was founded by the late-Byzantine noble (and merchant) Nicholas Mavrocordatos (1522–1570) from the island of

. In 1875 the Mavrocordatoi were also recognized as Princes of the Russian Empire by the Emperor Alexander II of Russia.

Notable members

* Alexandra Mavrokordatou (1605–1684), spouse of the founder, intellectual and

salonnière A salon is a gathering of people held by an inspiring host. During the gathering they amuse one another and increase their knowledge through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "e ...

, mother of

Alexander Mavrocordatos Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...

(1636–1709) :*

(1636–1709), son of the founder and of Alexandra Mavrokordatou, styled prince ("Serene Highness") in 1699 by Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor ::*

Nicholas Mavrocordatos Nicholas Mavrocordatos ( el, Νικόλαος Μαυροκορδάτος, ro, Nicolae Mavrocordat; May 3, 1670September 3, 1730) was a Greek member of the Mavrocordatos family, Grand Dragoman to the Divan (1697), and consequently the first P ...

(1670–1730), Alexander's son, ruler of Wallachia (two times) and Moldavia (two times) :::* Constantine Mavrocordatos (1711–1769), Nicholas' son, ruler of Moldavia (four times) and Wallachia (six times) ::::* Alexander I Mavrokordatos "Delibey", ruler of Moldavia (1782–1785) :::* Alexander Mavrokordatos, Nicholas' son ::::* Nicholas Mavrokordatos, ban of Wallachia :::::* Alexandros Mavrokordatos (1791–1865), Prime Minister of Greece (four times) :::* John Mavrokordatos, Nicholas' son, ruler of Moldavia (1743–1747) ::::* Alexander II Mavrokordatos "Firaris", ruler of Moldavia (1785–1786) ::* John Mavrocordatos (1684–1719), Alexander's son, ruler of Wallachia,

caimacam Kaymakam, also known by many other romanizations, was a title used by various officials of the Ottoman Empire, including acting grand viziers, governors of provincial sanjaks, and administrators of district kazas. The title has been retained an ...

of Moldavia

References

* Romanian people of Greek descent People from Chios Greek noble families Moldavian nobility Phanariotes {{Romania-bio-stub