Grigore II Ghica
Grigore al II-lea Ghica
Prince of Moldavia
(1st reign)
Reign5 October 1726 – 16 April 1733
PredecessorMihai Racoviță
SuccessorConstantine Mavrocordatos
Prince of Wallachia
(1st reign)
Reign16 April 1733 – 27 November 1735
PredecessorConstantine Mavrocordatos
SuccessorConstantine Mavrocordatos
Prince of Moldavia
(2nd reign)
Reign27 November 1735 – 14 September 1739
PredecessorConstantine Mavrocordatos
SuccessorRussian occupation
Prince of Moldavia
(3rd reign)
Reign24 October 1739 – 10 September 1741
PredecessorRussian occupation
SuccessorConstantine Mavrocordatos
Prince of Moldavia
(4th reign)
ReignMay 1747 – April 1748
PredecessorJohn Mavrocordatos
SuccessorConstantine Mavrocordatos
Prince of Wallachia
(2nd reign)
ReignApril 1748 – 3 September 1752
PredecessorConstantine Mavrocordatos
SuccessorMatei Ghica
Born1695
Istanbul
Died3 September 1752
Bucharest
IssueScarlat Ghica, Matei Ghica
HouseGhica family
FatherMatei Ghica
ReligionOrthodox

Grigore II Ghica (1695 – 3 September 1752) 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. He was son of Matei Ghica (son of Grigore I Ghica).[2]

Reigns

He was helped to gain the throne in Iași by previous Prince Nicolae Mavrocordat, upon Mihai Racoviță'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 Racoviță, 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 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 exorbitant payment made him rely on further increased taxation.[3]

Legacy

He repaired several monasteries and built the Frumoasa one in Iași,[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.

He had two sons Scarlat Ghica and Matei Ghica.

References

  1. ^ "Rulers from Moldavia till 1859". Welcome to Romania. 2007-03-26. Archived from the original on 2007-04-16.
  2. ^ "List of rulers of Wallachia". search.com. 2007-03-26. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2007-03-26.
  3. ^ "History of Romania". The Foundation for Romanians from all over the World. 2007-03-27. Archived from the original on 2007-09-26.
  4. ^ "Historical Monuments Proposed for Restoration (1996 - 1998)". CIMEC Institute for cultural memory. 2007-03-26. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-03-26.
  5. ^ "Muntenia and Oltenia". Romanian Tourism. 2007-03-26. Archived from the original on 2006-10-18.
  6. ^ "Table showing (known) money donations made by Roumanian kings to Athos". Centre for Byzantine Studies at Iasi. 2007-03-26. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.
Preceded byJohn Mavrocordatos Grand Dragoman of the Porte 1717–1726 Succeeded byAlexander Ghica Preceded byMihai Racoviţă Prince of Moldavia 1726–1733 Succeeded byConstantin Mavrocordat Preceded byConstantin Mavrocordat Prince of Moldavia 1735–1739 Succeeded byRussian occupation Preceded byRussian occupation Prince of Moldavia 1739–1741 Succeeded byConstantin Mavrocordat Preceded byIoan Mavrocordat Prince of Moldavia 1747–1748 Succeeded byConstantin Mavrocordat
Preceded byConstantin Mavrocordat Prince/Voivode of Wallachia 1733–1735 Succeeded byConstantin Mavrocordat Preceded byConstantin Mavrocordat Prince/Voivode of Wallachia 1748–1752 Succeeded byMatei Ghica
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