Mavrocordatos family

Mavrokordatos Μαυροκορδάτος
Coat of arms of the Mavrokordatos family
A portrait of the Mavrokordatos family in the 19th century
Country	Byzantine Empire Holy Roman Empire Ottoman Empire Russia Greece
Current region	Danubian Principalities Moldavia Wallachia
Place of origin	Chios, Byzantine Empire (now Greece)
Founded	16th century
Founder	Nikolaos Mavrokordatos
Titles	Imperial Count of the Holy Roman Empire Prince of Wallachia Prince of Moldavia Prince of Russia

The House of Mavrokordatos (also Mavrocordato, Mavrocordatos, Mavrocordat, Mavrogordato or Maurogordato; Greek: Μαυροκορδάτος) is the name of a family of Phanariot Greeks originally from Chios, a branch of which was distinguished in the history of the Ottoman Empire, Wallachia, Moldavia, and modern Greece.^[1]

History

The family, whose members given the title of Imperial Count by Leopold I in 1699 later became Hospodars of Wallachia and Moldavia, was founded by the late-Byzantine noble (and merchant) Nikolaos Mavrokordatos (1522–1570) from the island of Chios. 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, mother of Alexander Mavrocordatos (1636–1709)

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

Nicholas Mavrocordatos (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 of Moldavia

References

^ Chisholm 1911: "MAVROCORDATO, Mavrocordat or Mavrogordato, the name of a family of Phanariot Greeks, distinguished in the history of Turkey, Rumania and modern Greece."

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Mavrocordato". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 917.