Mavrokordatos family

Mavrokordatos
Μαυροκορδάτος
Coat of arms of the Mavrokordatos family
A portrait of the Mavrokordatos family in the 19th century
Country Holy Roman Empire
Ottoman Empire
 Romania
 Russia
 Greece
Current regionDanubian Principalities
Place of originChios
Founded16th century
FounderNikolaos Mavrokordatos
TitlesImperial Count of the Holy Roman Empire
Prince of Wallachia
Prince of Moldavia
Prince of Russia

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

History

The family was founded by the merchant Nikolaos Mavrokordatos (1522–1570) from the island of Chios. They rose through the ranks of the Nobility of Chios and were given the title of Count of the Holy Roman Empire by Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1699. Later they became Hospodars of Wallachia and Moldavia. In 1875 the Mavrocordatoi were also recognized as Princes of the Russian Empire by Emperor Alexander II of Russia.

Notable members

  • Nicholas Mavrocordatos (1670–1730), Alexander's son, ruler of Wallachia (two times) and Moldavia (two times)
  • Alexander Mavrokordatos, Nicholas' son
  • Nicholas Mavrokordatos, ban of Wallachia

References

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