Constantin Cantemir

Constantin or Constantine Cantemir (1612–1693) was a Moldavian nobleman, soldier, and statesman who served as voivode between 25 June 1685 and 27 March 1693. He established the Cantemir dynasty which—with interruptions—ruled Moldavia prior to the imposition of phanariot rule.

Constantin was born into a Moldavian family of Crimean Tatar origin in 1612. He was created voivode of Moldavia by its Ottoman overlords in 1685, being favored over his rival Dumitraşcu Cantacuzino. (His son Demetrius would later marry a Cantacuzene princess.) Constantin was a good and conscientious ruler, protecting his people from rapacious tax farmers. He largely brought peace to his realm, but served in campaigns of the Great Turkish War against Poland and Austria. Under his rule, Moldavia was invaded twice, once by the Nogai Tatars and once by Poland. Nonetheless, he constantly informed the Polish and Habsburgs of Turkish designs and his sons Antioch and Demetrius, who eventually succeeded him, would be instrumental in allying Moldavia to Russia in its first wars against the Turks.

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