Cantacuzino family
The Cantacuzino (Cantacuzène) family has its origins in the Byzantine Empire. It's most illustrious member was emperor John VI Kantakouzenos. The family's roots in the Byzantine Empire are well documented.[1]
Byzantine family
The origin of the Byzantine family Kantakouzenos can be traced back to Smyrna. The name allegedly originates in a corruption of the Greek language phrase identifying their estates on a mountain just outside of Smyrna.
Anna Komnena recorded that a General Na. Cantacuzino led Byzantine troops at the siege of Antioch during the First Crusade.[citation needed]
Branches after the Byzantine Period
The family is currently divided into several branches: the Greek branch, which was downgraded to the level of peasantry during the Ottoman period, the Romanian (Wallachian and Moldavian) branches and the Russian branch (which is an offshoot of the Moldavian branch). As a consequence of the Russian Revolution and the Soviet occupation of Romania after World War II, the last two branches now mostly live in Western Europe and North America.[2]
Notable members
- Dumitraşcu Cantacuzino, Voivode of Moldavia
- Şerban Cantacuzino, Voivode of Wallachia
- Ştefan Cantacuzino, Voivode of Wallachia
- Teodora Cantacuzino, mother of Wallachian Voivode Michael the Brave
- Constantin Cantacuzino, stolnic, diplomat, historian, geographer; author of Istoria Ţării Rumâneşti ("History of Wallachia")
- Gheorghe Cantacuzino, son of Prince Şerban Cantacuzino and Ban of Oltenia
- Mihai Cantacuzino, spătar
- Pârvu Cantacuzino, Ban of Oltenia, the leader of an anti-Ottoman rebellion in 1769
- Mihai Cantacuzino, Ban of Oltenia and associate of Pârvu in the 1769 rebellion
- Constantin Cantacuzino, Caimacam of Wallachia
- Dimitrie Cantacuzino-Paşcanu, Logofăt of Moldavia
- I. A. Cantacuzino, Caimacam of Moldavia
- Alexandru Cantacuzino, Foreign Affairs Minister of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia
- Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino, Prime Minister of Romania
- George C. Cantacuzino-Râfoveanu, Minister of Finance of Romania
- Constantin Cantacuzino Paşcanu, politician
- Matei Cantacuzino, jurist
- Ioan Cantacuzino, physician and scientist
- Grigore Gheorghe Cantacuzino, politician
- Gheorghe Cantacuzino-Grănicerul, political leader of the fascist Iron Guard
- Alexandrina Cantacuzino, feminist and fascist activist
- Maruca Cantacuzino, socialite and philanthropist
- Charles-Adolphe Cantacuzino, poet and diplomat
- George Matei Cantacuzino, architect and painter
- Constantin Cantacuzino, World War II flying ace
- Maria-Ioana Cantacuzino, novelist
- Ion I. Cantacuzino, psychiatrist, film director and critic
- Gheorghe I. Cantacuzino, historian