List of rulers of Moldavia

This is a List of rulers of Moldavia, from the first mention of the medieval polity east of the Carpathians and until its disestablishment in 1862, when it united with Wallachia, the other Danubian Principality, to form the modern-day state of Romania.

Notes

Dynastic rule is hard to ascribe, given the loose traditional definition of the ruling family (on principle, princes were chosen from any branch, including a previous ruler's bastard sons – being defined as os de domn – "of domn marrow", or as having hereghie – "heredity" (from the Latin hereditas); the institutions charged with the election, dominated by the boyars, had fluctuating degrees of influence). The system itself was challenged by usurpers, and became obsolete with the Phanariote epoch, when rulers were appointed by the Ottoman Sultans. Between 1821 and 1862, various systems combining election and appointment were put in practice. Moldavian rulers, like Wallachian and other Eastern European rulers, bore the titles of Voivode or/and Hospodar (when writing in Romanian, the term Domn (from the Latin dominus) was used).

Most rulers did not use the form of the name they are cited with, and several used more than one form of their own name; in some cases, the ruler was only mentioned in foreign sources. The full names are either modern versions or ones based on mentions in various chronicles.

The list is brought up to date for the first rulers, following the documented studies of Ștefan S. Gorovei[1] and Constantin Rezachevici.[2]

List

Princes of Moldavia

House of Dragoș
Portrait Ruler Began Ended Remarks
Dragoșc. 1347c. 1354Described as an early ruler of Moldavia, he was sent there as a representative of king Louis I of Hungary to establish a line of defense against the Golden Horde, where he ruled.
Sasc. 1354c. 1363son of Dragoș
Balc of Moldaviac.c.son of Sas

House of Bogdan-Mușat
Portrait Ruler Began Ended Consort Notes
Bogdan I the Founderc. 13591367Maria
three children		Deposed Sas
Petru I1367July 1368UnmarriedGrandson of Bogdan I,[3] rule not universally accepted by modern historians
LațcuJuly 13681375Anna
before 1372
one child		Son of Bogdan I, deposed Petru I [3]
Petru II Mușat1375December 1391Sophia of Lithuania
1387
no children

Olga of Warsaw
1388
no children		Son of Costea; often referred as Petru I Mușat
Roman IDecember 1391March 1394Anastasia
three children		Son of Costea
Ștefan IMarch 139428 November 1399UnmarriedSon of Roman I
Iuga (George I)28 November 139929 June 1400UnmarriedSon of Roman I, deposed by intervention of Mircea I of Wallachia
Alexandru I the Good29 June 14001 January 1432Margareta of Losoncz
1394
two children

Anna Neacsa of Podolsk
1405
three children

Ringala of Lithuania
1419
(divorced 13 December 1421)
no children

Marina Bratul
1421
three children		Son of Roman I, installed by Mircea I of Wallachia
Iliaș I1 January 1432October 1433Maria Olshanki of Lithuania
23 October 1425
three children		Son of Alexandru cel Bun; 1st rule
Ștefan IIOctober 14334 August 1435UnmarriedIllegitimate son of Alexandru cel Bun; 1st rule (only de facto ruler till September 1434)
Iliaș I4 August 1435May 1443Maria Olshanki of Lithuania
23 October 1425
three children		2nd rule, jointly with Ștefan II
Ștefan II4 August 143513 July 1447Unmarried2nd rule, 4 August 1435 – May 1443 jointly with Iliaș; May 1444–1445 jointly with Petru III
Petru IIIMay 14441445An unknown sister of John Hunyadi
before 1445
no children		1st rule, jointly with Ștefan II.
Roman II13 July 144722 August 1447Unmarriedson of Iliaș; 1st rule
Petru III22 August 144723 December 1447An unknown sister of John Hunyadi
before 1445
no children		2nd rule
Roman II23 December 1447between 23 February and 5 April 1448Unmarried2nd rule
Petru III5 April 144810 October 1448An unknown sister of John Hunyadi
before 1445
no children		3rd rule
Csupor de Monoszló
(Usurper)		10 October 1448December 1448UnknownNon-dynastic. Born in Croatia, he was a Hungarian nobleman, commander of troops of John Hunyadi. He was sent in support of Petru III to depose his brother Roman, but Petru died suddenly two months later. Csupor ascended at the throne. His name, literally Tub Voivode was mentioned by Grigore Ureche.
Alexandru IIDecember 144812 January 1449Unmarriedson of Iliaș I; 1st rule
Bogdan II12 January 144915 October 1451Oltea
before 1433
six children		nephew of Alexandru the Good.
Petru IV Aron15 October 145124 February 1452Unknown
before 1455
one child		illegitimate son of Alexandru the Good; 1st rule
Alexandru II24 February 145222 August 1454Unmarried2nd rule
Petru IV Aron22 August 1454between 8 December 1454 and 8 February 1455Unknown
before 1455
one child		2nd rule
Alexandru II8 February 145525 March 1455Unmarried3rd rule
Petru IV Aron25 March 145512 April 1457Unknown
before 1455
one child		3rd rule
Ștefan III the Great12 April 14572 July 1504 Eudokia Olelkovna of Lithuania
5 July 1463
Suceava
three children

Maria Asanina Palaiologina of Gothia
14 September 1472
Suceava
four children

Maria Voichița of Wallachia
1478
three children		Son of Bogdan II. In his reign Moldavia reaches its zenith.
Bogdan III The One-Eyed2 July 150422 April 1517Anastasia
1510
no children

Ruxandra of Wallachia
21 July 1513
no children		son of Ștefan III the Great;
Luca Arbore
(Regent)		22 April 15171523UnknownGatekeeper of Suceava. Regent in the name of Stefan IV.
Ștefan IV the Younger152314 January 1527Stana of Wallachia
1524
no children		Son of Bogdan III; also called Ștefăniță until 1523 under the regency of Luca Arbore, Gatekeeper of Suceava
Petru V Rareș14 January 152714 September 1538Maria
before 1529
four children

Elena of Serbia
1530
four children		Illegitimate son of Stephen the Great, 1st rule
Ștefan V Lăcustă21 September 153820 December 1540Chiajna
before 1540
two children		grandson of Stephen the Great
Alexandru III the Evil21 December 15409 or 16 February 1541Unmarriedson of Bogdan III
Petru V Rareș9 or 16 February 15412 or 3 September 1546Maria
before 1529
four children

Elena of Serbia
1530
four children		2nd rule
Ilie II Rareș2 or 3 September 154630 May 1551Unmarried1st son of Petru Rareș
Ștefan VI Rareș30 May 15511 September 1552Unmarried2nd son of Petru Rareș
Ioan I Joldeabetween 4 and 12 September 1552between 4 and 12 September 1552UnmarriedNon-dynastic. Ruled 2 or 3 days in 1552.
Alexandru IV Lăpușneanubetween 4 and 12 September 155230 November 1561Ruxandra of Moldavia
January 1556
fourteen children		Son of Bogdan III, brother of Ștefan IV; 1st rule
Ioan II Iacob Heraclid
(Jacob Heraclides)		18 November 15619 November 1563A illegitimate daughter of Mircea IV of Wallachia
no children		The Despot Vodă, non-dynastic.
Ștefan VII Tomșa9 August 1563between 20 February and 10 March 1564Unknown
at least two children		Non-dynastic.
Alexandru IV Lăpușneanubetween 20 February and 10 March 15649 March 1568Ruxandra of Moldavia
January 1556
fourteen children		Restored to the throne.
Ruxandra of Moldavia
(regent)		9 March 1568November 1570Alexandru IV Lăpușneanu
January 1556
fourteen children		Widow of Alexander IV. Regent on behalf of her son.
Bogdan IVNovember 157015 February 1572A princess from the Paniczewsk family
1571
one child		Son of Alexandru Lăpușneanu
Ioan III the Terrible15 February 157211 June 1574Maria Semionovna of Rostov
1552
Moscow
two children		Son of Ștefan IV; also called cel Viteaz) (the Brave)

Houses of Basarab (Drăculeşti line) and Bogdan-Muşat
Portrait Ruler Began Ended Family Remarks
Petru VI the Lame15741577Drăculești1st rule
Ioan IV PotcoavăNovember 1577December 1577Hetman, also called Ivan Pidkova, Nicoară Potcoavă or Ivan Sarpega. Non-dynastic.
Petru VI the Lame15781579Drăculești2nd rule
Ioan V the Saxon15791582Bogdan-Mușatillegitimate son of Petru Rareș
Petru VI the Lame15821591Drăculești3rd rule
Aaron I the Tyrant15911592Bogdan-Mușatson of Alexandru Lăpușneanu; 1st rule
Alexandru V the Wrongdoer15921592Bogdan-Mușatson of Bogdan IV; also ruled Wallachia (1592–1593)
Petru VII the Cossack15921592Bogdan-Mușatson of Alexandru IV Lăpușneanu
Aaron I the Tyrant15921595Bogdan-Mușat2nd rule
Ștefan VIII Răzvan15951595

Houses of Basarab (Drăculești line) and Movilești
Portrait Ruler Began Ended Family Remarks
Ieremia Movilă15951600Movileștigrandson of Petru Rareș; 1st rule
Mihail I Viteazul
(Michael I the Brave)		16001600Drăculeștialso ruled Wallachia (1593–1600) and Transylvania (1599–1600)
Ieremia Movilă16001606Movilești2nd rule
Simion Movilă16061607Movileștibrother of Iremia Movilă
Mihail II Movilă16071607Movileştison of Ieremia Movilă; 1st rule
Constantin I Movilă16071607Movileștison of Ieremia Movilă; under the regency of his mother Elzbieta Csomortany de Losoncz; 1st rule
Mihail II Movilă16071607Movilești2nd rule
Constantin I Movilă16071611Movileștiunder the regency of his mother; 2nd rule
Ștefan IX Tomșa161116151st rule
Alexandru VI Movilă16151616Movilești
Radu Mihnea16161619Drăculești1st rule
Gaspar Graziani16191620

Various dynasties
Portrait Ruler Began Ended Family Remarks
Alexandru VII Iliaş16201621Bogdan-Mușatnephew of Petru VI, Aron Tiranul and Bogdan IV; 1st rule
Ștefan IX Tomșa162116232nd rule
Radu Mihnea16231626Drăculești2nd rule
Miron Barnovschi-Movilă16261629Movilești1st rule
Alexandru VIII Coconul
(Alexander the Child-Prince)		16261629Drăculești1st rule
Moise Movilă16301631Movilești1st rule
Alexandru VII Iliaș16311633Bogdan-Mușat2nd rule
Miron Barnovschi-Movilă16331633Movilești2nd rule
Moise Movilă16331634Movilești2nd rule
Vasile Lupu163416531st rule
Gheorghe II Ștefan165316531st rule
Vasile Lupu165316532nd rule
Gheorghe II Ștefan165316582nd rule
Gheorghe III Ghica16581659Ghica
Constantin Șerban165916591st rule
Ștefan X Lupu16591661also called Papură-Vodă (Bullrush Voivode); 1st rule
Constantin Șerban166116612nd rule
Ștefan X Lupu165916612nd rule
Eustratie Dabija16611665
Gheorghe IV Duca166516661st rule
Iliaș III Alexandru16661668Bogdan-MușatThe last member of the House of Bogdan-Mușat reigning in Moldavia; son of Alexandru VII
Gheorghe IV Duca166816722nd rule
Ștefan XI Petriceicu167216731st rule
Dumitrașcu Cantacuzino16731673Cantacuzene1st rule
Ștefan XI Petriceicu167316742nd rule
Dumitrașcu Cantacuzino16741675Cantacuzene2nd rule
Antonie Ruset16751678Rosetti
Gheorghe IV Duca167816833rd rule
Ștefan XI Petriceicu168316843rd rule
Dumitrașcu Cantacuzino16841685Cantacuzene3rd rule
Constantin Cantemir16851693Cantemirești
Dimitrie Cantemir16931693Cantemirești1st rule; deposed by Ottomans
Constantin Duca169316951st rule
Antioh Cantemir16951700Cantemirești1st rule
Constantin Duca170017032nd rule
Chancellor
Ioan Buhuș		170317031st term
Mihail III Racoviță17031705Racoviță1st rule
Antioh Cantemir17051707Cantemirești2nd rule
Mihail III Racoviță17071709Racoviță2nd rule
Chancellor
Ioan Buhuș		170917102nd term
Nicolae Mavrocordat17091710Mavrocordato1st rule
Dimitrie Cantemir17101711Cantemirești2nd rule

Phanariotes (1711–1821)
Portrait Ruler Began Ended Family Remarks
Caimacam
Lupu Costachi		17111711
Ioan Ι Mavrocordat17111711Mavrocordato
Nicolae Mavrocordat17111715Mavrocordato2nd rule
Mihai III Racoviță17151726Racoviță3rd rule
Grigore II Ghica17261733Ghica1st rule
Constantin Mavrocordat17331735Mavrocordato1st rule
Grigore II Ghica17351739Ghica2nd rule
Russian occupation17391739Russo-Austrian-Turkish War (1735–1739)
Grigore II Ghica17391741Ghica3rd rule
Constantin Mavrocordat17411743Mavrocordato2nd rule
Ioan II Mavrocordat17431747Mavrocordatoson of Nicolae Mavrocordat and brother to Constantin Mavrocordat
Grigore II Ghica17471748Ghica4th rule
Constantin Mavrocordat17481749Mavrocordato3rd rule
Iordache Stavrachi17491749
Constantin Racoviță17491753Racoviță1st rule
Matei Ghica17531756Ghica
Constantin Racoviță17561757Racoviță2nd rule
Scarlat Ghica17571758Ghica
Ioan Teodor Callimachi17581761Callimachi
Grigore Callimachi17611764Callimachi1st rule
Grigore III Ghica17641767Ghica1st rule
Grigore Callimachi17671769Callimachi2nd rule
Constantin Mavrocordat17691769Mavrocordato4th rule
Russian occupation17691774Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774)
Grigore III Ghica17741777Ghica2nd rule
Constantin Moruzi17771782Mourousi
Alexandru Mavrocordat Delibey17821785Mavrocordato
Alexandru Mavrocordat Firaris17851786Mavrocordato
Alexandru Ipsilanti17861788Ypsilanti
Austrian occupation17871791military commander: Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg
Emanuel Giani Ruset17881789Rosettialso called Manole or Manolache
Russian occupation17881791Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792)
Alexandru Moruzi17921792Mourousi1st rule
Mihai Suțu17931795Soutzosalso called Draco
Alexandru Callimachi17951799Callimachi
Constantin Ipsilanti17991801Ypsilanti
Alexandru Suțu18011802Soutzos
Chancellor
Iordache Conta		18021802
Alexandru Moruzi18021802Mourousi2nd rule
Scarlat Callimachi18061806Callimachi1st rule
Alexandru Moruzi18061807Mourousi3rd rule
Russian occupation18061812Russo-Turkish War (1806–1812)
Bessarabia is placed under Imperial Russian rule in 1812.
(See also President of Moldova, for the rulers of Moldova, a part of this territory which became independent in the 20th century.)
Alexandru Hangerli18071807
Scarlat Callimachi18071810Callimachi2nd rule
deposed by Russians
Caimacam
Iordache Ruset-Roznovanu		18071807Rosetti
Caimacam Metropolitan
Veniamin Costache		180718121st term
Scarlat Callimachi18121819Callimachi3rd rule
Mihail Suțu18191821Soutzos
Stolnici
Manu and Rizos-Nerulos		18191819
Caimacam Metropolitan
Veniamin Costache		182118212nd term
Filiki Eteria occupation18211821military commander: Alexander Ypsilantis
Caimacam
Stefan Bogoridi
(Ștefan Vogoride)		18211822
Ioan Sturdza18221828
Russian occupation18281834military commanders: Fyodor Pahlen, Pyotr Zheltukhin, and Pavel Kiseleff
Organic Statute government (1832–1856)
Mihail Sturdza18341849
Grigore Alexandru Ghica18491853Ghica1st rule
Russian occupation18531854Crimean War
Grigore Alexandru Ghica18541856Ghica2nd rule
Protectorate established by the Treaty of Paris (1856–1859)
Extraordinary Administrative Council18561856
Caimacam
Teodor Balș		18561857
Caimacam
Nicolae Vogoride		18571858
Caimacams18581859Ștefan Catargiu, Vasile Sturdza and Anastasie Panu
(Catargiu resigns in 1858 and is replaced by Ioan A. Cantacuzino)
Alexander John Cuza18591862also ruled Wallachia in personal union
Formal union of Moldavia and Wallachia in 1862.

For later rulers, see Domnitor and King of Romania.

References
  • Constantin Rezachevici - Cronologia critică a domnilor din Țara Românească și Moldova a. 1324 - 1881, Volumul I, Editura Enciclopedică, 2001,
  1. Gorovei, Ștefan S., Întemeierea Moldovei. Probleme controversate, Editura Universităţii „Alexandru Ioan Cuza”, Iași, 1997, ISBN 973-9149-74-X
  2. Rezachevici, Constantin, Cronologia critică a domnilor din Țara Românească și Moldova, a. 1324 - 1881, vol. I, Editura Enciclopedică, București, 2001, ISBN 973-45-0387-1
  3. Constantin Rezachevici - Cronologia critică a domnilor din Țara Românească și Moldova a. 1324 - 1881, Volumul I, Editura Enciclopedică, 2001
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