Știrbei

The House of Știrbei, Știrbey or Stirbey is the name of an old Romanian noble family, whose members were once ruling Princes of Wallachia. The Princely Stirbey family was of Wallachian origin, first time documented in the 15th century, has marked the political and economical development of Romania, through many generations.

Coat of arms of Princes Stirbey

History

The family emerged in the 19th century as collateral branch of the House of Bibescu. Prince Barbu Dimitrie Știrbei was the son of Boyar Dumitrache Bibescu, Palatine of Wallachia (1772–1831), and his wife, Ecaterina Văcărescu (1777–1842). He was adopted by his relation, one of the most prestigious Oltenian, Vornic Barbu C. Știrbei, the last of the Știrbey line of the family who left him heir to his wealth and also family name. Upon the adoption, this line of the Bibescu family became Princes Stirbey.[1]

After the Revolution of 1848, in difficult times, Prince Barbu Stirbey (1799–1869) is elected Reigning Prince (“Domnitor”) of Wallachia, and seeks balanced relationships with the Ottoman Empire, the Austrian Empire and the Russian Empire, thus setting the foundations for an independent state. Under his rule (1849–1856), Wallachia went from a feudal and agriculture-based country to an enlightened nation, with its first industrial enterprises, a modern educational system and a well developed road network.[2]

The House of Stirbei went extinct in the male line. Their heirs today are German Counts Wolff-Metternich zur Gracht.[3]

Notable members

Properties

References
  1. "Monarch Barbu Dimitrie Stirbey, Domnitor of Valachia 1848-56 (Muntenia and Oltenia) : Genealogics".
  2. "Domain".
  3. "The Heirs of Europe: STIRBEY". 2 January 2010.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.