Constantine Ducas (Moldavian ruler)
Constantine Ducas (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Δούκας, Kōnstantínos Doúkas; Romanian: Constantin Duca), (? – 1704) son of George Ducas, was a Voivode (Prince) of Moldavia between April 1693 and December 18, 1695 and September 12, 1700 – July 26, 1703.
| Constantine Ducas | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Moldavia (1st reign) | |
| Reign | 23 April 1693 – 18 December 1695 |
| Predecessor | Dimitrie Cantemir |
| Successor | Antioh Cantemir |
| Prince of Moldavia (2nd reign) | |
| Reign | 12 September 1700 – 26 July 1703 |
| Predecessor | Antioh Cantemir |
| Successor | Antioh Cantemir |
| Born | unknown |
| Died | 1704 Istanbul |
| Dynasty | Doukas |
| Father | George Ducas |
| Mother | Nastasia |
| Religion | Orthodox |
Life
Although backed to the throne by his father-in-law, Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu of Wallachia, Constantine Ducas had indebted himself to Constantinople creditors. This made him raise taxes and reintroduce the văcărit (the confiscation of every tenth head of cattle).
He sealed matrimonial alliances with the Costineşti boyar family (to which Miron Costin belonged) and persecuted the Cantemirs, the family of his predecessor Constantin.
After delaying payments of the tribute and ordering the killing of the inspecting kapucu, Ducas was deposed by the Ottoman overlord.
He came to the throne for a second time, after Brâncoveanu had obtained the removal of their common rival Antioh Cantemir. Yet again reacting against the Cantemireşti (who fled the country), doubling taxes and enforcing the văcărit, Ducas only fell into disgrace after his relations with Brâncoveanu soured.
Ancestry
| 2. George Ducas | |||||||||||
| 1. Constantine Ducas | |||||||||||
| 6. Eustratie Dabija | |||||||||||
| 3. Nastasia | |||||||||||
| Preceded by Dimitrie Cantemir |
Prince/Voivode of Moldavia 1693–1695 |
Succeeded by Antioh Cantemir |
| Preceded by Antioh Cantemir |
Prince/Voivode of Moldavia 1700–1703 |
Succeeded by Chancellor Ioan Buhuş |