27 Facts About Radu Cantacuzino

Radu Cantacuzino was an 18th-century Romanian prince, general, adventurer and pretender.

The Radu Cantacuzino family claimed descent from the Kantakouzenoi, an influential and powerful noble family of the former Byzantine Empire.

Radu Cantacuzino claimed to be the rightful ruler of several territories in the Balkans, far beyond those his family had actually ruled.

Radu Cantacuzino led these troops into battle in Italy during the War of the Polish Succession.

Radu Cantacuzino was removed from command in 1740 after being accused of mismanaging his troops.

Radu Cantacuzino's reputation destroyed and hoping to escape the local debt collectors, Radu fled Vienna early in 1745.

Finally, they ended up in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Poland, where Radu Cantacuzino died in 1761.

Pauna hoped that Radu Cantacuzino could convert to Catholicism, which would increase their chances of receiving Western European aid.

In 1725, Radu Cantacuzino petitioned Pope Benedict XIII for help, but papal response was nothing more than words of encouragement.

Radu Cantacuzino returned to Vienna, where he grew increasingly dissatisfied with the family's poor residence and their scant imperial support, which clashed with his and Constantin's self-image.

Radu Cantacuzino proclaimed himself as the head of a non-existent chivalric order, the "Holy Angelic Illustrious Imperial Order of the Great Holy Martyr St George".

Radu Cantacuzino gathered a group of supporters, which included other Romanian exiles, such as his advisor Radu Cantacuzino Golescu, as well as adventurers, such as the Italian Giambattista Tedeschi.

The imperial pretensions of Radu increased the standing of the Cantacuzino brothers.

At some point, Constantin married Ana Seremeteva, a Russian noblewoman, and Radu Cantacuzino himself married Elisabeth d'Estival, a woman of the House of Hesse, though she was of illegitimate birth and poor reputation.

In 1718, parts of Serbia had come under Habsburg control and in 1736, Radu Cantacuzino was entrusted with a "Illyrian regiment" of soldiers there upon his own request.

The Habsburg government accepted Radu's request due to fear that he might otherwise offer his services elsewhere, given that the Cantacuzino name was influential in the Balkans and that his departure from the empire could cause "unwanted mischief".

Radu Cantacuzino led his assigned troops into battle for the Habsburgs in Italy during the War of the Polish Succession, before returning with them to Serbia.

The banners of Radu Cantacuzino's regiment displayed religious figures, such as John the Baptist and Saint Nicholas, as well as animals, such as lions or eagles.

Radu Cantacuzino was recalled in 1740 after being accused of mismanaging the large military unit.

All titles and privileges granted by Radu Cantacuzino were rendered invalid by Maria Theresa and Francis.

Radu Cantacuzino's reputation destroyed and being faced with considerable debt, Radu fled Vienna early in 1745, narrowly escaping being put on trial for high treason.

Radu Cantacuzino died in that same year while on his way to Russia.

Radu Cantacuzino even went as far as begging to Frederick's mother, Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, to be allowed to stay, and tried to convince the Prussians to let him serve them on the basis of his ability to gather Romanians and other Balkan exiles under his leadership.

Radu Cantacuzino was buried at Kamianets-Podilskyi, where his tomb was rediscovered in the early 20th century by the Romanian folklorist and ethnographer Teodor Burada.

Radu Cantacuzino was survived by five children: the four daughters Leopoldina, Cecilia, Maria and Elisabeta, all married to noblemen, and the son George, born in 1738 and dead in 1771, who served in the Habsburg military.

Nicolae Iorga wrote in 1933 that Radu Cantacuzino was a "restless and vicious man, eager for all begging and all betrayals, greedy for honors and especially money, who so cruelly compromised the fame of a family with such brilliant origins and such a purpose".

In 2014, Ovidiu Olar wrote that Radu Cantacuzino was "constrained by his circumstances, but constantly sabotaged by [his own] immeasurable pride".