Vasile Lupu (Vasile Coci)
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 7:35 pm
Vasile Lupu (Vasile Coci) (Romanian pronunciation: [vaˈsile ˈlupu]; 1595–1661) was a Moldavian Voivode (Prince) between 1634 and 1653. Vasile Coci surnamed "the wolf" who ruled as Prince of Moldavia had secured the Moldavian throne in 1634 after a series of complicated intrigues and managed to hold it for twenty years. Vasile was of Albanian origin and Greek education.[1] He was a capable administrator and a brilliant financer and soon was the richest man in the Christian East. Judiciously placed gifts kept him on good terms with the Ottoman authorities.[2][3]
Lupu was born in Arbanasi, an Albanian-populated village in Bulgaria.[4][5][6] The first time the name of the family is mentioned in Romanian sources is in 1597, when Nicholas Coci, an Albanian born in Epirus, took refuge with other mercenaries in the Arbanasi village. After he had been involved in a revolt and was defeated, Nicolai Coci was brought to the Romanian Country by Radu Mihnea, who would occupy the throne of all Romanian Territories (Moldova, Transilvania, Muntenia) in 1601. Nicolai Coci had 8 children: Vasile Lupu, Gabriel Hatmanul, Ilinca, Marga, Anna, Catherine and George Costea. After his father's death, the family moved to live in Moldavia. The most important fact about Nicolai Coci (Nicholas Coci) was his being the father of Prince Vasile Lupu / Wolf (Vasile Coci). The Coci last name was carried on by Stefan Coci (son of Vasile Lupu) who married the daughter of Petru Rareş, a voivode of Moldavia, but also by the descendant of Gabriel Coci named Hatmanul. The descending line of Coci intersects with aristocratic families from Moldavia, old families such as the Bucioc, Boulesti, and Abazest.
Lupu was born in Arbanasi, an Albanian-populated village in Bulgaria.[4][5][6] The first time the name of the family is mentioned in Romanian sources is in 1597, when Nicholas Coci, an Albanian born in Epirus, took refuge with other mercenaries in the Arbanasi village. After he had been involved in a revolt and was defeated, Nicolai Coci was brought to the Romanian Country by Radu Mihnea, who would occupy the throne of all Romanian Territories (Moldova, Transilvania, Muntenia) in 1601. Nicolai Coci had 8 children: Vasile Lupu, Gabriel Hatmanul, Ilinca, Marga, Anna, Catherine and George Costea. After his father's death, the family moved to live in Moldavia. The most important fact about Nicolai Coci (Nicholas Coci) was his being the father of Prince Vasile Lupu / Wolf (Vasile Coci). The Coci last name was carried on by Stefan Coci (son of Vasile Lupu) who married the daughter of Petru Rareş, a voivode of Moldavia, but also by the descendant of Gabriel Coci named Hatmanul. The descending line of Coci intersects with aristocratic families from Moldavia, old families such as the Bucioc, Boulesti, and Abazest.