Alexandru Al. Ioan Cuza

Who was Alexandru Al. Ioan Cuza?

Alexandru Al. Ioan Cuza was a Romanian aristocrat and politician. He was the eldest son of Domnitor Alexander John Cuza, by his mistress Maria Catargi-Obrenović, and adopted by Cuza's wife Elena Rosetti-Cuza. His father's rule was the earliest political union between the two Danubian Principalities, which was to form the Kingdom of Romania in 1881. When Alexander John was ousted and replaced with Carol of Hohenzollern, Alexandru Al. Ioan followed him into exile. He settled back in Romania after his father's death, attempting to create a current of opinion against Carol. He later helped journalists Alexandru Beldiman and Grigore Ventura in founding the anti-Carlist newspaper Adevărul.

Through their actual mother, Alexandru and his brother Dimitrie were half-brothers of Milan I Obrenović, the King of Serbia, and of General Radu Catargi. Beginning 1888, when Dimitrie Cuza died, Alexandru was the last surviving direct male heir of the Cuza family. After his death, the Cuza estate, including the manor of Ruginoasa, passed onto the Moruzis and the Brătianus.