Șerban Cantacuzino

Who was Șerban Cantacuzino?

Șerban Cantacuzino was a Prince of Wallachia between 1678 and 1688.

He took part in the Ottoman campaign ending in their defeat at the Battle of Vienna. At the same time, it is alleged that he conceived a plan for a march on Constantinople, planning to drive the Ottomans out of Europe, counting on support from major European states.

Cantacuzino introduced maize to Wallachia and present-day Romania, in time the staple food - it was not yet extensively cultivated during his reign. He founded the first school of the principality, in Bucharest, agreed to the establishment of various printing presses, and ordered the famous Romanian edition of the Bible, first published in Bucharest.

His son Gheorghe Cantacuzino later ruled as Ban of Oltenia.

He died suddenly, and there is further speculation that he was in fact poisoned by boyars who resented his vast, unrealistic and dangerous projects. His descendants include the late Romanian actor, Șerban Cantacuzino.