Mihail Sturdza
Encyclopedia
Mihail Sturdza was a prince of Moldavia
from 1834 to 1849. A man of liberal education, he established the Mihaileana Academy, a kind of university, in Iaşi
. He brought scholars from foreign countries to act as teachers, and gave a very powerful stimulus to the educational development of the country.
In 1844 he decreed the emancipation of the Gypsies. Until then the Gypsies had been treated as slaves and owned by the Church or by private landowners; they had been bought and sold in the open market.
Mihail Sturdza also attempted the secularization of monastic establishments, which was carried out by Prince Alexander John Cuza
in 1864, and the utilization of their endowments for national purposes. He quelled the attempted revolution in 1848 without bloodshed by arresting all the conspirators and expelling them from the country.
Under his rule, the internal development of Moldavia made immense progress; roads were built, industry developed, and Mihail is still gratefully remembered by the people.
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
from 1834 to 1849. A man of liberal education, he established the Mihaileana Academy, a kind of university, in Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
. He brought scholars from foreign countries to act as teachers, and gave a very powerful stimulus to the educational development of the country.
In 1844 he decreed the emancipation of the Gypsies. Until then the Gypsies had been treated as slaves and owned by the Church or by private landowners; they had been bought and sold in the open market.
Mihail Sturdza also attempted the secularization of monastic establishments, which was carried out by Prince Alexander John Cuza
Alexander John Cuza
Alexander John Cuza was a Moldavian-born Romanian politician who ruled as the first Domnitor of the United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia between 1859 and 1866.-Early life:...
in 1864, and the utilization of their endowments for national purposes. He quelled the attempted revolution in 1848 without bloodshed by arresting all the conspirators and expelling them from the country.
Under his rule, the internal development of Moldavia made immense progress; roads were built, industry developed, and Mihail is still gratefully remembered by the people.