George Ducas

Voivode George Ducas (Greek: Γεώργιος Δούκας, Romanian: Gheorghe Duca) (c. 1620 – 31 March 1685) was three times prince of Moldavia (September 1665 – May 1666, November 1668 – 20 August 1672, November 1678 – January 1684) and one time prince of Wallachia (1673 – 29 November 1678). He was married to Anastasiya Dabizha, the daughter of Eustratie Dabija, and later to Dafina Doamna; George Ducas fathered Constantine Ducas. First two rules in Moldavia Gheorghe Duca was of Albanian origin and like many others of his generation who had migrated to the Danubian principalities he rose thanks to his links to other Albanians of high positions. In his youth, another Albanian, Vasile Lupu (voivode of Moldavia) took him to his court where Duca was raised. Supported by Dafina Doamna and some of the boyars, he came to the throne in Iaşi after Dabija's death, but was soon ousted after his opponents appealed to the Ottomans, unjustly claiming Duca's rule was corrupt.