“The Spirit of the French Disobedience” in Moldavia. A Boyar “Enmity” from 1803-1804 and its Reasons
“The Spirit of the French Disobedience” in Moldavia. A Boyar “Enmity” from 1803-1804 and its Reasons

Summary/Abstract: The fame of a document which would supposedly demonstrate the influence of the French ideology upon the boyar class during the reign of Alexandru Moruzi is, in fact, a good opportunity to analyse the historical context when it appeared, explaining the tensioned relations between some boyar families of the time. The intern situation in Moldavia after the issuing of the hatischerif in 1802 reveals the actions of the local boyars in order to strengthen their position in the society and within the institutions of the country. Analysing the list of the Divan’s members of the time, there are two families brought into light, Balş and Roznovanu, who aroused the old boyars’ discontent by means of abuses. Therefore, the later wrote numerous anonymous complaints to have their estates returned. However, our investigation of the historical context does not necessarily reveal the influence of the ideology of the French Revolution, but the natural will of the boyars to maintain their positions in the society.

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