Candidatura lui Grigore Mihail Sturdza la tronul Moldovei: premise (1856-1858)
GRIGORE MIHAIL STURDZA’S CANDIDACY TO THE MOLDAVIAN THRONE: PREMISES (1856−1858)

Summary/Abstract: The origins of Grigore Mihail Sturdzaʼs attempt to become reigning Prince of Moldavia go back to the years 1844−1845, when his father, Mihail Sturdza, was head of the state. But a systematic campaign following this goal started only in 1856, when Grigore Sturdza began his demarches to obtain the nomination as provisional head of government (caimacam), the first step to the ascension at the throne. Therefore, the candidate focused mainly on the attainment of external support. His attempts encountered many obstacles: the rivalry of the caimacam Nicolae Vogoride, the hostility or reserve of foreign diplomats in Iași, the skepticism of the Moldavian society and, finally, the lack of support from Turkey, the power which Grigore Sturdza was still serving as a brigade general. On the other hand, even from this early stage of the campaign, another powerful rival (his own father) began the demarches for the recovery of the throne. Although Grigore Mihail Sturdza managed to attract the support of certain diplomats (Édouard Thouvenel, the French Ambassador in Constantinople, or Victor Place, the French consul in Iași) and of certain political personalities in Moldavia, this phase ended in a complete failure and, at the end of September 1858, Grigore Mihail Sturdza decided to focus on the internal campaign.

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