Stephen V of Moldavia

Stephen V Locust
Ștefan Lăcustă
Stephen V Locust; Ștefan Lăcustă
Prince of Moldavia
Reign	18 September 1538 – 20 December 1540
Predecessor	Petru Rareș
Successor	Alexandru Cornea
Born	1496; Suceava
Died	20 December 1540; Suceava
Spouse	Cheajna
Issue	?
Dynasty	Bogdan-Mușat
Father	Alexandru of Moldavia (Sandrinos)
Mother	Maria Asenina-Palailogina
Religion	Orthodox

Stephen V Locust (

Prince of Moldavia

from 1538 to 1540. His nickname comes from a large locust invasion of the country that happened during his reign (most probably in 1539) and led to harvest loss, and famine.

Stephen was born after July 1496 in the capital city of Suceava, as the posthumous son of his father

Stephen III the Great. His mother was Maria Asenina-Palaiologina a native Constantinopolitan of Byzantine imperial heritage. About 1–2 years after his birth due to succession for the throne ambitions by his step grandmother, Maria Voichița (3rd wife of Stephen III) who wanted to secure it to her son Bogdan-Vlad (future Bogdan III the One-Eyed), his mom takes him back to Constantinople where he will spend most part of his life before acceding to the throne at age 42. Based on his maternal origin and uprising in the Christian community of Constantinople as well as his direct nomination by the sultan he can be considered the first " Phanariote" -like ruler of Moldavia.^[1]

In the summer of 1538 he is appointed by sultan Suleiman the Magnificent as "Voievode & Hospodar" of Moldavia and he will participate in the campaign against his predecessor and uncle

Tighina with surrounding area, a further territorial loss for Moldavia after prior conquest of Kilia and Cetatea Alba (Asprokastron) in 1484. This extended the country's vulnerability to attacks from South-West and caused discontent among the boyar elite and wider population. However otherwise the sultan renews Moldavia's autonomy and self rule and keeps unchanged the tribute at 10,000 gold coins annually.^[2]

His reign was noted mostly for the financial difficulties brought on by the locust invasion, but he appears to have made the best efforts to renew diplomatic relations with Hungary and Poland and, at the end of summer of 1540, took an increasing anti-Ottoman stance and even sanctioned a raid against Tighina which resulted in the death of about 150 Ottomans and confiscation per Polish contemporary accounts, of about 68,000 sheep.

In the meantime his ousted predecessor

Stephen III the Great

. Stephen V is the first ruler of Moldavia assassinated by his boyars.

Stephen's V wife, Cheajna (whose origin and age we do not have information), was pardoned and she was allowed to retain quarters within the princely palace but she had passed months thereafter and was interred at the Bistrița Monastery where Stephen V himself might have been buried as well.^[5]

References

^ Matei Cazacu - Strategies Matrimoniales et Politique des Cantacuzenes de la Turcocratie - Revue des Etudes Roumaines vol XIX-XX 1995-1996
^ Cu privire la domnia lui Stefan Lacusta, by Acad. Ioan A Pop
^ Cu privire la domnia lui Stefan Lacusta, by Acad. Ioan A Pop
^ Rezachevici, Constantin (2001). Cronologia critică a domnilor din Țara Românească și Moldova a. 1324 - 1881, Volumul I. Editura Enciclopedică.
^ Rezachevici, Constantin (2001). Cronologia critică a domnilor din Țara Românească și Moldova a. 1324 - 1881, Volumul I. Editura Enciclopedică.

Preceded by Petru IV Rareş	Prince of Moldavia 1538–1540	Succeeded by Alexandru III Cornea

[1] Matei Cazacu - Strategies Matrimoniales et Politique des Cantacuzenes de la Turcocratie - Revue des Etudes Roumaines vol XIX-XX 1995-1996

[2] Cu privire la domnia lui Stefan Lacusta, by Acad. Ioan A Pop

[3] Cu privire la domnia lui Stefan Lacusta, by Acad. Ioan A Pop

[4] Rezachevici, Constantin (2001). Cronologia critică a domnilor din Țara Românească și Moldova a. 1324 - 1881, Volumul I. Editura Enciclopedică.

[5] Rezachevici, Constantin (2001). Cronologia critică a domnilor din Țara Românească și Moldova a. 1324 - 1881, Volumul I. Editura Enciclopedică.

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