Dimitrie Cantemir (en)10.0102

A destiny beyond borders

For the majority of us, Dimitrie Cantemir is known only through history books or at most from literature. He was once a Romanian ruler, reigning over Moldova in 1710, who tried to relinquish Moldova from Ottoman rule by forging an alliance with the Russians. However he lost the battle against the Ottomans at Stanilesti (nowadays Romania) and took refuge in Russia. He was also a scholar, writing the Descriptio Moldaviae and something else but… the rest are details. This was pretty much also the attitude of the Romanian state when 2008 was declared the year Dimitrie Cantemir and that was the whole deal… the rest was silence.

But what is for the Romanians the importance of this man who ruled less than an year and taking shelter in Russia to save his life ? More important, what is the contribution of Dimitrie Cantemir not only for the Romanian culture and history but especially for the entire Europe?

Briefly :

Dimitrie Cantemir was born in 1673 at Silisteni (nowadays Moldova region in Romania) as the son of Constantin Cantemir (later to become ruler of Moldova) and of Ana Bantas. At 15 he is forced to part for Constantinopole as a prisoner in sign of good will on behalf of his father. He remains there for almost two decades. At home he begins learning Greek, Latin and Philosophy, later completing his education with Turkish language while at Constantinopole. In 1693 following the death of his father he is named succesor at the throne but is not recognised by the Ottomans who preffered his brother. It is only in 1710 when he becomes ruler of Moldova remaining as such for a short period less than an year. He strongly believes in the need to take Moldova out of Ottoman influence thus signing a secret treaty with Peter the Great, the Tzar of Russia. The moldavian-russian army is defeated by the Ottomans at Stanilesti (July 1711) and Cantemir is forced to flee for his life. He takes refuge in Russia, together with his family (his wife and three sons among them being also Antioh Cantemir), some of the nobles loyal to him and the rest of the soldiers beneffiting from the protection of Peter the Great who refuses to extradite him. His friendship with Peter the Great is legendary. The Tzar appoints Cantemir as his close counselor and senator, granting him a generous estate in what is now Ukraine and the title Prince of the Russian Empire, later being granted also the title Prince of the Holy Roman Empire by Charles VI.

His work as a scholar and diplomat which begun at an early age is consolidated while in exile. His children are well known in Russian culture and history, the most famous being Antioh Cantemir a Russian poet and diplomat, recognised as one the forefathers of Russian modern poetry.

Contributions :

Romanian scholar, encylopaedist,  ethnologist,  philosopher, linguist, musicologist,  diplomat and statesman, Dimitrie Cantemir is considered one of the great minds of universal culture. Dimitrie Cantemir was the bridge between many cultures, Romanian, Russian, Oriental. His work, mainly written in Romanian or Latin stands testimony of the European vocation of our people, presenting itself also as a connection to the rest of Europe. He is the first Romanian to become member of the Berlin Academy (1714) – at the request of Leibniz, among the first candidates for the Presidency of the (St) Petersburg Science Academy, the first Romanian scholar who aproached the ethnographical aspects of the Romanian people, the first who found a notation system for the Turkish music based on Arab letters (being at the same time a great composer of ancient Oriental music), Dimitrie Cantemir was recognised as road opener in many areas. He was also the first to make known to Europe the culture of the Ottoman Empire, its music, literature, habits, portreying that world under a new light, other than the one emerged from its expansionist dream.

The most important works :

‘’Divanul sau Galceava Inteleptului cu lumea’’ (The Divan or the Wise Man’s Parley with the World) – 1698 – written in Romanian, it is the first Romanian philosophical writting.

‘’Istoria ieroglifica’’ (Historia Hieroglyphica) – 1703-1705 – written in Romanian while at Constantinopole. It is considered to be his most valuable literary work and the first satire and allegory in Romanian literature. The writing presents itself as a satire and a sharp analysis of the political fights. The characters are animals depicting the two houses Cantemir and Brancoveanu and their fight for power (though they had much in common, the two families never got along, Cantemir not being recognised as ruler of Moldova in 1693 due to Constantin Brancoveanu’s objection – him being the ruler of Wallachia at that time).

“Descriptio Moldaviae” – 1716 – written in Latin at the request of the Berlin Academy, is the first book offering a complex image of Moldova region. Also, for the first time a map of Moldova is made which will later be used by all the scholars interested in this part of Europe.

“The History of the Ottoman Empire” (History of the Growth and Decay of the Ottomans) – finished in 1717 – written in Latin, it is the first treaty that touches the problem of the Ottoman power and its multicultural character. This work brings world fame and recognition and sets Cantemir among the bigest scholars of its time. Initially, the work begun during his staying within the Ottoman Empire, was interrupted and restarted in 1711. Initially written in Latin, will be translated and published by his son Antioh Cantemir in English (1735), then in French (1743) and German (1745) thereafter reprinted many times. In Romanian this work will be translated only in 1877 and in Turkish for the first time in 1979.

‘’Hronicul vechimii a romano-moldo-vlahilor’’ (Historia moldo-vlachica) – 1722 – written at first in Latin is translated by the author in Romanian and represents his last writing. The work is the first to cover from all angles the unity in language and culture of all Romanians and the Latin origins.

He dies in 1723 at his estate at Harkov (nowadays Ukraine) and is burried in Moskow, at the church St. Constantin and Elena himself had raised. The remains are brought home in 1935, being preserved at the church Trei Ierarhi in Iasi. On the funeral stone, the Nicolae Iorga (a Romanian historian and statesman) had the following words engraved:

“Here, returned from his long and hard exile endured for the freedom of his country, lies Dimitrie Cantemir, ruler of Moldova”.

Nicolae Iorga was also the one to say that Dimitrie Cantemir represented „the Romanian way of being in the world civilization”.

It is time to make our values known, it is time to know our value !

Sources :

http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimitrie_Cantemir

http://www.ici.ro/romania/ro/cultura/l_cantemir.html

http://www.rostonline.org/rost/oct2003/cantemir.shtml

http://dcantemir.home.ro/romana/dimitrie.htm

http://www.ottomanhistorians.com/database/html/cantemir_en.html

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dimitrie_Cantemir_color.jpg (picture)