Its origins have been lost, but the two prevalent theories are that they were either a local family originating in a village which has a related name or else one that arrived with the
Venetians during the
Fourth Crusade (since there are records of a Venetian family with a similar name a generation earlier). They became one of the leading families of
Phanariotes. The family moved to present-day
Romania (the
Danubian Principalities) in the 17th century, became
Dragomans of the Porte and
boyars, and gave
Wallachia and
Moldavia two
hospodars – Princes
Constantine and
Alexander. Constantine's great grandson Demetrius fled to
Russia after the outbreak of the
Greek War of Independence, where his progeny was permitted to use their
Princely title in 1893 and later in 1905. Members of the family remained in Romania and
Bessarabia until the
Soviet occupation post-World War II. == Notable members ==