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Elena Năsturel

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Elena Năsturel
Matei Basarab and his wife (right) depicted in the book printed during his rule
Princess Consort of Wallachia
Reign1632-1653
PredecessorStanca Brâncovean
Born1598
Died1653
Burial
The Royal Church of Târgovişte
SpouseMatei Basarab
IssueMatei
FatherRadu Năsturel
MotherDespina Calea Calomfirescu

Doamna Elena (1598–1653)[1] was a princess consort of Wallachia by marriage to Prince Matei Basarab.[2] The sister of scholar Udriște Năsturel, she was known for her cultural patronage and introduced the first printing press in Wallachia. She was born to the Seneschal Radu Năsturel from Herăști and Calea Calomfirescu, who herself, was descended from Michael the Brave.[3]

She and her husband only had one son Matei, who died young. In his memory, she adopted her nephew, the son of Udriște, whose wife died shortly after giving birth to their son, who was named Mateiaş and raised him as her own. He was considered heir to the throne, but he died at the age of 17.[4] When she died of a heart attack in 1653, she was buried next to Mateiaş in the Royal Church of Târgovişte. The following year when her husband died, he too was buried next to her. Per her husbands request, her tombstone was inscribed with the phrase "they lived together twice 20 years each"[5].

References

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  1. ^ "Cine a fost Doamna Elina?". ZIUA de Constanta (in Romanian). 2015-11-28. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  2. ^ "Doamna Elena - Enciclopedia României - prima enciclopedie online despre România". enciclopediaromaniei.ro. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  3. ^ "Elena Basarab | Knjiženstvo". knjizenstvo.etf.bg.ac.rs. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  4. ^ "Cea mai deşteaptă nevastă de domnitor. Povestea Doamnei Elina, soţia lui Matei Basarab, a condus singură Ţara Românească în vremuri tulburi". adevarul.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  5. ^ Popescu, N. (2012-11-21). "Doamna Elina - soţia lui Matei Basarab". Foaie Națională (in Romanian). Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  • Marcu, George (coord.) – Dicţionarul personalităţilor feminine din România, Editura Meronia, București, 2009