Marija Obrenović

Marija Obrenović

Elena Maria Catargiu-Obrenović (Serbian Cyrillic: Елена Марија Катарџи-Обреновић; 1831 Iași – June 28, 1879 or July 16, 1876 Dresda ), known in Serbia as Marija Obrenović, was a Moldavian and Romanian boyaress. She was the mother of King Milan I of Serbia and the mistress of Alexander John Cuza.

Born Elena Maria Catargiu, a member of the Catargiu family, she was married to Miloš Obrenović. Her husband was a nephew of Miloš Obrenović I, Prince of Serbia (the founder of the House of Obrenović) and cousin of Mihailo Obrenović III (1823-1868), Prince of Serbia (1839-1842 and 1860-1868). Their son, Milan Obrenović (1854-1901), became Prince of Serbia (1868-1882) and then King of Serbia (1882-1889) as Milan I.

Later in life, she was the mistress of Alexander John Cuza, Domnitor of the Principality of Romania. Marija Obrenović had two sons by Cuza: Alexandru Al. Ioan Cuza and Dimitrie Cuza.^[1] Cuza's wife, Elena Rosetti, who was childless, raised her husband's two illegitimate children as her own. Dimitrie committed suicide in 1888,^[1] and Alexandru died the following year.

Issue

By her husband, Miloš Obrenović:

• Milan I of Serbia (22 August 1854 – 11 February 1901)

By Alexander John Cuza:

• Alexandru Al. Ioan Cuza (born between 1862 and 1864, died 1889)
• Dimitrie Cuza (1865-1888)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Dimitrie Cuza's page on thePeerage.com

External links

• The Online Gotha