TheHouse of Balș is an old Moldavian noble family, whose origins can be traced back to the 15th century and whose members played important political roles in the history ofMoldavia and laterRomania,Russia andAustria.
The family claims descendance from theBalšić nobles that ruled over thePrincipality of Zeta in the 14th and 15th centuries, and through them thedel Balzo and the Occitan House of Baux.[1] This legend is reflected in their heraldry, the family having assumed similar arms.[2] Some historians, such as Hajdeu, have proposed a slavic or local origin instead,[3] some accepted only the connection to the Zetan rulers (Noblemaire, 1913)[1] while others have attempted a full reconstruction of the pedigree up toLeibulf of Provence.[4]
This version of the genealogy, accompanied by the 1813 family tree and armorial, was approved by Moldavian princeScarlat Callimachi.[5] In AustrianBukovina it was used by the governor baron Basil von Balsch to solidify his nobility,[1] and in the Russian Empire, Iorgu Balș (a member of theBessarabian branch of the family) presented it to requestbaronial status.[6]
Even disregarding its disputed origins, the family stands as one of the longest-documented in theDanubian Principalities, maintaining a continuous presence for centuries.
There is a document from 1487, relating to the founding of the town ofBalș, according to whichVlad Călugărul, voivode of Wallachia, allows theknezi Teodor and Ioan Balșu"arriving to our country from beyond the Danube, from the Serbian land" to settle and to establish a town near the Olt river.[7]
The Saint Nicholas church of theRâșca Monastery [ro;de;hu;pl] was built in 1542 by Bishop Macarie using the help of Ioan and Teodor Balș, logothetes of Voivode (Prince)Petru Rareș.[8]
The clear genealogy of the family begins a few decades afterwards with Cârstea or Cristea Balș, overseer of the Royal Court during the reign of VoivodeIeremia Movilă.[5] Most of the members of the family belong to the main branch, originating from Cristea's descendant, Moldavianlogothete Lupul Balș (1691–1782). Through the practice of intermarriage, the family has allied itself to powerful families such as theSturdza,Cantacuzino,Sutzu,Mavrocordatos, and others.
The standard arms of the Balș family isGules, a star of seven points or.
The seven-rays variant is consistent with the oldest depictions, and which the Balșes claimed as the arms of the Lords of Baux (from whom they also claimed descent). Other variants have eight or six rays. Some members of the family, such as Moldaviantreasurer Alexandru Balș (1801-1864), included elements from the heraldry of allied families in their personal arms.[5][9] The family arms are also used in the coats of arms of some settlements where they had historical influence, such asDarabani,Albești,Flămânzi in Romania, andCaracui in Moldova.
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Throughout its history, the Moldavian family has been firmly associated with the government, with many of its members holding important political and administrative positions in the region. Among the most important:
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