TheHouse of Keșco (Cheșco/Keșcu/Cheșcu) (Russian:Кешко; English:Keshko,Romanian:Cheșcu), was the name of an ancientMoldavian Boyarnoble family whose members held significant positions inMoldavia and later in theRussian Empire andRomania.[1] Most notable member wasNatalia Keshko, who became first modernQueen of Serbia.
According to historian Johann Svoboda, the family had its roots inRussia, where members of the family appeared in 1097 asKnyazen in thePrincipality of Kiev. According to him, the family has descended from theRurik dynasty, in particular from theWassilko, Prince of Rostov (1209–1238).[2]
Historically, the family was established even before thePrincipality of Moldova was founded in 1350. They owned the forest on the left bank of theSereth river,Panka region, Mihodra river valley and foundedLucavăţ, which was all owned by Luca, member of the family. The family is said to be, along with theHouse of Dragoș, the oldest in this region. Luca's sons Stan and Șerbco wereknights at the court of PrinceAlexander I of Moldavia. He officially confirmed their family possessions ofLucavăţ, Panka with Mihodra with hereditary rights for their descendants by the document of February 16, 1428.
Thechurch of Lucavăţ became first seat of Bishopric ofRădăuți, with its pastor, by proclamation ofPrince Stephen the Great of Moldavia became its firstBishop on March 15, 1490. PrinceAlexandru Lăpușneanu of Moldavia, grandson of Prince Alexander "the Good", not only confirmed the legality of the certificate issued by his grandfather on May 7, 1565, but also subsequently transferred to the family the co-ownership of a large number of villages in northern Moldova which expanded the land they owned. Later, during 17th century, brothers Vasile, Nicolae and Constantin Căzăcescul were again officially confirmed ownership of all their expanded possessions by PrinceIllias III of Moldavia on March 12, 1667.[3]
Vasile (Basilius) (1631–1701), the eldest of the above mentioned brothers, married in 1654 Candachia Cocoranul (1635–1688), the daughter of theBoyar Isac Cocoranul. He was, as historianTeodor Bălan wrote, an ancestor of the CountsWassilko von Serecki, who were later one of the largest landowners inAustro-Hungarian Empire, with most of their properties in theDuchy of Bukovina. They were the only family of ethnicRomanian origin to acquire the title ofCount throughout the Empire.[4]
It was first mentioned as such in the 17th century.[1] Constantin theCăzăcescul, younger brother of the above mentioned Vasile (Basilius) (1631–1701) and Nicolae, got confirmed in 1667 his noble status and his possessions in thePrincipality of Moldova by ruling PrinceIllias III. His descendants kept using his nickname as their family name, making him an ancestor of the Keshko (Keșco/Keșcu/Cheșco/Cheșcu) family, which in turn made them collateral branch of the CountsWassilko von Serecki. Keshko family mostly had their family estates in the territories of the Russian Empire and theDanubian Principalities.
Members of the Keshko family served theRussian Empire.[1] As such, they were granted the title ofMarshals of Nobility of theBessarabia Governorate (1812–1917) where they held large properties. Throughout the years they were also incorporated into theRussian nobility, apart from already belonging toRomanian andMoldavian nobility.
![Villa in Kishinev, built for Queen Natalie Obrenovic, Dowager Queen of Serbia, later owned by Russian merchant Gheorghii Pronin[11]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aPronin_House.jpg)
