Cantemir, Demetrie (1673–1723)

Moldavian statesman and linguist. He was the most distinguished member of an originally Tatar family which emigrated from the Crimea to Moldavia in the 17th century. He ruled Moldavia for one year (1710–11), then joined Peter the Great's Turkish expedition and placed his principality under the suzerainty of Russia. Defeated in battle by the Turks, he retired to Kharkov, Ukraine, where he died. Cantemir was perhaps the greatest linguist of his age, being fluent in 11 languages. His principal work, History of the Growth and Decay of the Ottoman Empire, was written in Latin.