Septilici family explained

The Septilici family (also spelled Șeptilici, Șaptelici, Șeptelici) was a boyar (noble) family from Bukovina, in the Principality of Moldavia. It played a significant political, military role in the history of Moldavia, especially in the medieval and early modern periods.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

Origin

The origins of the Șeptilici family date back to the 15th century.^[6] The Șeptilici were included by Dimitrie Cantemir among the most important boyar (noble) families of Moldavia. The name of the family appears in internal documents as early as the 16th century, with reference to the reign of Petru Vodă Rareș.

The Șeptilici family was mentioned in royal documents during the reign of Stephen the Great (1457–1504), when the family began to gain recognition and influence.

Assassination of Voivode Gaspar Graziani

One of the most controversial events in which the noble family was involved was the assassination of ruler Gaspar Graziani (ruler of Moldavia between 1619 and 1620).

According to historical accounts, members of the Șeptilici and Goia families conspired against Graziani because of his dangerous policies and authoritarian tendencies. They saw in his elimination a way to prevent a possible Ottoman invasion and restore order in the principality.

His death was a landmark event in Moldavian history, and the Șeptilici family apparently played a significant role in the plot that led to his murder.^[7]

Notes

1. Book: Cantimir, Demetrius . A description of Moldavia . Brackob . A.K. . Center for Romanian Studies . 2023 . 978-1-59211-025-4.
2. Panzar . Alexandru . A genealogy from 1819 of the Șeptelici boyars. Some considerations about how the genealogies were made up in the Royal Divan . Revistă de istorie a Moldovei.
3. Andrieș-Tabac . Silviu . 2021 . Simboluri Heraldice Rurale, Adoptate în Republica Moldova în Anii 2018–2020 . Rural heraldic symbols adopted in the Republic of Moldova in 2018-2020 . Tyragetia . ro.
4. Book: Lecca, Octav George . Familiile boeresti române: istoric și genealogie (dupe isvoare autentice) . Institutul de Arte Grafice și Editura "Minerva" . 1899 . Bucharest . 440–442 . ro . Romanian Boyar families: history and genealogy (according to authentic sources).
5. Web site: Bacalov . Sergiu . 2012 . Neamul Dregătorilor Militari al Boierilor Moldoveni Șeptelici . The Nation of the Military Governors of the Moldavian Șeptelici Boyars . https://web.archive.org/web/20210523103425/http://istoriamilitara.org/stiinta/articole/435-un-neam-de-dregatori-militari-boierii-septelici.html . 2021-05-23 . Cer și Pământ Românesc.
6. Web site: Eșanu . Andrei . Andrei Eșanu . 2014-04-28 . PARTEA II: Pârcălabi de Hotin (sec. XIV - 1714) . andreiesanu.wordpress.com.
7. Web site: Jane . Laura . THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE ENGLISH CROWN . UCL University London.

Further reading

• Web site: Iftimi . Sorin . Casa Burchi-Zmeu din Iași, Viitorul Sediu al Muzeului Municipal . The Burchi-Zmeu House in Iași, the Future Headquarters of the Municipal Museum . 2013 . Biblioteca Digitală a Publicațiilor Culturale . ro . 114–115.
• Book: Rădulescu, Mihai Sorin . Un vechi arbore moldovenesc – Șeptilici [An old Moldavian tree – Șeptilici] . În căutarea unor istorii uitate: familii românești și peripluri apusene . In search of forgotten histories: Romanian families and Western journeys . Vremea . Bucharest . 2011 . 978-973-645-407-3 . 795148292 . ro . 129–130.