Între trei Imperii. Diplomația transilvăneană și tezaurul lui Gheorghe Duca
Between the three Empires. Transylvanian Diplomacy and Gheorghe Duca's Treasure

Summary/Abstract: he ransom of the lord of Moldavia, Gheorghe Duca, consisting of money and precious objects, was collected in Constantinople by the wife of the former woivode and then transported and confiscated in Transylvania. It was demanded by Jan Sobieski, King of Poland, as a reward for the release of the captive. Despite some claims made at some point by the Transylvanians in front of the Sublime Porte, the Poles did not take possession of the ransom. Gheorghe Duca’s treasure also tempted the Turks but without any chance of success. However, the Transylvanians skilfully and successfully navigated between the two claimants, taking the most advantage of the risen opportunity. The meticulous inquiry undertaken at the request of the Viennese court, under military pressure, revealed that the nobility of Transylvania, especially those who held office sin the Princely Council between 1685-1690, a group led by Michael Teleki, took advantage of the money and precious objects of the former Moldavian lord. Banffi, the first governor of Transylvania, did not remain uninvolved either. Some of the 18,000 golden coins ended up in the tribute of Transylvania, other in the hands of Generals Piccolomini, Veterani, etc. The efforts of Duca’s successors after more than two decades did not yield any results, and the money was never recovered.

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