Ghica Family

The Ghica family (Romanian: Ghica, Greek: Gikas, Γκίκαs) were a Romanian noble family, active in Wallachia, Moldavia (providing several rulers of the Danubian Principalities) and in the Kingdom of Romania. In the 18th century, several branches of the family went through a process of Hellenization (into the Phanariote social network). The Ghicas also held the (agnatic) rank of Princes of the Holy Roman Empire (Fürst), a title first bestowed upon Grigore II Ghica in 1673 by Leopold I.