Alexandru B. Știrbei

Alexandru Barbu Știrbei
Born	1837 Bucharest, Wallachia
Died	1895-03-13
Occupation(s)	Nobleman, politician, entrepreneur, agricultural innovator
Known for	Romanian Conservative Party leadership, Minister of Public Works, Minister of the Interior, Finance Minister

Alexandru Barbu Știrbei (1837 – March 13, 1895), also referred to as Alex. Știrbeĭ, Știrbey, or Știrbeiŭ (with the French variant Alexandre Stirbey), was a Romanian nobleman born in Wallachia who distinguished himself as a politician, entrepreneur, and agricultural innovator. He was the son of Barbu Dimitrie Știrbei, Prince of Wallachia, and nephew of Prince Gheorghe Bibescu. After a brief tenure in the French military, he returned to the United Principalities. Upon inheriting his father's wealth, he advanced progressive industrial ventures on his estates located in Buftea and Dărmănești. Știrbei was also connected to the Junimea society, participating as both an attendee and host of its cultural gatherings.

Despite his father’s withdrawal from claims to the Romanian throne during the 1860s, the family maintained allegiance to King Carol I. As a supporter of the Junimist faction, Știrbei contributed to establishing the Conservative Party and assumed its leadership for a short period in 1881. He served in prominent governmental roles: Minister of Public Works and Minister of the Interior under Theodor Rosetti’s administration (1888–1889), and later as Finance Minister under Ioan Emanoil Florescu (1891). His tenure was marked by addressing challenges related to the Strousberg Affair, playing a significant role in expanding Romania’s railway infrastructure.

Știrbei’s influence persisted through his son Barbu Știrbey, who rose to Prime Minister and furthered agricultural development, and his daughter Eliza, who wed Prime Minister Ion I. C. Brătianu. His descendants included politician George Cretzianu, aviator Marina Știrbei, and reportedly Princess Ileana of Romania. Although the family’s vast estate was dismantled under communist rule, it has since been rehabilitated and continues to hold economic importance into modern times.

Family background and formative years

Alexandru was born in Bucharest as the son of Barbu—who would later become Prince—and nephew to Barbu’s rival brother, Gheorghe Bibescu. Among his relatives were adventurer cousin Georges Bibesco and aviation pioneer nephew George Valentin Bibescu. His extended family encompassed notable figures such as writer Anna de Noailles and poet Alexandru Bibescu, making him uncle to diplomat Antoine Bibesco.

The Știrbey lineage descended from minor boyar nobility rooted in Oltenia, particularly Gorj County, with ancestry tracing back to a yeoman named Bibul. Alexandru’s grandfather, Logothete Dumitrachi Bibescu, rose during the waning years of Phanariote governance and married into the prominent Văcărescu family. His father was adopted by the more esteemed Vornic Barbu C. Știrbei, thereby acquiring holdings including the Cepturoaia estate and vineyards near Drăgășani. The Bibescu and Știrbei families remained rivals, even competing in the 1842 princely election.

Barbu Dimitrie Știrbei fathered seven children with his wife Elisabeta Cantacuzino. Alexandru’s elder brother, George Barbu Știrbei, followed a path in military and diplomacy but opposed Domnitor Alexandru Ioan Cuza after the union of the Principalities; this opposition led to George’s arrest for sedition in 1860. Their sister Elena married Count Leo Larisch von Mönnich, connecting the family to European aristocracy. Other marital alliances included ties with General Ioan Emanoil Florescu and politician Alexandru Plagino.

During the Crimean War, Alexandru and his brother Dimitrie evacuated Wallachia amid Russian advances, relocating to Paris in 1853. Alexandru pursued studies at the prestigious École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr and earned a degree in science. He achieved officer status within the French Army under Napoleon III's Second Empire before being summoned back by his father during the 1859 Italian War of Independence to safeguard Wallachian interests with the Austrian Empire. Concurrently, Georges Bibesco distinguished himself while serving in the Franco–Mexican conflict.

Political Involvement

At the beginning of 1866, Prince Barbu and his sons were proposed as candidates for the thrones of both Principalities. Unlike Sașa Cuza, all princes from the Știrbei and Bibescu families chose to renounce their claims after the foreign-born Domnitor Carol of Hohenzollern assumed power. The former Wallachian ruler committed himself and his descendants to support Carol's reign. George Știrbei became a fervent advocate of the new government, holding the position of Foreign Minister before stepping down due to illness or feeling marginalized by Carol. Dimitrie Știrbei initially served as a diplomatic envoy before transitioning into politics during the 1880s.

Alexandru remained politically inactive during Cuza’s rule and the early years of Carol’s reign, entering the political arena in 1867 by joining the conservative "White" party. He began his philanthropic efforts by participating in a famine relief committee, which was bolstered by a donation of 10,000 lei from his father. In 1866, he affiliated himself with the right-wing monarchist group centered around the Ordinea newspaper but only registered as a voter two years later in 1868. Following his father’s death in 1869 and his family’s relocation to France, Alexandru inherited the Știrbei family residence on Calea Victoriei along with the Buftea estate, where he constructed a Gothic revival-style palace. He married Maria Ghica-Comănești from the Moldavian Ghica lineage; her dowry included the Dărmănești winery and agricultural lands in Brusturoasa and Mândrești. Together, they had eight children, among them Eliza (born 1870) and Barbu Alexandru (born 1872).

During the legislative term from 1871 to 1875, A. B. Știrbei secured a seat in the Assembly of Deputies representing Dolj County in June 1872. Working alongside deputy Gheorghe Manu, he aimed to resolve issues related to the Strousberg Affair by facilitating the resale of railway shares back to the Romanian state but resisted further stock sales to Englishman George Crawley due to concerns over his qualifications. In May 1874, acting as rapporteur, he engaged in negotiations with Austria-Hungary to grant access for Romania’s railway system to the Austrian StEG company via Bolvașnița and Predeal routes, following a political strategy aligned with his brother’s views.

Știrbei also participated in committees investigating Finance Minister Petre Mavrogheni’s conduct and allegations of financial misconduct involving Bucharest Mayor Nicolae C. Brăiloiu. In July 1874 local elections, he assumed stewardship of Bucharest Commune, backing Manu and Dimitrie Ghica. Prior to the 1875 parliamentary elections, he allied with Ghica’s "Liberal Conservative" faction that sought to bridge conservatives and liberals. Thereafter, he concentrated on his legislative duties, offering conditional support in April 1876 alongside Petre P. Carp to Prime Minister Florescu—a conservative relative appointed by Carol.

In the June 1876 elections, Știrbei was one of only two conservatives elected from Dolj's 1st College amidst a sweeping victory for the National Liberals. It was reported that outgoing Prime Minister Lascăr Catargiu sabotaged Știrbei’s chances by registering tenant farmers seen as more easily influenced voters. This parliamentary session coincided with Romania's involvement in the Russo-Turkish War and its declaration of independence; Știrbei endorsed Foreign Minister Mihail Kogălniceanu’s initiatives advocating for war. Subsequently, he opposed surrendering Southern Bessarabia to Russia, viewing it as an act of betrayal.

He returned to Parliament in 1879 representing Ilfov County following an unexpected victory by the "White" party. By 1880, Știrbei helped establish an expanded Conservative Party and took charge as editor of its publication Timpul, overseeing publisher Mihai Eminescu. In December of that year, he joined the steering committee led by party chairman Catargiu alongside prominent conservatives such as Manu, Florescu, Menelas Ghermani, Alexandru Lahovary, Titu Maiorescu, Theodor Rosetti, among others. Demonstrating political conciliation in 1881, Știrbei paid tribute to National Liberal Prime Minister Ion Brătianu after an assassination attempt on him and voted in favor of proclaiming Romania a kingdom under King Carol.

With Junimea

Throughout the next ten years, A. B. Știrbei endeavored to bridge the divide within the Conservative Party by engaging with the dissident Junimea faction, spearheaded by Maiorescu and Petre P. Carp. He positioned himself as either an establishment figure or an independent Conservative. On November 6, 1881, backed by Junimist support, Știrbei assumed leadership of the party, though he was replaced by Catargiu just over two weeks later on November 22. Despite this setback, he remained a frequent participant in Junimea literary salons, witnessing significant cultural events such as Eminescu’s recitation of Luceafărul alongside presentations by Alexandru Macedonski and Vasile Alecsandri.

In the January 1888 elections, Știrbei was reelected to the Assembly in coalition with the Junimists, despite ongoing internal factional tensions. Following unsuccessful talks with Brătianu, who attempted to bring him into the National Liberal camp, Știrbei reportedly aligned with the opposition. By March of that year, he played a role in forming the "united opposition" that succeeded in replacing Brătianu with Junimist Th. Rosetti. During this period, Știrbei held the posts of Minister of Public Works (March–November 1888) and Interior Minister (November 1888–March 1889), securing election from Dolj in October 1888. As Interior Minister, he effectively addressed a peasant uprising and a typographers' strike by negotiating labor demands. Additionally, he oversaw Romania's involvement in the 1889 Paris World Fair, opposing his cousin Georges Bibesco’s leadership of the National Committee. Contemporary observers described him as dependable and meticulous, although some political adversaries criticized his limited parliamentary engagement.

Following his removal by Conservative Prime Minister Catargiu during a purge targeting Junimists, Știrbei resurfaced as a pragmatic member of the Junimea faction, largely united by Germanophile sympathies. He returned to government as Finance Minister during General Florescu’s short-lived Conservative cabinet (November–December 1891), resigning amid a reshuffle that reinstated other Junimea affiliates. He maintained his Assembly seat and was appointed vice president of the chamber after the 1892 elections.

During this time frame, Știrbei contributed to plans for constructing a new railway terminal at Cotroceni, chairing an architectural jury that ultimately selected Alexandre Marcel’s design despite allegations of plagiarism. In July 1894, he co-established the Agricultural Bank alongside notable Conservatives such as Manu, Sturdza, Triandafil, and Constantin C. Arion. His entrepreneurial activities were concentrated in Buftea, where he developed a canning factory, cultivated twenty orchards, managed one hundred gardens, and maintained fifty vineyards. By 1898, his Buftea estate encompassed approximately 2,350 hectares—constituting more than half of the area’s land. Additionally, he operated forestry and timber processing enterprises in Dărmănești with his son George and held further estates in Teleorman County, including Elisabeta.

Balancing commerce with philanthropy, Știrbei sustained robust connections to his Oltenian base in Craiova. He financed scholarships for orphans, contributed to building part of the road to Calafat, supported construction of a connecting railway line, commissioned the Jitianu memorial bridge, acted as ktitor of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, and donated land for Carol I National College. On his Pătulele estate, he employed horticulturist Friedrich Grunow to undertake reforestation efforts using black locust trees aimed at combating desertification. Beginning in 1888, Știrbei sought appointment as curator of Așezămintele Brâncovenești, a charitable institution founded by his aunt Zoe Brâncoveanu; he donated his Cervenia estate for its purposes and shared curatorship duties with his cousin Georges. Together they managed Brâncovenesc Hospital, instituting a quarantine zone during the cholera epidemic of 1893.

Death and legacy

Following Maria's passing during childbirth in 1885, Știrbei assumed sole responsibility for raising their younger children. In 1890, he arranged the marriage of Eliza to the Junimist politician and landowner Alexandru Marghiloman. By early 1895, Știrbei's health had severely declined, leading to his sudden death on March 13 at his Bucharest residence, an event mourned throughout the nation. He was interred in Buftea alongside his father and siblings, with a grand funeral attended by Crown Prince Ferdinand, government dignitaries, and foreign envoys. His elder brother resided abroad, marrying actress Gustave Haller and supporting their daughters' pursuits in the arts. Another brother’s daughter wed an Austrian military officer and hosted a prominent literary salon in Vienna.

Știrbei entrusted the care of his younger children to his Junimist associate Ghermani, with Triandafil providing counsel. The majority of his assets were inherited by Barbu Alexandru ("White Prince"), who significantly grew the family fortune through intensive livestock breeding, cultivation of cash crops, banking ventures, and leasing estates in Teleorman. Barbu wielded political power, initially campaigning alongside Conservatives with his brother George (an Assembly representative for Dolj) before changing political affiliations. Eliza ended her marriage with Marghiloman and wed National Liberal leader Ion I. C. Brătianu in 1907. Their sisters also allied with prominent families: Zoe married George Cretzianu, Maria united with Gheorghe Balș, and Adina became the spouse of General Gheorghe Moruzzi. Zoe passed away prematurely in 1896; Ioana married officer Radu R. Rosetti in 1907 and gained recognition as a philanthropist.

From 1909 onward, Buftea emerged as a preferred retreat for the elite, although Barbu lost ownership of Dărmănești to George and Elisabeta Băleanu, who renovated it with architect Nicolae Ghica-Budești. Barbu served as curator of the Royal Estates following Ioan Kalinderu's death and was reputedly Queen Marie of Romania's lover as well as the alleged father of Princess Ileana. Maintaining cordial ties with King Ferdinand, he influenced Romania’s decision to side with the Entente during World War I. The conflict caused divisions among the Știrbei brothers: George supported the Conservative faction favoring the Central Powers before succumbing to typhus in 1917.

In January 1927, King Ferdinand appointed Barbu as Prime Minister; however, he was replaced within two weeks by Brătianu, who also died that year. Experiencing opposition following King Carol II’s coronation in 1930, Barbu went into exile in France where he survived an assassination attempt before returning during World War II. His nephew George Cretzianu held the position of Finance Minister under the National Legionary State regime. In 1944, Barbu and another nephew, Alexandru Cretzianu, engaged in negotiations with Allied Powers from Egypt. Opposed to the Romanian Communist Party's rise, he failed to reclaim premiership in 1945 and died under unclear circumstances in 1946. Eliza passed away impoverished under communist rule in 1957 but later received recognition for her memoirs.

Barbu's union with his cousin Nadèje Bibescu produced four daughters who emigrated prior to Buftea’s nationalization. Their sons-in-law included historian Șerban Flondor; anti-communist politician Grigore Niculescu-Buzești; and Nicolae Costinescu, owner of the Sinaia arms manufacturing plant. Their niece Marina Știrbei inherited Dărmănești estate, served as a pilot with the White Squadron, and fled Romania following her husband's arrest. General Rosetti, widower of Ioana Rosetti Brusturoasa, died as a prisoner under communist detention; their son Radu Jr also faced persecution. The Dărmănești property was confiscated by the state for use as a sanatorium; meanwhile, their residence on Calea Victoriei was converted into a ceramics museum.

After Romania’s 1989 Revolution, ownership disputes emerged concerning Știrbei family properties. The damaged former museum on Calea Victoriei was reclaimed by Ioana Kripp-Costinescu in 2004 but controversially sold to real estate developers. The Buftea estate—designated a historic monument—changed ownership multiple times and was valued at €20 million by 2016; since 2011 it has hosted the annual Summer Well music festival. The Kripp family maintained vineyards in Drăgășani which they developed into leading producers of Tămâioasă Românească. Marina Știrbei’s descendants regained possession of Dărmănești manor in 2005 but subsequently sold it to private investors.

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