The story of the courtship of Catherine “The Circassian”, the second wife of the prince Vasile Lupu

This article presents the episode of the second marriage of Moldavian prince Vasile Lupu (1634-1653) with Catherine, of Circassian descent, a relative of the Crimea Tatar khan Behadir Gere (1638-1642). An extraordinary beauty, Catherine played an important role in the personal life of Vasile Lupu and had noticeable political and diplomatic skills. The author has paid special attention to historical sources, especially to Miron Costin's chronicle and Niccolo Barsi’s (Italian traveler) testimony, who had witnessed the arrival of Catherine from the Crimea into Moldavia.