Prince Mihail Sturdza and his relations with Russia

: Mihail Sturdza, prince of Moldavia from 1834 to 1849, was a controversial figure in the modern history of Moldova. Mihail Sturdza was not just a political instrument of Russia in Romanian principalities, nor a governor of an ordinary Russian guberniya that was in his administration. Russia had created sufficient means to exercise control over the principalities, especially through the Russian consuls, as well as through information services. Prince Mihail Sturdza managed to skillfully use the protectorate of Russia to create political ascendancy in Moldova. Close cooperation with the tsarist authorities, services rendered to Russia in the war of 1828-1829, personal contribution to the development of the Organic Regulations constituted sufficient evidences of Mihail Sturdza's loyalty to Russia for the protectorate. He was supported from Petersburg by his cousins Alexandru Sturdza (1791-1854), one of the greatest theologians of the time, one of former advisers of Tsar Alexander I, and Ruxandra Sturdza. During his reign, he was trying to get out from under Russian tutelage, which he failed. Despite this, he enjoyed the consideration of Russian officials.