Gheorghe Ghica (1600-1664), founder of the Ghica family, is said to have been a playmate of another Albanian known to history as Ktipruli Aga, the famous vizier, who recognized Gheorghe while he was selling melons in the streets of Constantinople and helped him on to high positions. Gheorghe became prince of Moldavia in 1658 and prince of Wallachia in 1659-1660. He moved the capital from Targoviste to Bucharest. From him are descended the numerous branches of the family which became so conspicuous in the history of Moldavia and Wallachia.

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.