Born: 17 June 1825, Romania
Died: 2 April 1909
Country most active: Romania
Also known as: Elena Doamna
Moldavian noblewoman and philanthropist Elena Cuza was princess consort of the United Principalities as the wife of Alexandru Ioan Cuza, the first Romanian prince. She remained loyal to her cheating husband, raising his children by his mistress, her cousin Elena Maria Catargiu-Obrenović, and helping him flee the country in 1848 when Prince Mihail Sturdza began arresting participants in the Moldavian revolutionary movement. The couple returned after Grigore Alexandru Ghica became prince of Moldavia in 1849, but Elena lived in Paris for years at a time to escape her husband’s behaviour.
As Princess of the United Principalities from 1859 to 1866, she was known for her charitable work, such as building the Elena Doamna Asylum in Bucharest. She also re-decorated the private residence in Ruginoasa, Iași County in the Neo-gothic style.
Following the 1866 coup against her husband, she followed him into exile, and owuld go on to outlive him by more than 25 years.