The House of ÃÂtirbei, ÃÂtirbey or Stirbey is the name of an old Romanian noble family, whose members were once ruling Princes of Wallachia. The Princely Stirbey family was of Wallachian origin, first documented in the 15th century. It was involved in the political and economical development of Romania, through many generations.
The family emerged in the 19th century as a collateral branch of the House of Bibescu. Prince Barbu Dimitrie ÃÂtirbei was the son of boyar Dumitrache Bibescu, Palatine of Wallachia (1772âÂÂ1831), and his wife, Ecaterina VÃÂcÃÂrescu (1777âÂÂ1842). He was adopted by his relation, one of the most prestigious Oltenian boyars, Vornic Barbu C. ÃÂtirbei, the last of the ÃÂtirbey line, who made him heir to his wealth and also family name. Upon the adoption, this line of the Bibescu family became the Stirbey Princes.
After the Revolution of 1848, Prince Barbu Stirbey (1799âÂÂ1869) was elected Reigning Prince (âÂÂDomnitorâÂÂ) of Wallachia, and sought balanced relationships with the Ottoman Empire, the Austrian Empire and the Russian Empire, This laid the foundations for an independent state. Under his rule (1849âÂÂ1856), Wallachia went from a feudal and agriculture-based country to a modern nation, with its first industries, a modern educational system and a well-developed road network.
The House of ÃÂtirbei is extinct in the male line. Their heirs today are German Counts .