Founded in Iași (capital of the Principality of Moldavia) by the Prince Antioh Cantemir in 1707, the Academy symbolically continued the Academia Vasiliană, although no direct link exists between the two similar institutions.
Beginning with the 1760s a series of enlightened directors introduced into the Academy the study of mathematics, natural sciences and modern philosophy, translating and adapting European handbooks.
[1][2] In 1821, the Academy was disestablished by order of the Sultan, following the activity of the Greek patriotic organization, Filiki Eteria.
The Princely Academy did not offer standard academic degrees, but only diplomas that certified that the possessor was worthy of “the name of learned man”.
This name gave to the bearer the possibility to hold diverse administrative offices within the Ottoman Empire and Danubian Principalities.