WThe Cantacuzino or Cantacuzène family is a Romanian aristocratic family that gave several Princes of Wallachia and Moldavia, descending from a branch of the Byzantine Kantakouzenos family, specifically from the Byzantine Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos. After the Russo-Ottoman War of 1710–11 a lateral branch of the family settled in Russia, receiving the princely status. In 1944 Prince Ștefan Cantacuzino settled in Sweden, where his descendants form part of the unintroduced nobility of the country.
WHelena Kantakouzene was the second wife of David of Trebizond, the last Emperor of Trebizond. Recent research has led to doubts regarding her existence.
WIrene Kantakouzene, known simply as Despotess Jerina, was the wife of Serbian Despot Đurađ Branković. In Serbian folk legends, she is the founder of many fortresses in Serbia.
WJohn VI Kantakouzenos, Cantacuzenus, or Cantacuzene was a Greek nobleman, statesman, and general. He served as grand domestic under Andronikos III Palaiologos and regent for John V Palaiologos before reigning as Byzantine emperor in his own right from 1347 to 1354. Deposed by his former ward, he was made to retire to a monastery under the name Joasaph Christodoulos and spent the remainder of his life as a monk and historian. At age 90 or 91 at his death, he was the longest living of the Roman emperors.
WKatarina Branković, also known as Kantakuzina was the Countess of Celje, through the marriage with Count of Celje Ulrich II. A Serbian princess, she was the daughter of Despot Đurađ Branković and Byzantine princess Irene Kantakouzene. She is remembered for writing the Varaždin Apostol (1454), and her endowment of the Rmanj Monastery.
WMaria Palaiologina Kantakouzene was the most powerful empress of Bulgaria, ruling as a regent from 1271 to 1279. She was a niece of Michael VIII Palaiologos and wife of two Bulgarian emperors, Constantine Tikh and Ivaylo.
WTheodora Komnene Kantakouzene was the Empress consort of Alexios III of Trebizond.