 Also they had a daughter, Maria (1870–1952), married Prince Leon Mavrocordato (1858–1939), military attaché in Vienna.Like many other Eastern European explorers, the Ghicas were of noble blood, high education and considerable family wealth, major factors that fuelled their bold ventures.After the opening of Suez Canal in late 1869, a new era in African exploration has begun, specially after British took control of the canal in 1882, when sea trips to Africa from Europe via Mediterranean Sea became very common.