Constantin Brâncoveanu

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For the village in Călărași County, see Dragalina, Călărași. For the Bucharest
Metro station, see Constantin Brâncoveanu metro station.
Constantin Brâncoveanu
Prince of Wallachia
Constantin Brancoveanu.jpg
Reign 1688–1714
Predecessor Șerban Cantacuzino
Successor Ștefan Cantacuzino
Born 1654
Brâncoveni, Wallachia
Died 1714
Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
Spouse Doamna Marica Brâncoveanu
Issue Stanca (1676)
Maria (1678)
Ilinca (1682)
Constantin (1683)
Ștefan (1685)
Safta (1686)
Radu (1690)
Ancuța (1691)
Bălaşa (1693)
Smaranda (1696)
Matei (1698)
Depicted in the icon is Constantin Brancoveanu with his four sons, Constantin,
Radu, Ștefan and Matei, along with Ianache, the adviser.
Constantin Brâncoveanu and family, mural from 1709 at Hurezi monastery
Saints Constantin, Constantin, Ștefan, Radu and Matei Brâncoveanu
C-tin Brancoveanu.jpg
Born 1654 (Constantin)
1683 (Constantin)
1685 (Ștefan)
1690 (Radu)
1698 (Matei)
Brâncoveni, Wallachia
Died 15 August 1714
Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
Venerated in Romanian Orthodox Church and Russian Orthodox Church[1]
Canonized 20 June 1992, Bucharest
Major shrine Relics at the New Church of St. George, Bucharest.
Feast 16 August (Eastern Orthodox Church)
Attributes They are usually depicted together, wearing golden cloaks.

Constantin Brâncoveanu (Romanian pronunciation: [konstanˈtin brɨŋkoˈvee anu] (About

this soundlisten); 1654 – August 15, 1714) was Prince of Wallachia between 1688 and
1714.
Contents

1 Biography
1.1 Ascension
1.2 Policies
1.3 Arrest and execution
1.4 Death and sanctification in Eastern Orthodoxy
2 Cultural contribution
3 Legacy
 4 Historiography
5 Quotes
6 Issue
7 Notes
8 Bibliography
9 External links

Biography
Ascension

A descendant of the Craiovești boyar family and related to Matei Basarab,

Brâncoveanu was born at the estate of Brâncoveni and raised in the house of his
uncle, stolnic Constantin Cantacuzino. He soon became involved in the conflict
between Constantin and Şerban Cantacuzino, and rose to the throne after the latter
died in mysterious circumstances. He was initially supported by Constantin
Cantacuzino, but the two ended up facing each other in a violent competition.
Cantacuzino was exiled, and began advocating his son's Ștefan's candidacy to the
throne, while competing with Brâncoveanu for the support of the Ottoman Empire -
Wallachia's overlord.
Policies

The prince took steps in negotiating anti-Ottoman alliances first with the Habsburg
Monarchy, and then with Peter the Great's Russia (see Russo-Turkish War, 1710-
1711): upon the 1710 Russian intervention in Moldavia, the prince contacted Tsar
Peter and accepted gifts from the latter, while his rivalry with the Moldavian
Prince Dimitrie Cantemir (the main regional ally of the Russians) prevented a more
decisive political move. Instead, Brâncoveanu gathered Wallachian troops in Urlați,
near the Moldavian border, awaiting for Russian troops to storm into his country
and offer his services to the tsar, while also readying to join the Ottoman
counter-offensive in the event of a change in fortunes. When several of his boyars
fled to the Russian camp, the prince saw himself forced to decide in favor of the
Ottomans or risk becoming an enemy of his Ottoman suzerain, and swiftly returned
the gifts he had received from the Russians.
Arrest and execution

Such policies were eventually denounced to the Porte. Brâncoveanu was deposed from
his throne by Sultan Ahmed III, and brought under arrest to Constantinople, where
he was imprisoned in 1714 at the fortress of Yedikule (the Seven Towers).
Brâncoveanu's statue in Bucharest

There he was tortured by the Ottomans, who hoped to locate the immense fortune he
had supposedly amassed. He and his four sons were beheaded on the same day in
August, together with Prince Constantin's faithful friend, grand treasurer Enache
Văcărescu.

According to his secretary, Anton Maria Del Chiaro, their heads were then carried
on poles through the streets of Constantinople, an episode which caused a great
unrest in the city. Fearing a rebellion, including from that of the Muslim
population which was outraged by the injustice done to the Prince, his sons and his
close friend, he ordered for the bodies to be thrown into the Bosporus. Christian
fishermen took the bodies from the water, and buried them at the Halchi Monastery,
in the city's vicinity.[2]
Death and sanctification in Eastern Orthodoxy

The circumstances and facts of Constantin's death are recorded in history, and his
santification is recognized by all The Eastern Orthodox Churches.

Dragoș Ungureanu, a specialist at the National Patrimony Institute, makes "a clear
distinction between the holiness status of Prince Brâncoveanu and the same quality
of some European monarchs who haven't suffered a martyr's death. Brâncoveanu was
canonised for his and his sons' martyrdom, just like the martyrdom of Christians in
ancient Rome, killed for their faith in Christ. And just like other Christian
martyrs, Brâncoveanu had to choose between his and his sons' death, and their
conversion to Islam."[3]

On 15 August 1714, the Feast of the Dormition, when Constantin Brâncoveanu was also
celebrating his 60th birthday, he and his four sons and his advisor Ianache were
brought before Sultan Ahmed III of Turkey. Diplomatic representatives of Austria,
Russia, France and England were also present. After all of his fortune has been
seized, in exchange for the life of his family he was asked to renounce the
Orthodox Christian faith. He reportedly said: ″Behold, all my fortunes and all I
had, I have lost! Let us not lose our souls. Be brave and manly, my beloved! Ignore
death. Look at how much Christ, our Savior, has endured for us and with what
shameful death he died. Firmly believe in this and do not move, nor leave your
faith for this life and this world.″ After this, his four sons, Constantin, Ștefan,
Radu and Matei and advisor Ianache were beheaded in front of their father.[4]

History also that the smallest child, Matei (12 years old) was so frightened after
seeing the bloodbath and the heads of his three brothers that he started crying and
asking his father to let him renounce Christianity and convert to Islam as the
Sultan Ahmed III had demanded. At that moment, Constantin Brâncoveanu said: "Of our
kind none have lost their faith. It is better to die a thousand times than to leave
your ancient faith just to live few more years on earth." Matei listened and
offered his head. After Brâncoveanu himself was decapitated, their heads were
impaled on javelins and displayed in a procession. Their bodies were left before
the gate and later on thrown into the waters of the Bosphorus.[5]
Cultural contribution

Brâncoveanu was a great patron of culture, his achievements being part of the
Romanian and world cultural heritage. Under his reign, many Romanian, Greek,
Bulgarian, Arabic, Turkish, and Georgian texts were printed after a printing press
was established in Bucharest - an institution overseen by Anthim the Iberian. In
1694, he founded the Royal Academy of Bucharest.

In his religious and laic constructions, Brâncoveanu harmoniously combined in

architecture the mural and sculptural painting, the local tradition, the Neo-
Byzantine style and the innovative ideas of the Italian Renaissance, giving rise to
Brâncovenesc style.[6] The most accomplished and the best preserved example of
Brâncovenesc style architecture is Hurezi monastery, inscribed by UNESCO on its
list of World Heritage Sites, where Brâncoveanu intended to have his tomb. Other
buildings erected by him are Mogoşoaia Palace complex, Potlogi Palace, Brâncoveanu
monastery. Such cultural ventures relied on increased taxation, which was also
determined by the mounting fiscal pressure of the Ottomans (adding in turn to
Brâncoveanu's determination to strip Wallachia of Turkish rule).
Legacy

Brâncoveanu left to the secular Romanian spirituality a few fundamental books,

printed for the first time in Wallachia; among them, Aristotle's Ethics, the Flower
of the Gifts and the Philosophical Examples, the last two being translated and
printed by Antim Ivireanul. The neo-Romanian style was born from the style of the
monasteries, of the houses and of the palaces of Brâncoveanu and it became, through
Ion Mincu and his school, the national style at the time of the affirmation of the
cultural identities of the nations of Europe in the beginning of the 20th century.

The architectural Brâncovenesc style is found in the churches of the Monasteries of

Hurezi, Râmnicu Sarat, Doicesti and Saint George's New Church in Bucharest. Among
secular buildings, the style can be found in Mogosoaia palace and the reworked Old
Court.[7]
The Constantin Brâncoveanu University is located in Pitești, but it also has
subsidiaries in Brăila and Râmnicu Vâlcea.

In June 1992, the Sinode of the Romanian Orthodox Church decreed the sanctification
of Constantin Brâncoveanu, his sons Constantin, Radu, Ştefan and Matei, and vornic
Ianache Văcărescu. On March 7, 2018, the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian
Orthodox Church added these saints to the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church.
[1]

Mogoșoaia palace

Horezu monastery

Brâncoveanu's tomb at St. George New Church

Historiography

The intrigue marking Constantin's ascension and reign is reflected in chronicles of

the time, which are ideologically divided: Letopisețul Cantacuzinesc gives a bleak
account of Șerban's rule, as does Cronica Bălenilor; Radu Greceanu's is an official
account of Brâncoveanu's rule, and Radu Popescu is adverse to Cantacuzino rulers.
Brâncoveni Monastery
Constantin Brancoveanu.jpg
Religion
Affiliation Eastern Orthodox
Ecclesiastical or organizational status Monastery
Status active
Location
Location Brâncoveni, Olt County, Romania
Architecture
Architect(s) Patroness Celea (1570–83)
Matei Basarab and Preda Brâncoveanu (1634–40)
Constantin and Ștefan Brâncoveanu (1699–1704)
Theodosius of Trebizond (1842)
Type Church
Style Brâncovenesc
Groundbreaking 1570
Completed 1842[8]
Direction of façade West
Website
[2]

Dimitrie Cantemir's Historia Hieroglyphica is centered on the clash, and reflects

Cantemir's preference for Constantin Cantacuzino, who was also related to Dimitrie
through marriage (despite the fact that Cantemir and Brâncoveanu have taken the
same side in the conflict with the Porte).

Ștefan Cantacuzino's brief rule saw in turn the downfall of the Cantacuzinos; he
and his father were executed by the Ottomans, who saw the solution to the risk of
Wallacho-Russian alliances in imposing the rigid system of Phanariote rule
(inaugurated in Wallachia by Nicholas Mavrocordato, who, through his previous rule
in Moldavia, is also considered the first Phanariote in that country).

Through his death, Constantin Brâncoveanu became the hero of a series Romanian folk
ballads, as well as being depicted on some of Romania's official coinage. According
to the Romanian Orthodox Church, the reason for his and his sons' execution was
their refusal to give up their Christian faith and convert to Islam. In 1992 the
Church declared him, his sons, and Enache saints and martyrs (Sfinții Martiri
Binecredinciosul Voievod Constantin Brâncoveanu, împreună cu fiii săi Constantin,
Ștefan, Radu, Matei și sfetnicul Ianache - "The Martyr Saints the Right-Believing
Voivode Constantin Brâncoveanu, together with his sons Constantin, Ștefan, Radu,
Matei, and the counselor [Enache]"). Their feast day is August 16.
Quotes

Letopisețul Cantacuzinesc on Constantin Brâncoveanu's relations with the

Habsburgs and Ottomans early in his reign (1690, during the latter stages of the
Great Turkish War):

[...] Then Costandin-vodă [old rendition of his name] as well, arriving to his
seat in Bucharest, catching news of the Austrians having entered his country and
having reached Târgoviște, immediately left his seat [...] went forth towards
Pitariului Bridge, setting camp in the river meadow of Plătăreşti, leaving behind
the ispravnic [...] with orders that, when the Austrians were to arrive in
Bucharest, he was to provide them with all supplies they would need.

Subsequently [the Austrian General], upon understanding this [action],

immediately sent a letter to Costandin-vodă, inviting him to return to his seat and
join [the Austrians] in harassing the Turk.

Then Costandin-vodă, upon understanding this, called as soon as he could the

Metropolitan Theodosie, as well as all his lower and higher boyars, summoning a
great council on what was to be done, whereupon some of the boyars vigorously
showed themselves to favor Costandin-vodă's rejection of the Turks and his joining
the Austrians; while another bunch of boyars, foremost Costandin [Constantin]
Cantacuzino, who has been great stolnic, and Mihai Cantacuzino, the great spătar,
believed this not to constitute good advice, as, where such a thing to happen, the
nearby Tatars [who were Ottoman allies] would immediately arrive with a mighty
force in order to enslave and plunder the country, and the Austrians would prove of
no help. And immediately they moved spot and went to the village of Ruși, where the
princely fish ponds are located.

Then [the Austrian General] came to Drăgănești, inviting Costandin-vodă to

leave Ruși and meet him in Drăgănești, showing himself a great friend towards
Costandin-vodă, asking him, in all good faith, to teach him what he should do next.
And he told all the truth about how his and his troops' arrival had been brought
about by the lies of [a high boyar], and how [the boyar] had boasted that, were
[they] to enter the country, all boyars and all country would pay allegiance to
[them], but that this had not in fact happened.

Thus Costandin-vodă told him the whole truth, about how the Tatars wished to
enter his country, and [he] threw a major banquet in his honor and then returned to
Bucharest in great fear. And the Tatars, aware of the Austrian presence, wasted no
time in raising troops for the Sultan and sent forth messengers to Costandin-vodă,
telling him that they were to come in the country to fight the Austrians.

Thus Costandin-vodă, upon hearing news of this, became very saddened, most of
all considering the plight of the poor country, and immediately lifted camp and
left for Buzău. And when he arrived there, he sent his Lady and all her ladies-in-
waiting to the convent [...], and he rode with a few of his men to meet the Sultan,
paying him high allegiance and offering him many gifts.

It is then that the Sultan saw that Costandin-vodă was not being rebellious,
but rather [his] honest servant, and gave him assurance that his country would not
be enslaved, and that [the Ottomans] were instead to meet the Austrians, who were
their enemies.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Constantin Brâncoveanu.

Issue

Brâncoveanu and his wife Marica had seven daughters and four sons. Although all of
his sons were murdered, many of his daughters had issue. Brâncoveanu's first born,
Constantin II, also had a son who survived exile and rose to be a mare ban
(foremost state function in Wallachian political hierarchy, except for the ruler).
The male line of the Brâncoveanu family became extinguished in 1932, when Grigore
Brâncoveanu died without having any children of his own. Yet he adopted a relative
(who was also a descendant of Constantin Brâncoveanu) and thus passed the family
name on.

According to a genealogical study, roughly 250 of his bloodline were alive at the
middle of the 19th century. Amongst them Gheorghe Bibescu and Barbu Știrbei (rulers
of Wallachia and Moldova), famous revolutionary Alexandru Ipsilanti, Romanian Prime
ministers Barbu Catargiu, Nicolae Kretzulescu, George Manu and Gheorghe Grigore
Cantacuzino "Nababul" and historians Dan and Mihnea Berindei.
Name

Portrait

Lived

Wife
(date of marriage)

Offspring