Constantin BrÃ¢ncoveanu

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Image:Brancoveanu-sons.gif Constantin Brâncoveanu (1654 - August 26 1714) was Prince of Wallachia between 1689 and 1710.

1 Life
2 Legacy
3 Quotes
4 External links

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Life

A descendant of the Craioveşti boyar family and related to Matei Basarab, Brâncoveanu was raised in the house of his uncle, stolnic Constantin Cantacuzino, and 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 soon faced each other in a violent competition. Cantacuzino was exiled, and began advocating his son's Ştefan's candidacy to the throne, while competing with Brâncoveanu for the support of the Ottoman Empire - Wallachia's overlord.

Because of his anti-Ottoman policy of forming alliances first with the Habsburg Monarchy, and then with Peter the Great's Russia (see Russo-Turkish War, 1710-1711), Constantin Brâncoveanu was denounced to the Porte, deposed from his throne by Sultan Ahmed III, and brought under arrest to Istanbul, where he was imprisoned in 1710 at the fortress of Yedikule (the Seven Towers). Image:C-tin. Brancoveanu.jpg There he was tortured by the Turks, 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 Enache Văcărescu.

He was a great patron of culture. Under his reign, many Romanian, Greek, Slavonic, Arabic, Turkish, and Georgian texts were printed. During his rule, an architectural style known as the "Brâncovenesc style" originated in Wallachia, as a synthesis of Renaissance and Byzantine architecture. 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).

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Legacy

Image:Sambata IMG 4800.jpg The intrigue that marked Constantin's ascention and regn is reflected in chronicles of the time, which are ideologically divided: Letopiseţul Cantacuzinesc gives a bleak account of Şerban'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. 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 the two princes have taken the same side in the conflict with the Porte).

Ştefan 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 Pahanariote 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 tragic death, Constantin Brâncoveanu became the hero of a series Romanian folk ballads, as well as being depicted on some of the official coinage. The Romanian Orthodox Church linked the reason for his execution to his Christian faith, and in 1992 declared him, his sons, and Enache to be saints and martyrs (Sfinţii Martiri Binecredinciosul Voievod Constantin Brâncoveanu, împreună cu fiii săi Constantin, Ştefan, Radu, Matei şi sfetnicul Ianache - "The Martyr Saints the Right-Believing Voivode Constantin Brâncoveanu, together with his sons Constantin, Ştefan, Radu, Matei, and the counselor [Enache]"). Their feast is August 16.

The Constantin Brâncoveanu University is located in Piteşti, Romania, but it also has subsidiaries in Brăila and Râmnicu Vâlcea.

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Quotes

Letopiseţul 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 Târgovişte, 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 vigurously 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 Ruşi, where the princely fish ponds are located.

Then [the Austrian General] came to Drăgăneşti, inviting Costandin-vodă to leave Ruşi and meet him in Drăgăneşti, 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] would have 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 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."

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