Unseen Romania

The Brancoveanu Family Legend

A very touching legend – which records actually a historically true story – tells us about the tragic end of the Brancoveanu family, Constantin Brancoveanu being one of the most famous Romanian rulers (“voievod” or “domnitor” in Romanian).

There were popular songs and ballads telling the when and how of it, in a very touching way because Brancoveanu and his four sons’ death was a symbolic act at that time, which impressed his people. Brancoveanu was seen as a very diplomatic governor of Wallachia during his 26 year long kingship – between 1688 and 1714 – though, towards the end, he made a mistake which upset the Ottoman Empire – Wallachia’s suzerain to whom it was tributary – and  led to the Romanian lord's horrific death.

According to the legend Brancoveanu and his family (his wife, his children but also his sons- and daughters-in-law) were arrested and brought to Istanbul where they got imprisoned in the Seven Towers fortress. It was year 1714, not long before Easter, when they got caught and thrown to a filthy prison till 15th of August. Brancoveanu and his faithful friend, grand treasurer Enache Vacarescu – who happened to be also one of his sons-in-law – were tortured by Turks who hoped to find out the places where the Prince had supposedly amassed his money and other values. But the Prince didn’t have anything else from what the Turks had already found in his palace and on his lands.

The 15th of April was the execution day for the governor, his four sons – Constantin, Stefan, Radu and Matei – and also for his loyal treasurer, Vacarescu. The execution took place in a public place, close to the Bosfor shore; the Sultan was present and told Brancoveanu that their lives would be spared if they had turned to Islam but the Prince encouraged his sons better to die in honor than live a shameful life… especially if you were a king or someone from the royal family you had to respect and protect the ancestors’ law and traditions and these included the old Orthodox religion too. All of them were beheaded because none of them accepted the disgraceful proposal. It is said that his youngest son – a boy of about 11 years old – became dismayed with fear and was about to give up and convert; but his father tutored him and the boy picked up his heart and walked bold to the headsman. Brancoveanu was the last to be have his head cut off so he could watch all his sons and his loyal son in law, Enache Vacarescu die in front of him. The legend says he was tortured once again and died in pain – but he realized he was a symbol for his people and his sacrifice would strengthen Romanians’ faith in God and His Orthodox Church. Brancoveanu’s wife and daughters, together with some other relatives were released and took refuge in Venice from where they came back home only after two years.

Brancoveanu is also renowned for the large amount of money he used to spend to develop arts and culture in Wallachia. In his epoch a lot of books were printed, churches and palaces were built as the Prince was a great supporter of culture and sciences. The particular art style which was developed during his reign took his name – “the Brancovenesc (Brancovan) style” - and it is very easily observed in the architecture and painting of the 17th – 18th centuries.

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