thumb|260px|right|Constantin Brâncoveanu and family, mural from 1709 at [[Horezu Monastery|Hurezi monastery]]

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):

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 1832, 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.

{| class="toccolours" style="margin-bottom: 1em; font-size: 100%; text-align:center"

|- bgcolor="C0C0E0"

!Name

!Portrait

!Lived

!Wife<br />(date of marriage)

!Offspring

!Comments

|-bgcolor="efefef"

|

Constantin II Brâncoveanu

|

frameless|100px

|

1683-1714

| Anița, daughter of Ion Balș, Moldavian boyar.<br />(20 January 1706)

|

Constantin III<br />(mare ban)

|

Constantin II was Brâncoveanu's first son, albeit not his first offspring.

He had one son, Constantin III, who was spared by the Ottomans: he later engaged in politics and furthered the family's name.

|-bgcolor="efefef"

|

Ștefan Brâncoveanu

|

frameless|100px

|

1685-1714

|

Bălașa, daughter of Ilie Cantacuzino.<br />(27 February 1709)

|

Maria

|

Ștefan was noted for his accomplished classical education. He is the author of several books in ancient Greek. His line ended with his daughter, who bore no children.

|-bgcolor="efefef"

|

Radu Brâncoveanu

|

frameless|100px

|

n/a-1714

| colspan="3" |

Engaged to a daughter of Antioh Cantemir, former Moldavian ruler, but the planned marriage didn't come to fruition in light of the 1714 events.

|-bgcolor="efefef"

|

Matei Brâncoveanu

|

frameless|100px

|

1702-1714

| colspan="3" |

At the time of his death 11 or 12 years of age. A number of more and less reliable accounts of the August 1714 martyrdom state that he made a plea for his life, but his father convinced him not to trade his faith for his life. Was killed in front of his father.

|-

| style="text-align:right" colspan="6" | <small>Source: If nothing else mentioned, </small>

|}

Notes

Bibliography

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  • Estras din Analele Academieĭ Române. Seria II. Tom XXI
  • M. Brancoveni
  • Manastirea Brancoveni
  • Anton Maria Del Chiaro, Revoluțiile Valahiei
  • Letopisețul Cantacuzinesc (in antiquated Romanian)
  • Official Orthodox Church biography (in Romanian)
  • Wallachian coinage issued under Constantin Brâncoveanu
  • A lease issued by the Prince, bearing his signature and seal