THE DEATH OF PRINCE BRANCOVAN.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11122, 14 January 1899, Page 5

THE DEATH OF PRINCE BRANCOVAN.

BY "CARMEN STLVA" (H.M. THE QUEEN OF ROU MANIA.) It was in the year 1714, Constantin Brsncovaa bad boen governing for a length of time as Voivod of Wullaohiß. Ho waa now noarly sixty years old ; a wise priacp, and much beloved by his people. Four handsome sorm had boon born to him, who were the prido of his house, and tho consolation of his old Renewing in theso noblo princoi his own youth, P/ince JJrancovun and his still beautiful wife, with their doughter, 1 the Prlnoeas Roxandra, lived a simple, uneventful life in their capital city of Buoharest. Tbo people looked upon tho Prince as tholr father, and he justified tho attitude by the paino ho look to inako his rule a blessing to them. I Wallachi in thoße days belonged to Turkoy, and tho relief of Prince Branoovnn't) just rule was the greater because of the tear which had overtaken tho people, upon tho death of thoir previous ruler, lest ono lgnoraut of (heir nonntry and G'lK-T to |ilui;so tho JSnltan (md enrich hiuiaelf mie;ht bu placod ovor them. Tho Princo's lifo and rale were bo blameless that tho Sultnn, although jealous of hia suzerain's popularity and growing power, had not been üble t} fiad r.ny cauiio of vrronp; on him In those duyß, and indued nearly down to our ov.ii liinnH. patriarchal ciintouix wuru in vii|;no in Wnllnchiiunid iUilduvi.l. Not only tho n>ij;iiui({ IVitiuii, but overy Hoyatrt hac) hiir Court of followers, and from seventy to one

I hundred persona sftt down at the Wp'.i- --| able boafd daily. The§e iniila'td t!>» relatives of the Boyard, even to tho moat dlatant degree, and thoae in posr o'.rijuHistßincfe'a, .The«) werfl" aLo' hos'.B of slaves who had to be oared \oi in a fatherly fashion, while the vast steb'.es were filled with superb horsea. At that pdrlod ihc bobs off the Chief of tV ""use — aven though they we'Je married and had children of their own — darod not soot themselves in their fiithei'a preserine.' neither did they presume to smokr ; nor speaS Bsiore being first addressed. A solemn ceremony was that of the daily washing and combiog of the long white beard of the old Princs ; during thia f>ars of. toe toilet, he held a reoop- \ tion, and addressed a lew words to each (' of his visitors, he being seated on a j divan, while they stood respectfully be-" fore him. In these days there does not remain a trace of thia dignity and splendour, but happily neither ia there any traca of the Insecurity ia which the inhabitants cE. the two IPrinoipalitles then lived, and which camiseiled them to donoeal their treasures in wooden eouara, vsbioh, covered with c&rpots and the richest Turkish stuffs, formed part of the 1 furniture of a chamber, and were cap. able of easy removal to a place of safety when their enemies, the Turks, made raids into tho country, Many of the Wallnohin and Moldavian ancestors of men now living warn be. headed by the barbarous Turks, dnd tlarsotiS tflay alill be dp'ohdn to Who were born ia prison, after their fathers had been put to death before the eyes of their mothers'. * ,\ 'The Turks are iipdn us! ', wfia the torrible cry which alarmed and agitated the ooUntry, and never a,llow it to possess peace,, quite, or repose. No sooner hsd a prince rejgtied a few years tbiin plots and Uritrigue^ we^fe started against him at. Constantinople, and he was deposed without any aoft 01 warnlug, beiug usually atraugled, stabbed, or ! poisoned. . ■ , Prinoe Goiistantin Brancovan had long grown distasteful to the Sultan because.of his wise and noble charaoter, &nd of his having ma.de. himself beloved by ail his Subjects: He had also accumulated vast wealth, and had Canned gold pieces to ba coined ; this was looked upon as an act of Insubordination to his suzerain. There were oertain individuals at the Porte willing enough to aggravate the anger of the Sultan, and amongst these was a Greek doctor who had presumed to fall in love with tho beautiful Princess Soxandf a. The Greek had been on a visit to Wallachia, in the course of which be had chanced to attend, from motives of rtQrlosity, one of the solomn religious festivals which Prince Brancovan had inaugurated. The foremost figures ia this festival were the Prinoe and Princess, their fottr.sons, aild the Priudess Roxandra. There and then tho Greek became possessed with the desire of making the acquaintance of the Princess; and by means of jealously placed bribes he succeeded by obtaining an Introduction into the Prince's family. He represented himself to Prince Brancovan as being an admirer of Wallachis, and anxious for its independence. He said he bad authority with the Sultan's advisers, and would use his influenoe in his, the Prince's behalf. With his courteous ways and knowledge of men and dountriea, he found favor with the four young Princes, and accomplished his desire of being now and again with the Princess herself. What at first had been merely a passing whim now became the neoosslty of his being, and the Greek passionately resolved that, in apite of her rank and her nationality, the Priacess should be his. ! At last, having done all that he could to further Ingratiate himself with' Prince Brancovan, the Greek approached the question. He dwelt upon his wealth (which he had taken care to give an appearance of during his stay in the capital), bis influence with the Turks, desire to see Wallachia freed from her bondage and, unfettered, beginning a noble future. Then he touched noon his personal hopes. But he had hardly expressed himself before the Prince interposed. Haughtily snd empathically he declared it Impossible for eueh a request, even to be considered. And when the Greek pressed his suit, Prince Brancovan, usually so calm, grew angry, and summarily dismissed his visitor. That was the end of the Greek's hopes, but not of his designs. He had in his selfish despairs, pretended to be what he was not, and he was no sooner out of Prince Branoovan's presence than he began to think of revenge. He at once removed to Constantinople and sought all means of ingratiating himself with the Snltan. He was so servial and flattering that he soon became a prime favorite, and then, with eubtle cunning, he commenced a systematic persecution of Brancovao. He represented himself to the Snltan as a friend of Turkey and anxious that the province over which flhe possessed suzerainty should bo under more effeotive controle thanat present. He proceeded to relate that he bad visited Wallaohla in order to ascertain the opinions of the people and their ruler with regard to Turkey ; and then repeated parts of conversation he had with Prinoe Brancovan, taking care to magnify the Prince's patriotic expressions Into threats against his suzerain. He also told the Sultan that vast stores of gold had been accumulated by the Prince, and that there was little doubt bnt that this waa to be devoted to tha raising of an army when the time should be ripe for the Wallachians to rebel ; also that the P/inee was conducting regular and secret corrosDondeace with some of tha neighboring States. So It was that it came to pass one morning, when the Prinoe was combing his snow-white beard, and still held the ivory comb in his hand, that he perceived that his palace was surrounded by Turkish soldiers, and that either tho guard hnd been disarmed or polgnardefl. Ha called aloud to hia aons : ' Awake ! awak ! for those who compass my death are upon us.' The unfortunate Prince was speedily taken prisoner, as well as hia wife, their beautiful daughter, his four sons, and his nephew and Prime Minister, Vacaresou. It was just before Eastertide that the Prisoners were forcibly dragged to Constantinople, and cust into the prison of of tho Seven Towers. This famous prison is situated at the end of the land wall cf Constantinople where it meets the sea of Marmora. Many and borrowing are the tales of mystery and bloodshed associated with iU anoient walls. Wanton sacrifico of life is testified to by the existence within the fortress of the ' welL of blood'; then there are tho low arches of curious design into which viotiui3 of Turkish tyranny were compelled to force them* selves, only to be caught as In a trap — for they could neither retreat cr go forward — nnd loft to die. Tbe skulls of the prisoners done to death in the for. tress made so high a pile thct it could be scon abovs tbe surrounding walls. Thia was tbe place to which. Brancovan, bis sons and nephew, were conducted, and in which place they were immured until tho following Augu9t. Branoovan and Vaoareseu were put in the moat excruciating torture in order to compel them to eoafees whore they had concealed their accumulated riches, for tho Turku had not found as muck gold as they expected, although they searched for and destroyed everything wherein they thought it might have been hidden. Brancovaa had aeut part of his large fortune to Venice, but he would not reveal the fact, in spite of all the terrible tortures to which he was subjeoted, and which are doßcribed by one of his secretaries as being so atrrcioas as to make one's hair atand on end simply to read tho account. At loogth tho '.Parka understood that t!ioy had nothing more to kuih from the l'riuco, aud bado him rroparo for inunodiato dcntb. On hearing thia, Brancovun summoned his sons to bis presence, and amd to them : ' My ohildron, our fortunes are lost, our lives are about to bo sacrificed, but Iwe must not lose our precious souls ! be brave my beloved ones, fear not death ; you know that Christ suffered for our sake, and what a omel death ho endnred! I pray you remain steadfast in your faith, flinch not at all in the faoe of the world.' The four handsome sona stood respectfully before their fathor bareheaded, and listened to hio words. Kach in turn kipsod his hand, and ho looked with dunned oylss upon Ins sons who ; wero the prido of Mb life, tho hnpo of | his house, and wiiom li» was now i exhorting to die as Chrintlane .should. I W lion ho ciimo to hia youngest born, i i who wbb still n child, his eyes overII nved with tears. Soon, footsteps ' wero heard in tho udjoming room ; n ! Pmiha entered, on<l barluthniu all nccoinj pally him to tliu prcaenuo of tho Stiltun. j Tiio I'iilbco at Ktatnboul, on tho banks t <;{ tlio MosjjlKirous, ia a. luurvolluua < ciliiiuc. It cnv.ji.j mi immonmj 'irea, contJiim ho uidiiy builtilugd that it is indeed n palace city, mid is inhubiteil

by a multitude of the Sultan's relations, officers, and dependents. It oontaim ffltWh td esdte the envy lof all— beanti ttt\ gardens, gil<J<Kl ( Moiquef, marvel' lorisly carved fountains, iioHa imagery — • but much also to induce drea<f, In o'no of fM entrances the heads of the delinquents are expJi'S^j i»*rf pyramids of skulls testify to the cruelty eiercised by the owner of the Palace. But the eye has nfif aoouer lifted itself in terror fpom this gruesorrte flight, than it encounters the most luxuriant of gold decorations, priceless tapestries, and pren'.ous stones, . the aged .Prince stood before his Suzerain. ' Brancovan,' snid the latter, 'ia this true which I hear of thee, that thoti wonld'st throw off thy allegiance and I declare the independence of thy Principality ? Say, is it true that thou hast even dared' to eblri Efi'oney from thy own gold ? Thou aTt fearless as It tboa wert thy own master ! What hast fhoa to plead in justification P ' 1 Whether I have governed well or ill, God nbovo is the best judge ; but if I were once a power on the oartb, see now tn what ignominy I am redn"wd 1 ' replied the captive Prince with dignity. 'Branoovan, ffloasure thy words ; thou and thice are condemned to death ; not one of thy rebellious tribe shall escape his doom ! ' 'As God wills it; our lives are in your hands.' The populace crowded to witness the execution. Brancotan looked calmly dd&ti da the multitude ; amongst them he recognised the Princess, his wife, and their daughter Bostandra, whom the Ttfrkfl in their refinement of savage crueitf iiad compelled to witness the the terrible spetftadle. The Prince's face darkened as the Muezln — or Turkish Priest— adva&ced and after niakiDK the liedst tfi'feo Balaams, thns addressed ™My Master, GS Safe 1 an anofent custom here, to the e&eot tKaj a condamned prisoner may be pardoflefl if he be willing to change his religion, sn2 embraa'S onfholx Mahomedau faith. Then the Sffltesn Galled itt » loud voice : „ •B'raneovan, renounc's thy aog-hse Christian belief/ thou and 1 thy sons, embrace that of our own, and then shall ye all go free V ' Better that my race shoald perish, than that we should deny our sasred religion,' was the undaunted reply. ' Then must ye afl prepare for death, 1 said the Sultan, frowning and gave orders that Vaoaresou should be the' first on whom the soldiers should lay their hands. ' Become one of our followers, forsake thy master, lire, be rich and happy,' said tbe Muezia to him. ' A Vaoarescu doea not betray |hjs Prince or his Oburoh ! ' said the exMinister, proudly, and, bowing his head, he was instantly decapitated. The officers then seiaad on the third son of the prince, a haughty youth, with eyes full of fire and hair .black as the raven's wing. •Deny thy faith, and I will spare thee.' said the Sultan. ' t>3 not Insult me by speaking thus, said the boy, aud kneeling down, hts head was severed from his body, and rolled to his father's feet. The old man sighed heavily, and his long beard trembled, as he said, ' Lard, Thy will be done ! ' The Sultan then pointed to the seocmd son, who fell imploring at his father's feet. I'he Prinoe jjrew pale with fear, unless this son might fail him, but the latter, blushing, raised his penetrating eyes to those of his father and said ' 'I, alone, of all thy children, hove caused theo trouble aud vexation, through my wayward heart and quick blood. I cannot go to sleep, the sleep of Btornity, without kissing thy hand, Bud craving thy pardon ! ' The old man's faoe again grew plaoid, aud fervently blessing his kneeling son, he said : 'At this vary hour every fault is expiated ! thod art going to God.' The young man barol his neok before the yataghan of the executioner, while the eldest son, whose manly face was set off by a heavy board, looked at his brother's oorpse, and burst into violent tears. On perceiving this, the Sultan oried : • Forsake thy religion ! I see that life is sweet to thee, embrace cur Faith, be free, be hapriy ! ' The young Branoovan did not seam to hear these words, but took from his vest, an looana — a sacred image which he wore next to his heart and holding it out Baid : 'If any among ye here have pity upon me, let him send this holy looana to my dear young wife; it will be a consolation to her till the hour of her death." Not a hand was raised to take the holy jewel, and casting it on the ground, and crushing it with his foot, he exclaimed, 'So sanctified a relic shall not be defiled by your Pagan touch ! ' Kneeling down haklasad the remnants of the broken Icoana, and signed to the exeoutioner to do his work. Prinoe Brancovan sighed once more deeply, but said again, 'Good Lord, Thy will be done ! ' Then the Sultan called : • BranoovaD, a single child now only remains to thee! Eefbot before thou sacrifieest him also 1 ' The Prince lookod on the form oE his delicate boy, on his wife below, who had fainted and was happily still iusenslble, on his beautiful daughter who was choking with convulsive sobs, and after making the sign of the Cross, again said : ' The Lord's will be done ! ' 'Child,' cried the Sultan, 'If thou wilt embrace our Faith, thou aholt live and be happy.' The boy's soft eyes sought those of his father, as if to gain strength and courage. ' I die willingly, my father,' he said in a firm tone. 'It is true that I am young, but I am of thy race ! ' Aud shortly his youthful head, crowned with rich dark curls, was severed from his body. Then, and then only, did the old man's strength fail him, as he fell on his knees and kissed the headless corpse. At length he arose in greet fury and cursed his enemies, crying out, 'Pagans ! you have slaio my four sons! May God destroy you and yours, may he wipe you all from the face of the earth ! May you have no ground in which to be burried, and may your souls never 1 know peace or rest ! ' The Sultan and his servants were so highly incensed at thiß anathema, that they tore off: his vestments in shreds — it is even said that they tore the skin from his fiasfa, the while calling him, ' G-hionr ! Do;,' of a Christian ! ' Brancovan raised his voice for the last time: 'You can cut my flesh into moraela, nevertheless Constance Brancovan dies a faithful Christian. Though forsaken, and abandoned by all, he will rest in Christ Jesus ! The yataghan of the executioner closed his earthly career. Then the grand child of the old Prince — who had hidden himHolf In a woman's skirts — was perc-ived by tha executioner who caught him, and holding him up by his hair, cried : ' la this one to remain alive, or shall he follow his elders P' At this moment a woman be^t her way through the crowd, and holding up a child high in her arms, said, ' Stay your hand, that is my child, this one is Branoovan' a grand son ! ' It was the nurse who heroically gave her own offspring, to save the last reprincley heir ! Bbc witnessed unflinchJ ingly the sacrifice of her child, elapsed the othor one to her breast, and vowing a holy vow, sho Had with him. Aftur somo time had elapsed, the widows of thuso unfortunate I'rincus wore tet at liberty, aud withdraw to Venice. They did not return to their own oountry for many years. One of Brancovan'd daughters, Djmnitzi Balanha, was so deeply Impressed by her misfortunes, that she retired to a monastery, and would receive no p»rt of her share of the vast inheritance which had produced much dlro misfortuuo to hor family. She caused the fino Branoovnu Hospital at Bucharest to be orectcd, aud an a'ms-houso for docayod gentlewomen, i»9 well as a vory bountiful church, which to tliis dny buiirutho name of Domini! z« liiiUisha.