Contextul finalului domniei lui Şerban Cantacuzino şi situaţia averii sale
The last Years of Şerban Cantacuzino’s Reign and the Fate of his Fortune

Summary/Abstract: 1688 was an extremely difficult year for ŞerbanCantacuzino, the ruling lord of Wallachia, and for his family. First of all, the Habsburgs’ victories against the Ottomans forced him to hasten a political alliance. The arrival of the Austrian armies at the Wallachian frontiers gave no room for further negotiations. When general Veterani’s troops crossed the border into Wallachia, Şerban Cantacuzino had no choice left. He sent an embassy to Vienna and his representatives, the most important Wallachian nobles, who were also his relatives, signed a treaty. 1688 was a bad year not only for politics, but also for his health. Facing an uncertain future for his family, Şerban Cantacuzino placed some of his fortune in safe places. Thus, he sent money, silver, jewellery and robes to four monasteries: Cotroceni, founded by him, RaduVodă, Câmpulung and Tismana. Şerban Cantacuzino died on the 29th of October 1688 and his wife, Mary, entrusted more of the family goods to close relatives. Nonetheless, soon afterwards, Mary Cantacuzino was forced by the new Wallachian lord, Constantin Brâncoveanu, to give up part of her family fortune. Brâncoveanu, who was actually Şerban Cantacuzino’s nephew, claimed that the former lord failed to pay what he owed to the Ottomans. In order to avoid being sent to Constantinople, together with all her kids, Mary Cantacuzino left the country and took refuge in Transylvania. Much later, she was able to recover some of the family goods that had been confiscated by Brâncoveanu.

• Details
• Contents