: Finally, Constantin Brâncoveanu himself was beheaded.
The story behind the ballad performed by Archdeacon Mihail Bucă and the TRoNoS psaltic group is one of the most tragic and revered chapters in Romanian history. It follows the martyrdom of , the "Prince of Gold," who ruled Wallachia for 26 years . The Fall of the Prince : Finally, Constantin Brâncoveanu himself was beheaded
: One by one, the four sons were beheaded before their father's eyes so he would witness their deaths. The Fall of the Prince : One by
: Historical legends tell of the youngest, Matei (only 12), momentarily faltering in fear. His father steadied him, saying it was better to die a thousand times than to leave the ancient faith. Matei then bowed his head to the executioner. Matei then bowed his head to the executioner
They were taken to the infamous Yedikule (Seven Towers) fortress in Istanbul, where they endured months of interrogation and torture. On the prince's 60th birthday and the Feast of the Dormition—they were brought before the Sultan and European ambassadors.
The ballad captures the heartbreaking climax of their trial: