Analysis of the Heraldic Elements in the Building and the Documents Regarding the Hurezi Monastery, Valcea County, Romania (1691-1714)

Abstract

The study aims to highlight part of the documents issued by Constantin Brâncoveanu, the lord of the Wallachia (1688Wallachia ( -1714, in which he specifies how the Hurezi Monastery was built (the most representative construction in Brancovan style), how it was endowed with the estates, villages, mountains and some customs house duties from Vâlcea, Dolj, Gorj, Mehedinți and Ilfov counties, presenting also the seals that authenticate them, but also different emblems painted on documents and carved in this place of worship located in Vâlcea county, Romania. The church of the monastery also houses the tomb of the ruler, which yet remained un-used, because Constantin Brancoveanu is buried at the church of New Saint George in Bucharest. The monastery was an important cultural center, where the ruler founded the library, which has still remained with the name of "Constantin Brâncoveanu's Library" and which currently holds about 4000 volumes. By the means of sigilography and heraldry, we have described both the seal of the most solemn document given to the monastery and these heraldic compositions, explaining also the significance of the component elements. While designing and documenting the study, I took into account the interest that can raise the seals that validate some documents, but also the emblems painted or sculpted in this monastery, upon specialists, historians and the general public. These heraldic and sigilographic sources can serve to better understand historical phenomena, as well as to identify the figure around which this religious establishment is built and dedicated to. Also, through this study we intend that the heraldry and sigilography should be restored to the important place that is appropriate to them among all the auxiliary disciplines of history.