Târgoviște Princely Court () represents a complex of

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

buildings and fortifications that served as the residence of various rulers of

Wallachia Wallachia or Walachia (; ; : , : ) is a historical and geographical region of modern-day Romania. It is situated north of the Lower Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians. Wallachia was traditionally divided into two sections, Munteni ...

and, at the same time, played a relatively important role in the country's defensive system.

History

Before XVII

In 1427,

crusader Crusader or Crusaders may refer to: Military * Crusader, a participant in one of the Crusades * Convair NB-36H Crusader, an experimental nuclear-powered bomber * Crusader tank, a British cruiser tank of World War II * Crusaders (guerrilla), a C ...

Johann Schiltberger Johann (Hans) Schiltberger (1380) was a German traveller and writer. He was born of a noble family, probably at Hollern near Lohhof halfway between Munich and Freising. Travels Schiltberger joined the suite of Lienhart Richartinger in 1394, ...

mentioned

Târgoviște Târgoviște (, alternatively spelled ''Tîrgoviște'') is a Municipiu, city and county seat in Dâmbovița County, Romania. It is situated north-west of Bucharest, on the right bank of the Ialomița (river), Ialomița River. Târgoviște was ...

's capital alongside Argeș. Although his work was edited 31 years later, it suggests the city had fortifications by

1396 Year 1396 ( MCCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. Events January–December * May 19 – Martin I succeeds his brother, John I, as King of Aragon (modern-day northeastern Spain). * July 20 &ndash ...

. Internal records attest to the princely court during

Mircea the Elder Mircea the Elder (, ; 1355 – 31 January 1418) was the Voivode of Wallachia from 1386 until his death in 1418. He was the son of Radu I of Wallachia and brother of Dan I of Wallachia, after whose death he inherited the throne. After the dea ...

's reign in 1417-1418. Archaeological findings support this, dating back to his time. Expansion of fortifications occurred half a century later when

became the sole Wallachian capital ( 1431), possibly during

Vlad Dracul Vlad II (), also known as Vlad Dracul () or Vlad the Dragon (before 1395 – November 1447), was Voivode of Wallachia from 1436 to 1442, and again from 1443 to 1447. He is internationally known as the father of Vlad the Impaler, or Dracula. Bo ...

Vlad the Impaler Vlad III, commonly known as Vlad the Impaler ( ) or Vlad Dracula (; ; 1428/31 – 1476/77), was Voivode of Wallachia three times between 1448 and his death in 1476/77. He is often considered one of the most important rulers in Wallachian hi ...

's reigns. It's confirmed that after mid-15th century, these fortifications were the country's largest.

Matei Basarab Matei Basarab (; 1588, Brâncoveni, Olt – 9 April 1654, Bucharest) was the voivode (prince) of Wallachia from 1632 to 1654. Reign Much of Matei's reign was spent fighting off incursions from Moldavia, which he successfully accomplished in 1 ...

doubled wall thickness, rebuilt the defense ditch, and added 10 bastions. A document from November 17, 1476, mentions the fortress's governor, highlighting its military importance. Towards the late 16th century,

Voivode Voivode ( ), also spelled voivod, voievod or voevod and also known as vaivode ( ), voivoda, vojvoda, vaivada or wojewoda, is a title denoting a military leader or warlord in Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe in use since the Early Mid ...

Petru Cercel Petru II Cercel (''Peter Earring'' or ''Earring Peter''; c. 1545 – March 1590) was a Voivode (Prince) of Wallachia from 1583 to 1585, legitimate son to Pătrașcu cel Bun and alleged half-brother of Mihai Viteazul. A polyglot and a minor figu ...

expanded the citadel's interior area, also improving utilities. However, the pinnacle of development was during

's reign. He nearly doubled wall thickness, rebuilt the defense ditch, and added 10 bastions. Unfortunately, the fortifications were tested during the 1653 revolt of the seimeni, leading to their dismantling under Prince Gheorghe Ghica (1659-1660) following an Ottoman request.

From Constantin Brâncoveanu until now

The impressive development of constructions and architecture during the reign of

Constantin Brâncoveanu Constantin Brâncoveanu (; 1654 – August 15, 1714) was List of Wallachian rulers, Prince of Wallachia between 1688 and 1714. Biography Ascension Constantin Brâncoveanu was the son of Pope Brâncoveanu (Matthew) and his wife, Stanca Can ...

also touched the Târgoviște Princely Court. With Ottoman consent, the great voivode partially rebuilt the fortifications. Most notably, the princely palace was reconstructed in 1695, along with churches in 1699 and utilitarian or decorative buildings (the stone pavilion within the princely gardens). During this period, two dependencies of the palace were constructed outside the walls: the ''Casa iazagiului'' and the ''Casa coconilor'' (1701). Following this period of prosperity and with the canonization of the voivode, along with the permanent relocation of the country's capital to

Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater Buc ...

, the walls began to deteriorate. The

Russo-Turkish War (1735–1739) The Russo-Turkish War of 1735–1739 between Russia and the Ottoman Empire was caused by the Ottoman Empire's war with Persia and the continuing raids by the Crimean Tatars. The war also represented Russia's ongoing struggle for access to the Bl ...

fought on Romanian territory, severely affected the constructions, leading to a fire at the Princely Court. Later, an

earthquake An earthquakealso called a quake, tremor, or tembloris the shaking of the Earth's surface resulting from a sudden release of energy in the lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from those so weak they ...

decisively damaged what remained of the fortified enclosure. Some repairs were carried out by Prince Grigore al II-lea Ghica between 1748 and 1752, but they were of poor quality as the palace's vaults collapsed in

1785 Events January–March * January 1 ** The Burmese Konbaung Dynasty annexes the Mrauk U Kingdom of Arakan. ** The first issue of the '' Daily Universal Register'', later known as ''The Times'', is published in London. * January 7 &nd ...

. A new fire and earthquake in 1802 led to the definitive ruin of the architectural complex. In 1821, during the

Greek War of Independence The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. In 1826, the Greeks were assisted ...

Alexandru Ipsilanti Alexandru is the Romanian form of the name Alexander. Common diminutives are Alecu, Alex, and Sandu. Origin Etymologically, the name is derived from the Greek "Αλέξανδρος" (Aléxandros), meaning "defending men" or "protector of men", ...

, leader of the Eterists, uncovered the defensive ditches and attempted to restore the old fortifications. His attempt to revive the glory days of the medieval citadel ended in embarrassment when news arrived that Ottoman armies were approaching

. These

ditches A ditch is a small to moderate trench created to channel water. A ditch can be used for drainage, to drain water from low-lying areas, alongside roadways or fields, or to channel water from a more distant source for plant irrigation. Ditches a ...

could still be seen until the late 19th century and were studied and described by

Cezar Bolliac Cezar Bolliac or Boliac, Boliak (23 March 1813 – 25 February 1881) was a Wallachian and Romanian radical political figure, amateur archaeologist, journalist and Romantic poet. Life Early life Born in Bucharest as the son of Anton Bogliako ...

. Over time and with urban development, the ditches, as well as the enclosure walls, were filled in, with buildings constructed over these irreplaceable vestiges. The last significant restoration and conservation work was carried out in 1961, when the remnants of the old fortifications were opened to tourists in their current state. Since then, only archaeological surveys and minor conservation and improvement works have taken place.

Buildings in the Curtea Domnească Complex

Princely Palace

The Princely Palace (Palatul Domnesc), constructed during the reign of Constantin Brâncoveanu in 1695, is the centerpiece of the Curtea Domnească complex. It reflects the distinctive

architectural style An architectural style is a classification of buildings (and nonbuilding structures) based on a set of characteristics and features, including overall appearance, arrangement of the components, method of construction, building materials used, for ...

of the period with its beautiful stone carvings, arched doorways, and decorative elements. This palace served as the residence of the voievods and features a series of chambers, each with its unique purpose, including a beautiful

chapel A chapel (from , a diminutive of ''cappa'', meaning "little cape") is a Christianity, Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. First, smaller spaces inside a church that have their o ...

Chindia Tower

The

Chindia Tower The Chindia Tower () is a tower in the Curtea Domnească monuments ensemble in Târgoviște, Romania, built in the 15th century. The tower was begun during the second reign of Prince Vlad III the Impaler over Wallachia and took its final form dur ...

, also known as Turnul Chindiei, is an iconic medieval tower located within the Curtea Domnească complex. Constructed during the reign of

Vlad Țepeș Vlad III, commonly known as Vlad the Impaler ( ) or Vlad Dracula (; ; 1428/31 – 1476/77), was Voivode of Wallachia three times between 1448 and his death in 1476/77. He is often considered one of the most important rulers in Wallachian hi ...

in the 15th century, this tower served both defensive and symbolic purposes.. With its distinctive octagonal shape and strong stone walls, the Chindia Tower is a testament to the military architecture of the era. It played a crucial role in guarding the princely court and the town of

. The tower's name, "Chindia," is believed to be a blend of "Chin" (punishment) and "Din" (from), referring to the punishment chamber located within. Today, the Chindia Tower stands as a significant historical and architectural landmark, offering panoramic views of the surrounding area from its upper levels.

Church of the Saint Great Martyr George

''Biserica Sfântul Mare Mucenic Gheorghe'', Built in 1699, this church is a fine example of the Brâncovenesc style of architecture. It boasts intricate frescoes, a finely decorated interior, and an impressive

iconostasis In Eastern Christianity, an iconostasis () is a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating the nave from the sanctuary in a Church (building), church. ''Iconostasis'' also refers to a portable icon stand that can be placed anywhere withi ...

. The ''Church of Saint Great Martyr George'' has historical and religious significance and has undergone restoration efforts to preserve its original beauty.

Stone Pavilion

Situated within the princely gardens, the Stone Pavilion (Foișorul de Piatră) is a charming structure built in 1701. It was used for various purposes, including relaxation and hosting important guests. The pavilion features elegant stone columns and a serene atmosphere, making it a notable part of the Curtea Domnească complex.

Casa Iazagiului

Constructed in 1701 as part of the complex's expansion, ''Casa Iazagiului'' (The Iazagi House) served as an additional residence within the grounds. It features architectural elements characteristic of the Brâncovenesc style and was likely used for various administrative and residential purposes during its history.

Casa Coconilor

Built alongside Casa Iazagiului (The Coconilor House) in 1701, ''Casa Coconilor'' is another architectural gem within the Curtea Domnească complex. Its design reflects the Brâncovenesc style and may have been used for accommodating officials or guests visiting the court. Like other structures in the complex, it has historical significance.

Other Outbuildings

In addition to the major buildings mentioned above, the Curtea Domnească complex includes several other outbuildings, utility structures, and defensive walls. These components were crucial for the functioning and defense of the princely court. While not as prominently featured, they are integral to the historical and architectural significance of the complex.

External links

Official website
- Complexul Muzeal ”Curtea Domnească”

References

* N. Constantinescu, Cristian Moisescu (1965), ''Curtea domnească din Târgoviște''. File:Curtea-domneasca-Targoviste-window.jpg File:Curtea-domneasca-Targoviste-tower.jpg File:Chindia-tower-wide.jpg File:Basement-curtea-domenasca-tirgoviste.jpg File:Curtea-domneasca-ruins-park.jpg File:Curtea-domneasca-Targoviste-backyard.jpg File:Mural-painings-curtea-domenasca-church.jpg File:Entrance-curtea-domenasca-church.jpg {{coord, 44, 55, 56.77, N, 25, 27, 29.43, E, display=title Buildings and structures in Târgoviște Historic monuments in Dâmbovița County Tourist attractions in Dâmbovița County Museums in Romania Royal residences in Romania Castles in Romania