On April 9, 2024, 370 years have passed since the death of the ruler to whom most of the founders of the Romanian nation are attributed. The Voivode ruled Wallachia, not Moldova.
Commemoration of the death of ruler Matei Basarab at the Arnota Monastery in Vâlcea Photo Florin Epure
We are talking about Matei Basarab (1588 – 1654), the one with whom history and historians have been quite different in appreciation. However, the historian Alexandru Odobescu said about the voivode, in whose family tree we find Neagoe Basarab and Constantin Brâncoveanu, that he was “the greatest ruler” of Wallachia.
Few people know that the voivode sleeps his eternal sleep at the Arnota Monastery, in Oltenia de sub Munte. The place, on the massif with the same name, is in the smallest national park in our country, Buila – Vânturarița.
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Matei Basarab the votive painting from the Arnota Monastery in Vâlcea Florin Epure Source for the Truth
“Great protector of culture and arts, defender of the country and the Orthodox tradition”
“Today marks the 370th anniversary of the death of the most capable, wise and Orthodox voivode who was on the throne of Wallachia (April 9, 1654). During the 22 years of his reign, it was shown that great protector of culture and the artsdefender of the country and the Orthodox tradition and as the great builder of holy places”recalled Prof. Dr. Florin Epure, director of the Vâlcea Culture Directorate, who studied in depth the history written and left by Matei Basarab.
In fact, a decade ago, to commemorate the 360th anniversary of the death of the ruler, the historian published his doctoral thesis in the form of the volume “The buildings of Matei Basarab from Oltenia”launched during the Bookfest International Book Fair, which was considered by specialists as the best scientific work on this topic so far.
“The Syrian traveler Paul of Aleppo said that 150 churches are attributed to him”
Regarding the foundations of Matei Basarab, the Syrian traveler Paul of Aleppo said that 150 churches are attributed to him “taking into account, of course, the other founders raised during that period of clergy or nobility”.
The Vâlcean historian also stated that in reality the ruler “he raised, from the ground up, more than 40 churches to which is added the restoration of many others, both in Wallachia and in Transylvania, Moldova, Bulgaria and the Holy Mountain (Greece)”thus certifying the fact that he surpassed Stephen the Great as founder.
The builders in the Romanian Countries, but also in Bulgaria and at Mount Athos
Among these, we would mention the fortified complex of the Arnota Monastery, from Costești Vâlcea, which became a family necropolis, being one of “the first and most representative founders”but also about the monasteries: Căldărușani, Sadova, Măxineni, Plătărești, Strehaia, Plumbuita, Brâncoveni, Cornățel, Negoești, Brebu, as well as countless hermitages and myrrh churches in Bucharest, Dolj, Dâmbovița, Prahova, Argeș, Olt, Teleorman, in Moldavia (Soveja or “Dobromira”=”good peace”), Transylvania – at Turnu Roșu in Sibiu, in Bulgaria, at Svistov and Vidin, or on Mount Athos.
“The chronicles summarize the reign of Matei Vodă in the following words: “The country loved the lord, and the lord loved the country”. The great scholar Nicolae Iorga saw Matei Basarab as a “true shepherd and fatherly gentleman”, and the historian Alexandru Odobescu praised him as follows: “Matei Basarab, if you were not the only hero of the Wallachia, you were undoubtedly the greatest ruler hers, the one who knew how to combine the power of defensive weapons with progress and order within. Your glorious name should instill a religious reverence in our people, for whom you sacrificed yourself»,“ the historian Florin Epure also mentioned.
The monastic ensembles, impregnable by the masked transfer of military force
It's just that today when you say about a ruler that he preferred peace to wars, or that he didn't have a reign marked by many wars, it doesn't seem like he accomplished much, but at the time to achieve this seemed rather extraordinary and at the same time impossible.
And even though much of his reign was characterized by peace, Matei Basarab strengthened and reformed the army. Thus appeared the dorobants and the pedestrian units, equipped with firearms, as well as the body of seimeni which was the most representative. Moreover, he even maskedly transferred the military function to the monastic ensembles, which became impregnable during his time, a measure imposed by the Ottomans' ban on building fortresses, in order not to repeat the episodes of rebellion during the time of Michael the Brave.
Bribing the Gate, for the peace of the people
The historian Florin Epure also mentioned the policy of balance with the High Gate that Matei Basarab carried out during his reign, characterized by “buying Ottoman governors with large sums of money”, to avoid problems with other pretenders to the throne in this way. And in order not to have problems with the neighbors, in addition to recognizing their suzerainty, he concluded periodic treaties of friendship.
In addition, the ruler also paid special attention to the economic life, not just the cultural one. In Târgoviște, for example, where he moved his fortress from Bucharest, a fair was organized where merchants from all over Europe came.
The praiseworthy deeds for which he should be “placed in the orthodox synaxar”
During his time, the iron mining mines of Baia de Aramă and Baia de Fier were put back into operation, he supported the paper mill in Râmnic (in Vâlcea) and the glass factory in Târgoviște, as well as the introduction of printing. “Giving the thaler”, tax reform adopted by Matei Basarab, led to the tightening of taxation.
He is also responsible for the reintroduction of the Romanian language in worship, a process later finalized by his great-grandson, Constantin Brâncoveanu. The governor established at the Govora Monastery in Vâlcea the second printing house in Wallachia (1637), after the one in Câmpulung, and later founded the first school of culture here. This is why, during his reign, “Pravila de la Govora” (1640), the first book of laws translated into Romanian, from Slavonic, was printed.
“For his life, lived in great holiness and with much love for God, for the multitude of church foundations and for the defense of the faith and values of this nation, Matei Basarab deserves to be placed in the Orthodox synaxar, next to his great-grandfather, Saint Neagoe Basarab and his great-grandson his, the Holy Martyr Constantin Brâncoveanu”is the opinion of Prof. Dr. Florin Epure about how a moral and historical reparation could be made to the great ruler.
On Tuesday, April 9, the historian was with other prominent Valcenians at the Arnota Monastery, to light a candle in memory of Matei Basarab. On this occasion, he spoke for the first time about the hitherto unknown facts related to the ruler's death and more, details that will appear in a future edition of “Weekend Truth”.
