Interesting observations about the Brancovan feasts have been put down by Antonio Maria del Chiaro, voivode’s Italian secretary, who described one of the New Year’s banquets he had participated in. Let’s ponder over their opulence through his words: “The courses followed one another in perfect merriment, enhanced ever and ever by an abundance of best wines. The dishes, copious and well cooked, were prepared after the German, French and Italian fashion. Following a very old custom, at solemn Court banquets or boyar’s wedding parties, the plates were not taken out when the next dishes were brought in, but piled up along the table; the edifice of plates was so tall, that the guests, even standing up [during toasts], could not see each other across the table.”
Similar impressions are found in Edmund Chishull’s account of the reception Constantin Brancoveanu offered, on April 25, 1702, in honour of William Paget, the English ambassador: “This morning, at 9 o’clock, His Excellency paid back prince’s visit, who welcomed him at the stair head, talked to him for about an hour and a half and then accompanied His Excellency into the dining hall. They sat down for dinner at a long and sumptuous table, His Excellency at prince’s right. [...] The dinner lasted more than seven hours, while a lot of exquisite courses, consisting of dainty and rich dishes, matched plenty wonderful wines. [...] We witnessed some uncommon proofs of courtesy, hospitality and kindness from Romanian boyars and particularly from the prince, who drank to each foreign guest’s health and good luck. [...] Voivode’s palace, together with its apartments and gardens, is really lofty and magnificent, and though it cannot be compared with other Christian princes’ residences, it is by far beyond those the unenlightened Turks indulge in giving themselves airs and graces.” Unfortunately, this pompous way of life was brutally cut off on April 4, 1714, when, in Bucharest, the voivode was deposed and taken to Constantinople together with his whole family. On August 15, 1714, Constantin Brancoveanu and his four sons were beheaded. The last halt at Mogosoaia had taken place in March 1714, when, on his way back from Targoviste to Bucharest, the prince had spent a couple of hours in his favourite residence. He had no idea it was for the last time in his life he could still admire from the loggia, undisturbed, the palace reflection in the clear water of the lake.
