The Sultan offered them their lives and the return of their wealth on one condition: . Brâncoveanu refused, urging his children to stay strong: "My sons, be courageous... let us save our souls and wash our sins with our blood" . The Ultimate Sacrifice
: Finally, Constantin Brâncoveanu himself was beheaded.
: 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.
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.
Their bodies were thrown into the Bosporus, but were later recovered by Christian fishermen and secretly brought back to Bucharest, where they now rest at the Church of Saint George the New . The Ballad and its Meaning
