Poema et Stemma Principis Ioannis Mattei Bassarabæ: A Possible Source of Romanian Heraldic Terminology?

Abstract

The first poem dedicated to the coat of arms of the country was written by Udriște Năsturel (a Romanian scholar and prince Matei Basarab’s brother-in-law). The poem is part of the Slavonic Euchologion of 1635, which was issued on the printing press brought by Matei Basarab from the Ukrainian area and set up in Câmpulung-Muscel. Udriște Năsturel composed the versified emblazonment based on a coat of arms identical to the armorial bearing found in The Nomocanon from Govora (1640) and in the Gospel with Teachings (1644). The author used personification to describe the coat of arms in verses. For the first time in the history of Romanian heraldry and old Romanian literature, he used a series of terms that one could name “heraldic”. Whilst Udriște Năsturel’s work demanded the mundane attention of his readers, as Dan Cernovodeanu considered, it also set a precedent. Thus, many chroniclers and writers from Wallachia and Moldavia of the 17th - 19th centuries would follow his pattern and would compose their own poetry dedicated to coats of arms.