Cotroceni Palace – history and heraldry

There passed more than three centuries until Cotroceni Palace got its current appearance… There were three hundred years of tormented history in which time rulers of Wallachia, the prince of the United Principalities, princes and kings of Romania lived among its walls.

The history of the place begins in 1679, when the Wallachian ruler, Serban Cantacuzino, started to built on Cotroceni estate a monastic complex and princely houses with sixteen rooms.

In 1780, the ruler Alexandru Ipsilanti also built a 20 meters high pavilion, and in 1852, the ruler Barbu Dimitrie Stirbei decided the rehabilitation of the princely houses.

After the Union of the Romanian Principalities, Alexandru Ioan Cuza ordered that a new appearance would be given to the entire complex built to be used as a princely palace.

This would be the summer residence of Carol I for more than two decades, and afterwards it would be the permanent residence of the inheriting Princes Ferdinand and Marie.

After 1900, the Palace would be modified and redecorated according to princess’s taste, the future Queen Marie, a lover of Art Nouveau, a style that she would ask Karel Lieman to apply, and the new traditions of her new country. Brancoveanu style would enrich the decorative heritage of the palace due to the architect Grigore Cerchez.

Since 1949 Cotroceni Palace would be the Pioneers’ Palace until 1976.

After the 1977 earthquake, the palace would undergo vast restoration works for ten years, the works being coordinated by the architect Niculae Vladescu. Once with these works, they also started the building of the new wing of Cotroceni Palace.

Since 1989, Cotroceni Palace has been hosting the Romanian Presidential Administration.

Since 1991, the old wing of the Palace has been hosting Cotroceni National Museum, a museum which in 1994 was awarded with the prize the European Museum of the Year Award - Special Commendation.

Continuing its intention to promote cultural and art institutions and values of the national heritage, Romfilatelia introduces into circulation the postage stamps issue entitled “Cotroceni Palace, history and heraldry”.

The six postage stamps of the issue represent stained glass windows from the Union Hall of Cotroceni Palace.

On the stamps with the face value of 50 bani, 80 bani and 2.40 lei are illustrated the coats of arms of Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania.

On the stamp with the face value of 60 bani is illustrated the founder of Wallachia, Basarab I, who ruled between 1310 and 1352.

On the stamp with the face value of 1.00 lei is illustrated the founder of Moldavia, Bogdan I, who ruled between 1359 and 1365.

On the stamp with the face value of 3.10 lei is illustrated Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazul), the Romanian ruler who achieved the first Union of the Romanian Principalities in 1600.

On the postage stamp of the souvenir sheet is illustrated an overall image of Cotroceni Palace.

Philatelic document – created into a limited edition of 250 copies, equipped with the postage stamps of the issue, numbered and cancelled with the “first day” postmark.