Today, we will journey back to the 17th century in the old Bucharest, exploring a city that looks entirely different and is much smaller than what we know today. Picture us strolling along the wooden bridge that connects the old court to the palace located outside the city at Mogoșoaia. This bridge, though simple, serves as a vital thoroughfare designed to keep the nobility clean and unsoiled as they pass.

We will visit the court of Constantin Brâncoveanu, the ruler of the Romanian Country, and come face to face with his astute steward, Constantin Cantacuzino. Whispers around town tell of Cantacuzino’s enigmatic “Black Chancellery,” a clandestine operation where a diverse group of multilingual men assist him, including a network of spies bringing news from distant lands. Rumors suggest that this chancellery intercepts correspondence intended for foreign rulers, prying open letters to extract valuable information—then sends them on, as if nothing had happened, if the details favor their interests.

In a time when Romania is under the “protection” of the Ottoman Empire and influenced by Habsburg interests, such espionage is crucial. Various nations envy Romania’s landscape, and many seek a piece of its future. Under cover of night, spies dressed as merchants scurry to deliver tidings—both favorable and ominous— to the chancellery.

As we immerse ourselves in this historical setting, we will meet figures like Giovanni Candido Romano and Anton Maria Del Chiaro, both secretaries fluent in Italian. Over there, in the shadows, is Doctor Bartholomeo Ferratai, the German language secretary. Nearby sits Nicolae Folos de Wolf, a Latin translator skilled in his craft, complemented by several others proficient in Russian, Greek, Hungarian, and Polish. And let’s not overlook the Italian Niccolo de Porta, who serves as Constantin Cantacuzino’s librarian and is adept at breaking and resealing correspondence without a trace.

As evening falls, we shall witness a sumptuous dinner where both Constantin Brâncoveanu and Constantin Cantacuzino are present. Watch as they skillfully coax their guests into divulging secrets they wish to keep hidden. Their ability to make others feel at ease often leads to unguarded conversations—a critical skill in such treacherous times.

While official diplomats meet at the palace outside Bucharest, spies are often received away from the court to avoid arousing Ottoman suspicion. Disguised as merchants, these informants are the eyes and ears of the empire. Among the guests, we might encounter at the Court peoplle like  Francis Rákóczi, whose messages from Transylvania are already common knowledge among Brâncoveanu’s spies, and Michel, the French embassy secretary, who provides assistance to Rákóczi’s rebellion against the Habsburgs. Rebellion that the Ottoman agree with.

Throughout our stay, we’ll observe numerous spies masquerading as ordinary folk like priests or merchants, all the while knowing that Constantin Brâncoveanu and Constantin Cantacuzino have mastered cryptography—an invaluable skill in a world filled with peril, where sensitive information can easily be seized.

I hope you found this captivating journey enjoyable as we unveiled the secrets of the past and immersed ourselves in the complex realms of politics, espionage, and the influential figures who have shaped our history.

Today, we shall go back in time in the XVII century, in the old Bucharest. To visit the old city. The city looks so diffrent and is way smaller than what we know. We will take a walk on the woden bridge that bind the old court with the palace that is outside th City at Mogosoaia. The bridge is actually just a woden road that is made so people and mostly the nobles wont get dirty.

We will go to the court of Constantin Bracoveanu, who is the ruller of Romanian Country, we will meet also his steward Constantin Cantacuzino, they both are clever men. The rumor says that Constantin Cantacuzino is keeping a black chancelary where he has all kind of men that know several languages helping him and a bunch of spies that are always coming with news from all over the countries. Some rullers say that his Black chancelary is intercepting the corespondence that is destinated to other contries rullers. The story goes that they open, get the information and then send it to who is supposed to be send, that if the information is good for them. I suppose that every country has such a chancelary or should have, even more in the this case as The Romanian Country is under Otoman Empire ” protection” and also has some hasburgic influence at the time, plus the other countries that are big enough wish a little piece of the rest of the countries, that later will be part of Romania that we know today. So at the protection of night many spies are coming from all places to bring good or bad news to the Chancelary. As we travel in time we will see those that are working for the chancelary. See there is Giovanni Candido Romano and Anton Maria Del Chiaro, they both are secretary for italian language. There in that corner is doctor Bartholomeo Ferratai, he is the secretary for German language, in the other room is Nicolae Folos de Wolf whi is a latin translator,plus a few other guys that are good in russian, greek , hungarian,polish. we shall see the Itlian Niccolo de Porta, who is the librarian of Constantin Cantacuzino and specialist in breaking the corespondency seal and than closing it like nothing has happen.

We shall assist at dinner where both Constantin Brancoveanu and Constantin Cantacuzino will be present, they will drink their guest and make them talk about things they should be quiet about. both Constantin are well skilled in making people feel good and speak more than they should. This is a required skill when you live in such times.

The spies were always received far from the court so they would bring to Otoman empire suspicions. The spies usually were dressed like merchants. The emissaries from foreign countries were received in the palace that was outside Bucharest at Mogosoaia.

The court do have at times guests but that place is just for those that the Otoman Emire people know about, like Francisc Rákócz who was bringing news that they already knew from their spies from Transilvania. Same situation with Michele the the french ambassy secretary who was bringing help to the rebel Francisc Rákócz who rebelled against Hasburgic Empire. The content of these to meeting was told to the Otoman Empire as they knew that the Otoman Emire was agreeing with that .

We shall see while we stay and see their meetings that many spies will come to meet them even if they will look like simple people, like priest , merchants. Constantin Brancoveanu and Constantin Contacuzino they both know criptograpy, something that is usefull when the roads are full of danger and easily other people can stole the papers.