Monumental Boyar Heraldry

The coat of arms of General Alexandru Budișteanu (*1836 †1919), adorned with a noble coronet and accompanied by the motto ‘PLURIMUS’, was likely adopted by him around 1870. It was thus placed above the entrance to the family manor in the village of Budeasa, Argeș County.

The coat of arms of the Budișteanu family on their manor in Budeasa, photo by Silviu Miloiu

The coat of arms of the Budișteanu family on their manor in Budeasa, photo by the author

The coat of arms, likely devised by the general himself, is flanked by two crowned monograms of the Mare Armaș Șerban Budișteanu, accompanied by the year 1762. The monograms are made in stucco, presumably also around 1870. Further insights into the various stages of the edifice can be found in Paul Cernovodeanu and Paula Popescu, Monumentele istorice din comuna Budeasa, in “Monumente și Muzee”, I, 1958, pp. 149-151.

The symbolism of the heraldic charges remains unknown. It can be assumed that the sword symbolizes the general's officer status, while the eagle may be associated with that found in the coat of arms of Argeș County. Regarding the tower, it may illustrate the fortified nature of the boyar residence in Budeasa, as the building is also referred to as a culă, from Turkish kula meaning tower.

For comparison, the color rendition of the arms is reproduced in Emanuel Hagi-Mosco, Steme boerești din România, 1918, table II, fig. 8.

The coat of arms of the Budișteanu family in Hagi-Mosco’s armorial