Monuments, whether they are in Bucharest or in other parts of the country or even the world, carry with them unique stories, emotions that are hard to bear and symbols that should not be neglected. One such monument, unfortunately too little known by the people of Bucharest, is the Lahovary Fountain, located today in front of the Gioconda tower block, facing United Nations Square.

Lahovary Fountain - History and significance of the monument

The Lahovary Fountain, also known as the George Em. Lahovary, is an emblematic monument in Bucharest, erected in 1903 by Princess Zoe Suțu in memory of her husband, George Emanuel Lahovari. 

George Em. Lahovari, a renowned journalist and politician, brother of the famous politician Alexandru N. Lahovary, died in a duel with Nicolae Filipescu in 1897. The clash was triggered by Lahovary's journalistic attacks on Filipescu's politics.

Offended by the allegations of his party colleague, who did not cease with his accusations, Nicolae Filipescu, who was a fencing enthusiast, challenged Lahovary to a duel.

Party colleagues and friends considered that there were no grounds for such a quarrel, and Lahovary saw fit to apologize to the character he had slandered, in an attempt to avoid confrontation. It was all in vain, however, as Filipescu stood firm and insisted on repairing his honor, a fashionable solution at the time.

Lahovary had no choice but to participate in the duel. The two protagonists chose the sword as the weapon of the duel, especially as both were good swordsmen, and the confrontation took place in the shooting range that Filipescu used for training.

Therefore, it can be said that the latter was familiar with the location, which had one problem: it did not respect several rules of the Duelists' Code. In other words, it was half as long as the rules.

The duel lasted only two innings and ended with Lahovary's fatal blow.  Witnesses who witnessed the fight said it was a blow delivered in anger, that the tip of the sword bent into Lahovary's body. Thus the experts concluded that it was in fact an assassination and not a duel.

At the trial that followed half a year later, the attorney general said the dueling witnesses were equally guilty. They should not have authorized the duel.  Following the trial, Nicolae Filipescu was sentenced to six months in prison, but was pardoned earlier by King Carol I, after which he remained active in politics.

Lahovary Fountain - Location

Designed by the sculptor Carol Storck, the fountain was originally located in front of the Shooting and Gymnastics Hall, the tragic site of the duel in which Lahovary lost his life. After the demolition of the Regina Maria Theater in 1986, the statue was moved and stored, to be temporarily placed in different locations. Today, the monument is located in front of the Gioconda Block, facing the United Nations Square, due to urban changes in the original area.

Lahovary Fountain - Message and symbolism

The Lahovary Fountain is not only a monument dedicated to a politician, but also a symbol of eternal love and devotion, a tribute by Zoe Suțu to her husband. 

The Lahovari Fountain remains a historical and cultural landmark in Bucharest, commemorating not only the life of George Em. Lahovary's life, but also a dramatic episode in the history of dueling and Romanian politics.