 Complete the following phrase:  Born in Tecuci, his father Eni Șerban later Șerbănescu was a paharnic cup-bearer and a member of the minor boyar nobility; his mother was named Smaranda, and the couple had eighteen children. Theodor attended primary school in his native town, followed by high school at Academia Mihăileană in the capital Iași and then the military school in the same city. A distinguished student throughout, he entered the army as a second lieutet of the military engineers. Having reached the rank of captain in 1869, he resigned. He re-entered the army in 1877, participating in the 