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King of Romania

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King of the Romanians
Royal Coat of arms
Michael I
Details
StyleHis Majesty
First monarchCarol I
Last monarchMichael I
Formation15 March 1881
Abolition30 December 1947
ResidenceRoyal Palace
AppointerHereditary
Pretender(s)Margareta

The King of the Romanians (Romanian: Regele Românilor)[1] was the sovereign ruler of the Kingdom of Romania from 1881 until 1947, when Romania was proclaimed a People's Republic following Michael I's forced abdication.

History

See also: History of Romania

The state had been internationally recognized as a Principality since 1862, after the creation of the United Principalities, a personal union between Moldavia and Wallachia, at that time vassal states of the Ottoman Empire. Alexander I became Domnitor (ruling prince) after the official unification of the two formerly separate states, being elected prince of both states in 1859. He was deposed in 1866 by a broad coalition of the main political parties, after which Parliament offered the throne to Karl Hohenzollern who subsequently became the new "Domnitor of Romania" (as Carol I).

Romania's independence from the Ottoman Empire was recognized in 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin. In an expression of full sovereignty, the principality was elevated to a kingdom in 1881, with Carol I becoming King of the Romanians.[2] Carol I died in 1914, and was succeeded by his nephew, Ferdinand I.

In 1927, Ferdinand I died, and the country was left in the care of a Regency headed by Nicholas Hohenzollern, during the young reign of Ferdinand's grandson, Michael I (who was only six years old at the time), his father (Carol II) having renounced the throne in 1925. Carol II, unlike Carol I, in the beginning had no desire to rule Romania, and was frequently out of the country exploring the rest of Europe with his mistress. Michael's first reign would be short lived at only three years, until his father Carol II came back to contest the title at the behest of a dissatisfied political faction that staged a sudden 'coup d'état' (in spite of the fact that only a few years earlier he had renounced in official documents, written and signed in front of his own father, all his future claims to the throne of Romania).

After a ten-year rule, Carol II gave up his royal title to be able to leave Romania and marry his mistress Elena Lupescu. The couple ultimately settled in Portugal, and the 'playboy king' was never recalled back to Romania.

The kingdom of Romania was a constitutional monarchy for most of its existence with the exception of 1938–1944, during the dictatorships of Carol II (1938–1940) and Ion Antonescu (1940–1944). On 23 August 1944, Michael I restored the last democratic royal Constitution of 1923. However, during his second reign (1940–1947), Michael I reigned mostly as an unconstitutional king, without a constitutional oath or a parliamentary vote. Parliament was initially suspended and reinstated only later, in 1946. Michael I was instead crowned[3] and anointed by the Orthodox Patriarch, Nicodim Munteanu, in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Bucharest, on the day of his second accession, 6 September 1940.[4] However, legally, Michael I could not exercise much authority besides some prerogatives such as being the Supreme Head of the Army and designating a plenipotentiary Prime Minister Conducător ("Leader").[5]

On 23 August 1944, with the Soviet Army already deep inside Romania's territory, Michael I deposed the German-allied dictator Ion Antonescu at the urging of the opposition parties and aligned the country with the Allies. Helped by the presence of Soviet forces, communists gradually took control of the administration. On 30 December 1947, via a Communist-led coup d'etat, King Michael I was forced to sign an abdication paper (threatened by the killing of more than 1000 students, that have been arrested two years earlier, during a large pro-monarchic demonstration held on November 8th, 1945, and still illegally detained). The same day, the Parliament proclaimed the country a people's republic (during a session that didn't met the legal cvorum). The young King and Queen-Mother Elena were forced to leave Romania on January 3rd, 1948, in the Royal Train, at the request of the communist-dominated government, after a thorough confiscation of the Royal properties that even included the majority of their personal belongings.

Return from exile

After the Revolution of 1989, the former King visited Romania to an enthusiastic reception in the streets of Bucharest; however, the country preserved its republican character. The royal estates and properties in Romania were restored.

The former King is respected and recognised by the parliament. His grandson[6] was named Prince of Romania by royal decree, and regularly visits different organisations in Romania. The crown princess and her husband bestow royal orders in name of the former King for selected Romanians.

The Royal house is still very popular[7] and in 2014 Prime Minister Victor Ponta promised a referendum on whether or not to reinstate the monarchy if he was re-elected.[8] A square was named in honor of King Mihai in 2012.[9]

Kings of the Romanians (1881–1947)

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Carol I(1839-04-20)20 April 1839 – 10 October 1914(1914-10-10) (aged 75)15 March 188110 October 1914—Hohenzollern-SigmaringenCarol I of Romania
Ferdinand I(1865-08-24)24 August 1865 – 20 July 1927(1927-07-20) (aged 61)10 October 191420 July 1927Nephew of Carol IHohenzollern-SigmaringenFerdinand I of Romania
Michael I
(1st reign)
[10]		 (1921-10-25) 25 October 1921 (age 103)20 July 19278 June 1930Grandson of Ferdinand IHohenzollern-SigmaringenMichael I of Romania
Carol II(1893-10-15)15 October 1893 – 4 April 1953(1953-04-04) (aged 59)8 June 19306 September 1940Son of Ferdinand IHohenzollern-SigmaringenCarol II of Romania
Michael I
(2nd reign)
[11]		 (1921-10-25) 25 October 1921 (age 103)6 September 194030 December 1947Son of Carol IIHohenzollern-SigmaringenMichael I of Romania
Further information: Lifespan Timeline of Kings of Romania

Pretenders to the Romanian throne (since 1947)

Pretender Portrait Lifespan Pretending from Pretending until
Michael I (1921-10-25) 25 October 1921 (age 103) 30 December 1947 1 March 2016
Margareta (1949-03-26) 26 March 1949 (age 75) 1 March 2016 Incumbent
Further information: Lifespan Timeline of Pretenders to the Romanian throne

Royal Consorts

Further information: Lifespan Timeline of Romanian royal consorts

Royal Standards

See also: List of flags of Romania
  • Royal Standard (1881–1922)
    Royal Standard (1881–1922)
  • Royal Standard (1922–1947)
    Royal Standard (1922–1947)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Gold set 1939". Romanian Coins. Archived from the original on October 27, 2009.
  2. ^ Kremnitz, Mite; Sidney Whitman, Sidney (1899). Reminiscences of the King of Roumania. Harper& Brothers.
  3. ^ "Fundamental Rules of the Royal Family of Romania" (PDF). The Romanian Royal Family website.
  4. ^ "The Joys of Suffering," Volume 2, "Dialogue with a few intellectuals", by Rev. Fr. Dimitrie Bejan – "Orthodox Advices" website as of June 9, 2007 Template:Ro icon
  5. ^ Ioan Scurtu, Theodora Stănescu-Stanciu, Georgiana Margareta Scurtu, "The History of the Romanians between 1918-1940" ("Istoria românilor între anii 1918–1940"), p. 280. Template:Ro icon
  6. ^ http://www.euractiv.com/countries/romania-discreet-scent-monarchy-analysis-515175
  7. ^ http://www.economist.com/blogs/eastern-approaches/2011/10/romanias-ex-monarchy Long live the ex-king
  8. ^ http://royalcentral.co.uk/foreignroyals/romania-may-hold-a-referendum-on-the-return-of-monarchy-38884 Romania may hold a referendum on the return of Monarchy
  9. ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/25/us-romania-monarchy-idUSBRE89O0OP20121025 Romania government honors ex-king on 91st birthday
  10. ^ Nicholas Hohenzollern ruling as Prince Regent.
  11. ^ With Ion Antonescu as Conducător, from 6 September 1940 to 23 August 1944.
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