King of Romania

The King of Romania (Template:Langx)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> or King of the Romanians (Template:Langx) was the title of the monarch of the Kingdom of Romania from 1881 until 1947, when the Romanian Workers' Party proclaimed the Romanian People's Republic following Michael I's forced abdication.

History

Template:See also 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 Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 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 Romania.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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 Prince Nicholas of Romania, during the reign of Ferdinand's young grandson, Michael I (who was only six years old at the time), his father (Carol II) having renounced his rights to 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 was forced to give up his crown in the wake of an outcry over the Second Vienna Award, which forced Romania to surrender northern Transylvania to Hungary. After the war, he married his longtime mistress, Elena Lupescu. The couple ultimately settled in Portugal, and the "playboy king" never returned 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 extraconstitutional king, without a parliamentary vote. Parliament was initially suspended and reinstated only later, in 1946. Michael I was crowned<ref name="Rules">Template:Cite web</ref> and anointed by the Orthodox Patriarch, Nicodim Munteanu, in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Bucharest, on the day of his second accession, 6 September 1940.<ref>"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:In lang</ref> 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").<ref>Ioan Scurtu, Theodora Stănescu-Stanciu, Georgiana Margareta Scurtu, The History of the Romanians between 1918–1940 (Istoria românilor între anii 1918–1940) Template:Webarchive, p. 280. Template:In lang</ref>

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, King Michael I was forced to sign his abdication. The same day, Parliament proclaimed the country a people's republic. The young former king and former queen mother Elena were forced to leave Romania on January 3, 1948, in the royal train, at the request of the communist-dominated government. Royal properties were nationalized later that year.

Return from exile

Template:See also After the Revolution of 1989, the former king visited Romania to an enthusiastic reception in the streets of Bucharest; the royal estates and properties in Romania were restored. However, the country preserved its republican character.

The former king was respected and recognized by the Parliament. His grandson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> regularly visits different organisations in Romania. Princess Margareta and her husband bestow royal orders in the name of the former king for selected Romanians.

The royal house is still popular<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and in 2014 Prime Minister Victor Ponta promised a referendum on whether or not to reinstate the monarchy if he were re-elected. A square was named in honour of the ex-king in 2012.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following the death of the former king in 2017, and the largely positive reaction of the crowds to the royal family at his funeral, Romanian politicians have discussed whether to hold a referendum to restore the monarchy,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with around half the population (in early 2018) believing monarchy to be a better organisational form than a republic.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Queen consorts of Romania

Timeline

This is a graphical lifespan timeline of Kings, Heirs and Claimants to the Romanian throne. The kings, the heirs and the claimants are listed in chronological order.

<timeline> Define $width = 1100 Define $warning = 1290 # $width - 110 Define $height = 470 # 43x20 + 160

Define $start = 1818 Define $end = 2030 Define $now = 2025

ImageSize = width:$width height:$height PlotArea = right:10 left:1 bottom:80 top:60 Period = from:$start till:$end TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:1

Colors =

    id:bg              value:white
    id:lightline       value:rgb(0.9, 0.9, 0.9)
    id:lighttext       value:rgb(0.5, 0.5, 0.5)
    id:LIFESPAN        value:rgb(0.88, 0.90, 0.70) Legend: Lifespan
    id:PRINCIP         value:yellow Legend: Prince_(or_"Domnitor")
    id:KING            value:rgb(0.31, 0.39, 0.81) Legend: King
    id:CLAIM           value:rgb(0.81, 0.01, 0.01) Legend: Pretending
    id:HEIR            value:green Legend: Heir/Heiress_(apparent_or_presumptive)
    id:REPUBLIC        value:rgb(0.80, 0.80, 0.80) Legend: Republic
    id:NAME            value:rgb(0.15, 0.13, 0.05) 
    id:ACTINGNAME      value:rgb(0.99, 0.00, 0.00)
    id:TODAY           value:green

BackgroundColors = canvas:bg ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightline unit:year increment:1 start:$start ScaleMajor = gridcolor:lighttext unit:year increment:10 start:1820

Define $dy = -5 # shift text to button side of bar

LineData=

  at:$now color:TODAY width:0.1

PlotData=

 bar:1 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
   from:1820.2 till:1859.1 shift:(-100,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Alexandru Ioan Cuza
   color:PRINCIP
   from:1859.1 till:1866.2
   color:CLAIM
   from:1866.2 till:1873.5

 bar:2 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
   from:1863 till:1865 shift:(-140,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Alexandru Al. Ioan Cuza
   color:HEIR
   from:1865 till:1866.2
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:1866.2 till:1873.5
   color:CLAIM
   from:1873.5 till:1889
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:1889 till:1890.5

 bar:3 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
   from:1837.4 till:1866.2 shift:(-125,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders
   color:HEIR
   from:1866.2 till:1866.4
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:1866.4 till:1905.8

 bar:4 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
   from:1839.3 till:1866.4 shift:(-70,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Carol I of Romania
   color:PRINCIP
   from:1866.4 till:1881.3
   color:KING
   from:1881.3 till:1914.7

 bar:5 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
   from:1835.6 till:1866.4 shift:(-105,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Leopold, Prince of Hohenzollern
   color:HEIR
   from:1866.4 till:1880.8
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:1880.8 till:1906

 bar:6 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
   from:1864.3 till:1880.8 shift:(-167,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:William, Prince of Hohenzollern
   color:HEIR
   from:1880.8 till:1887
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:1887 till:1927.8

 bar:7 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
   from:1865.6 till:1887 shift:(-80,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Ferdinand I of Romania
   color:HEIR
   from:1887 till:1914.7
   color:KING
   from:1914.7 till:1927.5

 bar:8 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
   from:1893.5 till:1914.7 shift:(-55,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Carol II of Romania
   color:HEIR
   from:1914.7 till:1918.5
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:1918.5 till:1919
   color:HEIR
   from:1919 till:1919.6
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:1919.6 till:1920.7
   color:HEIR
   from:1920.7 till:1926.9
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:1926.9 till:1930.5
   color:KING
   from:1930.5 till:1940.5
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:1940.5 till:1948
   color:CLAIM
   from:1948 till:1953.5

 bar:9 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
   from:1903.5 till:1918.5 shift:(-125,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Prince Nicholas of Romania
   color:HEIR
   from:1918.5 till:1919
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:1919 till:1919.6
   color:HEIR
   from:1919.6 till:1920.7
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:1920.7 till:1927.5
   color:HEIR
   from:1927.5 till:1930.5
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:1930.5 till:1942
   color:HEIR
   from:1942 till:1978.5

 bar:10 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
   from:1921.7 till:1926.9 shift:(-115,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Michael I of Romania
   color:HEIR
   from:1926.9 till:1927.5
   color:KING
   from:1927.5 till:1930.5
   color:HEIR
   from:1930.5 till:1940.5
   color:KING
   from:1940.5 till:1948
   color:CLAIM
   from:1948 till:2018

 bar:11 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
   from:1891.6 till:1940.5 shift:(-127,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Friedrich, Prince of Hohenzollern
   color:HEIR
   from:1940.5 till:1942
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:1942 till:1965.2

 bar:12 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
   from:1924.2 till:1978.5 shift:(-140,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Friedrich Wilhelm Prinz von Hohenzollern
   color:HEIR
   from:1978.5 till:2008
   color:LIFESPAN
   from:2008 till:2010.7

 bar:13 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
   from:1948.6 till:1991.5 shift:(-110,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Paul Philippe of Romania
   color:CLAIM
   from:1991.5 till:$now

 bar:14 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
   from:1949.3 till:2008 shift:(-150,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Margareta of Romania
   color:HEIR
   from:2008 till:2018
   color:CLAIM
   from:2018 till:$now

 bar:15 width:18
   color:LIFESPAN align:left fontsize:M
   from:1950.8 till:2018 shift:(-170,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Princess Elena of Romania
   color:HEIR
   from:2018 till:$now

 bar:16 width:19
   color:REPUBLIC align:center fontsize:M
   from:1948 till:$now shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Republic

TextData =

  pos:(0,$height)
  fontsize:L
  textcolor:black
  text:"Lifespan of each king, heir and claimant to the Romanian throne"

</timeline>

Royal Standards

• Royal Standard (1881–1922)
  Royal Standard (1881–1922)
• Royal Standard (1922–1947)
  Royal Standard (1922–1947)

See also

• Domnitor
• List of Romanian consorts
• List of rulers of Moldavia
• List of rulers of Wallachia
• List of heads of state of Romania
• Regalia of Romania
  • Steel Crown of Romania