The Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Dynasty of Romania
King Carol I, King Ferdinand I, King Carol II, and King Michael I
Aug 27, 2009
The Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen dynasty ruled Romania from before it became a kingdom until the monarchy was overthrown after WWII. After the Crimean War, Moldavia and Wallachia were made semi-independent provinces within the Ottoman Empire. When they joined together to create the country of Romania in 1859, they chose the Moldavian Prince Alexander Cuza as ruler, but this unpopular autocrat was overthrown in 1866. Romania then looked to the German principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen for their next ruler.
King Carol I—The German Prince Who Became King of Romania
Romania asked Prince Carl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1839–1914) to become their new ruler. Backed by the Prussian chancellor Count Otto von Bismarck, Carl agreed and adopted the more Romanian-sounding name of Carol.
He oversaw Romania getting complete independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878 after the Russo-Turkish War. And in 1881 Romania was declared an independent kingdom under King Carol I. 1886 saw the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.
King Ferdinand I—The King Who Enlarged Romania
King Carol I’s only child had died as an infant, so he selected his nephew Ferdinand (1865–1927) to succeed him. King Ferdinand I was able to greatly expand Romanian territory. After the Second Balkan War, Romania got some land from Bulgaria. And as a reward for joining WWI on the side of the successful Triple Entente, Romania doubled its territory with the addition of such lands as Transylvania and Bessarabia.
King Carol II—The Reluctant King
Ferdinand’s eldest son Carol (1893–1953) caused some dynastic problems with his inappropriate marriages. In 1918, he married the commoner Zizi Lambrino and renounced his dynastic rights, but after his parents forced an annulment his rights were restored. He then married Princess Helen of Greece and had a son Michael. But a few years later he divorced Helen and ran off with another commoner, Magda Lupescu, renouncing his rights again.
This meant that when King Ferdinand I died, his grandson Michael (b. 1921) became king. Young King Michael I ruled under the triple regency of his uncle Prince Nicholas, the patriarch of the Orthodox Church, and the president of the Court of Justice.
This was a difficult time for Romania, with the Communist and Fascists parties vying for power and an economic depression that caused many Romanians to become unhappy with the government. In 1930 Prince Carol was invited back and proclaimed King Carol II. A 1938 constitution then made him a virtual dictator.
WWII caused more problems when King Carol II wanted to remain neutral but also wanted to protect Romania from the powerful Germans. Germany made him agree to cede some Romanian territory to neighboring countries. In 1940, pro-Nazi Romanians finally forced King Carol II to abdicate.
King Michael I—A King in Exile
King Michael I was brought back as a puppet ruler under the pro-Nazi Prime Minister Ion Antonescu. But Michael was committed to protecting Romania. He worked valiantly to fight the Nazis, arresting Antonescu, driving the Nazis from Romania, and joining the Allies. For their help in winning the war, Romania got Transylvania back from Hungary.
King Michael I was personally rewarded for his efforts in WWII, getting the Legion of Merit from President Truman and the Order of Victory from the Soviet Union. And in 1998, he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in shortening WWII by helping the Allies.
The rise of communism in Romania was turning this country into a Soviet satellite. When a People’s Republic was finally proclaimed in 1947, King Michael I was forced to abdicate. After fleeing to Greece, however, he declared his abdication null and void because it was signed under duress. King Michael I continued to call for Romanian unity and urged Romanians to overthrow the communists under Nicolae Ceausescu.
King Michael I has remained a popular figure in Romania. When he was first allowed back in 1992, he was met by cheering Romanians. In 1997, he was allowed to return again and regained his citizenship. He seems to still be interested in regaining the throne if the Romanian people want him back, and in 1997 he changed the dynastic law so that women can inherit, making his daughter Margarita crown princess. It is not probable that the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen dynasty will ever rule Romania again, but this popular royal family may return to their homeland and the people they are committed to serving.
Source:
Opfell, Olga S. Royalty Who Wait: The 21 Formerly Regnant Houses of Europe. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2001.
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