Carol I King of Romania

Romanian Royalty House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Carol I Ferdinand I Children    Prince Carol    Prince Nicholas Grandchildren    Prince Michael Carol II Michael I

Carol I, original name Karl Eitel Friedrich Zephyrinus Ludwig von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (April 20, 1839 - October 10, 1914) was elected Domnitor (prince) of Romania in April 1866 following the overthrow of Alexander John Cuza, and proclaimed king on March 26, 1881. He was the first ruler of the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen dynasty which would rule the country until the proclamation of a republic in 1947. source: http://www. ... source: http://www. ... Jump to: navigation, search Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen is the cadet branch of the senior Swabian branch of the Hohenzollern dynasty, less known however than the Franconian branch which became Burgraves of Nuremberg and later ruled Brandenburg, Prussia and ultimately Germany in the centuries to 1918. ... Image File history File links This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... King Charles (right) and Queen Elizabeth of Romania Carol I, original name Karl Eitel Friedrich Zephyrinus Ludwig von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (April 20, 1839 - October 10, 1914) was elected prince of Romania in April 1866 following the overthrow of Alexander John Cuza, and proclaimed king on March 26, 1881. ... Ferdinand of Romania Ferdinand or Ferdinand I (August 24, 1865-July 20, 1927) was the king of Romania from October 10, 1914 until his death Born in Sigmaringen in southwestern Germany, Prince Ferdinand of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen became heir to the throne of his childless uncle, King Carol I of Romania... Jump to: navigation, search Carol II of Romania, (15 October 1893 – 4 April 1953) reigned as King of Romania from June 8, 1930 until September 6, 1940. ... Prince Nicholas (1903-1978) was the second son of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie of Romania. ... Jump to: navigation, search Prince Michael of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, (born October 25, 1921), formerly King Michael I of Romania, was King of Romania (in Romanian Majestatea Sa Regele Mihai I de România) from July 20, 1927 to June 8, 1930, and again from September 6, 1940 to December 30... Jump to: navigation, search Carol II of Romania, (15 October 1893 – 4 April 1953) reigned as King of Romania from June 8, 1930 until September 6, 1940. ... Jump to: navigation, search Prince Michael of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, (born October 25, 1921), formerly King Michael I of Romania, was King of Romania (in Romanian Majestatea Sa Regele Mihai I de România) from July 20, 1927 to June 8, 1930, and again from September 6, 1940 to December 30... Jump to: navigation, search April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in Leap years). ... Jump to: navigation, search 1914 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Domnitor (pl. ... 1866 is a common year starting on Monday. ... Alexander Ioan (Alexander John) Cuza Alexandru Ioan Cuza (March 20, 1820, Galaţi - May 15, 1873, Heidelberg), known more commonly in English as Alexander John Cuza, was the domnitor (ruler) of the United Principalites of Romania between 1859 and 1866. ... Jump to: navigation, search March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (86th in leap years). ... Jump to: navigation, search 1881 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen is the cadet branch of the senior Swabian branch of the Hohenzollern dynasty, less known however than the Franconian branch which became Burgraves of Nuremberg and later ruled Brandenburg, Prussia and ultimately Germany in the centuries to 1918. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

During his reign, he personally led Romanian troops during the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78 and assumed command of the Russo/Romanian army during the siege of Pleven. The country achieved full independence from the Ottoman Empire (Treaty of Berlin, 1878) and acquired the southern part of the Dobruja from Bulgaria in 1913. Domestic political life, still dominated by the country's wealthy landowning families organised around the rival Liberal and Conservative parties, was punctuated by two widespread peasant uprisings, in Walachia (the southern half of the country) in April 1888 and in Moldavia (the northern half) in March 1907. The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 had its origins in the Russian goal of gaining access to the Mediterranean Sea and dominating Constantinople (Istanbul) and the adjacent Turkish Straits. ... Jump to: navigation, search Map The Siege of Pleven, or Plevna, was a major battle between the joint army of Russia and Romania and the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78. ... Jump to: navigation, search Imperial motto (Ottoman Turkish) Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (the Eternal State) The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital Bursa (1335 - 1365), Edirne (1365-1453), Ä°stanbul (Constantinople) (1453-1922) Imperial anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Sovereigns Padishah of the Osmanli... Jump to: navigation, search The Treaty of Berlin was the final Act of the Congress of Berlin (June 13-July 13, 1878), by which the United Kingdom, Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and Turkey revised the Treaty of San Stefano signed on March 3 of the same year. ... Dobruja, or sometimes Dobrudja (Dobrogea in Romanian, Добруджа—transliterated Dobrudzha—in Bulgarian, Dobruca in Turkish), is the territory between the lower Danube river and the Black Sea, including the Danube Delta and the Romanian coast. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1913 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... This article refers to the current Conservative Party in Romania. ... Map of Romania with Wallachia in yellow. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1888 is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... Moldavia (Moldova in Romanian) was a Romanian principality, originally created in the Middle Ages, now divided between Romania, Moldovan Republic and Ukraine. ... 1907 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

He married Elisabeth of Wied in 1869. They only had one daughter, born 1871, who died aged 4. King Carol and Queen Elizabeth of Romania Elizabeth of Wied (December 29, 1843 - November 2, 1916) was the Queen Consort of King Carol I of Romania, widely known by her literary name of Carmen Sylva. ...

Carol's childlessness left his elder brother Leopold next in line to the throne. In October 1880 Leopold renounced his right of succession in favour of his son William, who in turn surrendered his claim eight years later in favour of his younger brother, the future king Ferdinand. Jump to: navigation, search 1880 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Ferdinand of Romania Ferdinand or Ferdinand I (August 24, 1865-July 20, 1927) was the king of Romania from October 10, 1914 until his death Born in Sigmaringen in southwestern Germany, Prince Ferdinand of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen became heir to the throne of his childless uncle, King Carol I of Romania...

Early Life

Carol was born Prince Karl von Hohenzollern Sigmaringen on the 20th of April 1839. He was the second son of Prince Karl Anton von Hohenzollern Sigmaringen and his wife, princess Josephine. After finishing his elementary studies, Karl entered the Cadet School in Munster. In 1857 he was attending the courses of the Artilery School in Berlin. Upto 1866 (when he accepted the crown of Romania) he was a German officer. He takes part in the Austro-Prussian War, particularly at the assault of the Fredericia citadel and of Duppel, experience which will be very useful to him later on in the Russian-Turkish war. It has been suggested that Gastein Convention be merged into this article or section. ... The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 had its origins in the Russian goal of gaining access to the Mediterranean Sea and dominating Constantinople (Istanbul) and the adjacent Turkish Straits. ...

Although he wasn't very tall and was quite frail, prince Karl was reported to be the perfect military, healthy, disciplined, also a very good politician with liberal ideas. He was familiar with several European languages. His family being closely related to the Bonaparte family, they were in very good relations with Napoleon III of France. Romania was, at the time, unde the influence of the French culture and Napoleon's recommendation of Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen weighed heavy in the eyes of Romanian politicians of the time, also his blood relation to the ruling Prussian family. Ion Brătianu was the Romanian politician sent to negotiate with Karl and his family the possibility of installing Karl on the Romanian throne. Jump to: navigation, search Of Corsican origin, the Bonaparte (originally Buonaparte) family is the family of Napoleon I, who was elected as first consul of France on November 10, 1799 with the help of his brother, Lucien Bonaparte, president of the Council of Five Hundred at Saint-Cloud. ... Jump to: navigation, search Napoleon III of France Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (20 April 1808, Paris, France - 9 January 1873, Chislehurst, Kent, England) was a President of France, and later, Emperor of the French. ... Ion C. Brătianu (June 2, 1821-May 16, 1891), Romanian statesman, was born at PiteÅŸti in Walachia. ...

On the way to Romania

The former Romanian ruler, Alexander John Cuza, had been banished out of the country and Romania was in chaos. Since his double election had been the only reason the two Romanian countries (Wallachia and the Principality of Moldavia) were allowed to unite by the European powers of the time, the country was in danger of dissoluting. Map of Romania with Wallachia in yellow. ... Jump to: navigation, search It has been suggested that Moldova (historical region) be merged into this article or section. ...

Young Karl had to travel incognito on the railroad Düsseldorf-Bonn-Freiburg-Zürich-Vienna-Budapest, due to the conflictual situation between his country and the Austrian Empire. He travelled under the name of Karl Hettingen. As he stepped on Romanian soil, Bratianu bowed before him and asked him to join him in the carriage (at that time, Romania didn't have a railroad system). Jump to: navigation, search Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. ... Jump to: navigation, search Districts of Bonn Historic Town Hall Münster Cathedral Bonn is a city in Germany (Population (2004 est): 313,605 ; the 19th largest city in Germany), in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia, located about 20 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in... Jump to: navigation, search Freiburgs location in Germany Freiburg city from Schlossberg Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, in the Breisgau region, on the western edge of the southern Black Forest (German: Schwarzwald) with about 214,000 inhabitants. ... Jump to: navigation, search Location within Switzerland Zürich [â–¶] (German pronunciation IPA: ; usually spelled Zurich in English) is the largest city in Switzerland (population: 366,145 in 2004; population of urban area: 1,091,732) and capital of the canton of Zürich. ... Jump to: navigation, search Vienna (German: Wien [viːn]; Hungarian: Bécs, Czech: Vídeň, Slovak: Viedeň, Romany Vidnya; Serbian: Beč) is the capital of Austria, and also one of Austrias nine federal states (Bundesland Wien). ... Budapest seen from north. ... Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy, the Austrian Empire until 1867 and of the Austrian part of Austria-Hungary until 1918. ...

10th of May

On the 10th of May 1866, Karl was entering Bucharest. The news of his arrival had been transmitted through telegraph and so he was welcomed by a huge crowd eager to see its new king. In Băneasa he was handed the key to the city. As a proverbial sign, on the same day it had rained for the first time in a long period of time. He pledged his oath in French: "I swear to guard the laws of Romania, to maintain its rights and the integrity of its territory". The DâmboviÅ£a River in central Bucharest Along a small tributary of DâmboviÅ£a, named Colentina, several lakes stretch across the city, the most important being Lake Floreasca, Lake Tei and Lake Colentina. ... Băneasa is a district (cartier) in the north side of Bucharest, near the lake with the same name (0. ...

The Constitution

Right after arriving in the country, the Romanian parliament adopted, on the 29th of June 1866, the first Constitution of Romania, one of the most advanced constitutions of its time. This constitution allowed the development and modernization of the Romanian state. In a daring move, the Constitution chose to ignore the country's current dependance on the Ottoman Empire, which paved the way for Independence. The Romanian Constitution is the fundamental law that establishes the structure of the government of Romania, the rights and obligations of the countrys citizens, and its mode of passing laws. ... Jump to: navigation, search Imperial motto (Ottoman Turkish) Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (the Eternal State) The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital Bursa (1335 - 1365), Edirne (1365-1453), İstanbul (Constantinople) (1453-1922) Imperial anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Sovereigns Padishah of the Osmanli...

Article 82 said "The ruler's powers are hereditary, starting directly from His Majesty, prince Carol I of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, on male line through the right of first-born, with the exclusion of women and their issue. His Majesty's descendants will be raised in the Eastern Orthodox Religion."

After the proclamation of the Independance (1877), Romania became a kingdom. On the 15th of March 1881, the Constitution was modified to state, among others, that from then on the head of state would be called king, while the heir would be called royal prince.

The basic idea of all the royalist constitutions in Romania was that the King rules without governing.

King Carol I (right) and Queen Elizabeth of Romania