Michel Ier of Romania

Its youth

Michel was born with Sinaïa in Romania, wire of the crown prince Charles ('' Carol '') ( Carol Al României ) and of the princess born Helene to Greece, and grandson of the king Ferdinand I of Romania ( Ferdinand Al României ), which reigns at the time. It is one of the descendants of Christian IX called the father-in-law of Europe , his back maternal grandfather.

When Charles flees with his mistress Magda Lupescu, and gives up his rights to the crown in December 1925, the authorities indicate as heir the small Michel who is only 4 years old. He goes up at 5 years on the throne of Romania in July 1927, with died of Ferdinand, under a regency made up of his uncle Nicolas, of the patriarch Miron Cristea, and George Buzdugan, President of the court of appeal.

Its reign

Regency functions until in 1930, when his/her Charles father returns suddenly to Romania, with the invitation of dissatisfied politicians, and proclaims itself king, by designating Michel as crown prince. In September 1940, the government pro Nazi of the marshal Ion Antonescu assembles a coup d'etat against king Charles, whom he regards as anti-German. Antonescu proclaims Michel king, but this last is 18 years old and cannot exert real power. It is used as window with the mode of Antonescu. He had said once to his grandmother: " I learned how not to say what I think, and with smiling to those that I hate the plus" .

In August 1944, whereas the armies of the Soviet Union approach the Eastern borders of Romania, Michel joined the politicians pro-allies while assembling a coup d'etat against Antonescu, that it throws in prison. Michel then proclaims the honesty of Romania with respect to the Allies and declares the war in the Nazi Germany, but this empécha not the occupation of the Soviets.

In March 1945, of the political pressures force Michel to name a government pro-Soviet dominated by the Rumanian Communist party. Under this mode, Michel again seems a puppet, decorated by the Soviet Union with the Ordre with the Victoire. In December 1947, the Communists force Michel has to abdicate by a sordid blackmail and abolish monarchy in Romania. It must leave the country in January 1948 for the exile in England then in Suisse.

Its civil life

Michel settles with the the United Kingdom, then in Suisse, and in June 1948 it marries the princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma, niece of the empress of Austria and queen of Hungary, Zita of Bourbon-Parma and the prince Felix of Luxembourg. this marriage with a deposed king and hardly likes the catholic family of the young princess. The couple will have five girls. Michel becomes airline pilot commercial, and works for a company of aeronautical equipment.

In 1992, three years after the Rumanian Revolution of 1989 which reverses the Communist regime of Romania, the new Rumanian government makes it possible Michel to return to Romania for the celebrations of Easter, where a many crowd presses itself to meet it. In Bucharest, more than one million people gather to see it. The popularity of Michel alarms the government of the president Ion Iliescu, and Michel is interdict of stay during five years. In 1997, after the defeat of Iliescu by the president Emil Constantinescu, Romania gives again the Rumanian citizenship with Michel, which enables him to return to Romania. He currently lives in Romania, in an official residence which is allotted to him, being regarded as former Head of State by the Rumanian government.

Political positions

Michel did not encourage the political agitation in Romania, and the royalist parties have little impact on the policy post-Communist. He thinks that the restoration of monarchy in Romania can be done only in agreement with the Rumanian people. " If the people want that I return, of course, I will return " it has says in 1990. He added " but the Roumanians underwent enough sufferings to have the right to be consulted on their future ".

Michel dealt with some quasi diplomatic actions, with the acccord of the Rumanian government. In 1997 it made the turn of the European countries to promote the admission of Romania in NATO and the European Union, and was accepted officially by the various governments.

Michel and Anne of Bourbon-Parma had five children:

Margarita (1949-…) who marries in 1996 Radu Duda (1960-…) titrated prince de Hohenzollern-Veringen in 1999.
Helene (1950-…) who marries in 1983 Robin Medforth-Miles (1942-…) divorced into 1991,2) in 1998 Alexander Philips Nixon McAteer (1964-…).
Irina (1953-…) who marries in 1984 John Kreuger (1945-…).
Sophie (1957-…), which marries in 1998 Alain Biarneix (1957-…) divorced in 2001.
Maria (1964-…) who marries in 1995 Kazimierz Mystkowski (1958-…) divorced in 2000.

Genealogy

Michel Ier of Romania belongs to the line of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen resulting from the fourth branch, itself resulting from the first branch of the Maison of Hohenzollern. This line belongs to the branch souabe of the dynasty of Hohenzollern. Michel Ier of Romania has for ascending Bouchard Ier, count de Zollern.

Internal bonds

Ferdinand Ier of Romania (paternal grandfather)

Marie of Saxony-Cobourg-Gotha (maternal grandmother)

Constantin Ier of Greece maternal grandfather)

Sophie of Prussia (maternal grandmother)

External bonds and sources

www.genealogie.free.fr

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