This Day in history: On May 10, 1881, Carol I, the first Romanian King is crowned (May 10, 2007)

May 10, 2007 (Romania Report & sources)

Carol I of Romania, original name Prince Karl Eitel Friedrich Zephyrinus Ludwig von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (April 20, 1839 - September 27/October 10, 1914), German prince, was elected ‘Domnitor’ (prince), and became Sovereign of the Romanian United Principalities, with hereditary rights, by plebiscite, on the 20th of April 1866. He received the style of Royal Highness on the 25th of October 1878.

Carol became King of Romania on the 26th of March 1881, by the unanimous vote of the representatives of the Nation and is crowned on the 10th of May 1881. For his coronation, the King decided on a crown of steel made out of the melted metal of a war cannon. He reigned for 48 years and died on the 10th of October 1914 in Sinaia, the place he had chosen to be the Seat of the Royal Family. In this place he had erected with his own money the beautiful Pelesh Castle. King Carol was buried in the cathedral of Curtea de Arges, the burial place of the Royal Family.

During his long reign, King Carol I transformed Romania into a modern state on the map of Europe. He led the Romanian Army and obtained the independence of his country in the war of 1877. King Carol I is described as a small man, with no special presence, but he had a great dignity. He transformed his small kingdom into a respected and stable state. He was a distant sovereign, severe and discreet, with an exceptional authority. He had the vocation to be a head of state and led Romania in extremely difficult political times.

Carol arrived in his adoptive country after an adventurous journey from Prussia to the Romanian port on the Danube called Turnu-Severin. This journey has often been described in the literature of the time. Prince Carol chose the clothes of a servant, in order to keep a low profile. This appearance became nevertheless the symbol which characterized his entire reign: the Sovereign was for 48 years the servant of his people and his service in the benefice of Romania was exemplary.



Romania Report & sources