Michael of Romania
Michael I (25 October 1921 - 5 December 2017) was Romania's last King, reigning from 20 July 1927 to 8 June 1930 and again from 6 September 1940 until his forced abdication on 30 December 1947.
Crown Prince Carol of Romania, Michael's father, had become involved in a contentious relationship with Magda Lupescu shortly after Michael's birth. Carol was forced to renounce his claim to the throne and fled to Paris in exile with Lupescu in 1925. Following the death of his grandfather, King Ferdinand I, in 1927, Michael ascended to the throne. Because Michael was still a minor, a regency council was formed, consisting of his uncle Prince Nicolae, Patriarch Miron Cristea, and Supreme Court President Gheorghe Buzdugan. The council was ineffective, so Carol returned to Romania in 1930 and succeeded his son as monarch, reigning as Carol II. As a result, Michael was reinstated as heir apparent and given the additional title of Grand Voievod of Alba-Iulia.
Carol II was forced to abdicate in 1940, and Michael reigned once more. Romania became allied with Nazi Germany under the military dictatorship of Ion Antonescu. In 1944, Michael took part in a coup against Antonescu, replaced him with Constantin Sănătescu, and then declared an alliance with the Allies. Political pressures forced Michael to appoint a pro-Soviet government led by Petru Groza in March 1945. Michael went on a "royal strike" from August 1945 to January 1946, attempting unsuccessfully to oppose Groza's Communist-controlled government by refusing to sign and endorse its decrees. Michael attended the wedding of his cousins, the future Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, in London in November 1947. Groza then met with Michael on the morning of December 30, 1947, and forced him to abdicate. Michael was forced into exile, his property was seized, and his citizenship was revoked. He married Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma (later Queen Anne of Romania), with whom he had five daughters, in 1948, and the couple eventually settled in Switzerland.
Nicolae Ceaușescu's communist dictatorship was overthrown in 1989, and Michael attempted to return to Romania the following year, only to be arrested and forced to leave upon arrival. Michael was granted permission to visit Romania for Easter in 1992, where he was greeted by huge crowds; a speech he delivered from his hotel window drew an estimated one million people to Bucharest. Concerned about Michael's popularity, Ion Iliescu's post-communist government barred him from making any further visits. After Iliescu was defeated in the presidential elections the previous year by Emil Constantinescu, Michael's citizenship was restored and he was allowed to return to Romania. Several confiscated properties were eventually returned to his family, including Peleș Castle and Săvârșin Castle.
