Carol II
King of the Romanians
Reign	8 June 1930–6 September 1940
Born	15 October 1893(1893-10-15)
Birthplace	Sinaia, Romania
Died	4 April 1953 (aged 59)
Place of death	Estoril, Portugal
Buried	Estoril, Portugal (1953) Curtea de Argeş, Romania (2004)
Predecessor	Michael I
Successor	Michael I
Wives	Zizi Lambrino Helen of Greece and Denmark Magda Lupescu
Issue	Carol Michael I
Royal House	Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
Father	Ferdinand
Mother	Marie of Edinburgh

Carol II of Romania (15 October 1893 – 4 April 1953) reigned as King of Romania from June 8, 1930 until September 6, 1940. Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 3114 BC - According to the Proleptic Julian calendar the current era in the Maya Long Count Calendar started Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 533 - Byzantine General Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the Year 1893 ( MDCCCXCIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Sinaia (/si'naja/ (population 14636 is a mountain resort in Romania. Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. For the Estoril Circuit used by F1 see Autódromo do Estoril Estoril is a seaside resort and civil parish of the Portuguese Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. For the Estoril Circuit used by F1 see Autódromo do Estoril Estoril is a seaside resort and civil parish of the Portuguese Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Curtea de Argeş (Hungarian Argyasudvarhely) is a city in Romania, situated on the right bank of the Argeş River, where it flows through a valley Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania Michael King of the Romanians, Prince of Hohenzollern (born October 25, 1921) reigned as King of the Romanians (Maiestatea Michael King of the Romanians, Prince of Hohenzollern (born October 25, 1921) reigned as King of the Romanians (Maiestatea Joanna Marie Valentina "Zizi" Lambrino ( 3 October 1898 in Roman, Romania - 11 March 1953 in Paris, Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark ( 2 May / 3 May, 1896 - 28 November, 1982) was the wife of King Carol II of Romania and Elena Lupescu ( 15 September 1895 (? in Iaşi (Jassy Romania – 29 June 1977) better known as Magda Lupescu Mircea Grigore Carol Hohenzollern ( 8 January / 9 January 1920 - 27 January 2006) also known as Mircea Grigore Carol of Romania Michael King of the Romanians, Prince of Hohenzollern (born October 25, 1921) reigned as King of the Romanians (Maiestatea The House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen is the Cadet branch of the senior Swabian branch of the Hohenzollern dynasty less known than the Franconian Ferdinand I ( 24 August 1865 – 20 July 1927) was the King of the Romanians from October 10 1914 until his death Princess Marie of Edinburgh (Marie Alexandra Victoria later Queen of Romania; 29 October 1875 &ndash 10 July / 18 July 1938 Events 533 - Byzantine General Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the Year 1893 ( MDCCCXCIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. See also Kingdom of Romania King of the Roumanians (in Romanian Regele Românilor) rather than King of Romania (in Romanian Regele României Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 3114 BC - According to the Proleptic Julian calendar the current era in the Maya Long Count Calendar started Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Eldest son of Ferdinand I, King of Romania, and his wife, Queen Marie, a daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second eldest son of Queen Victoria. Ferdinand I ( 24 August 1865 – 20 July 1927) was the King of the Romanians from October 10 1914 until his death Princess Marie of Edinburgh (Marie Alexandra Victoria later Queen of Romania; 29 October 1875 &ndash 10 July / 18 July 1938 Alfred Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Alfred Ernest Albert 6 August 1844 &ndash 30 July 1900 was the third Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha reigning between 1893 and 1900 Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland He was the first of the Romanian royal family who was baptized in the Orthodox rite. ^[1]

The "playboy king"

Crown Prince Carol (foreground, with machine gun) training during World War I.

In November 1914, Carol joined the Romanian Senate, as the 1866 Constitution guaranteed him a seat there upon reaching majority. The Senate of Romania ( romanian: "Senat" is the upper house in Romania 's Bicameral parliament. The 1866 Constitution of Romania was the fundamental law that capped a period of nation-building in the Danubian Principalities, which had united in 1859 ^[2] Known rather for his romantic misadventures than for any leadership skills, Carol (Romanian for "Charles") was first married in Odessa, Ukraine, 31 August 1918, in contravention of royal law, to Joanna Marie Valentina Lambrino, ("Zizi" Lambrino) (1898–1953), daughter of a Romanian general; they had one son, Mircea Gregor Carol Lambrino, and the marriage was annulled by decision of the Ilfov Tribunal in 1919. Romanian or Daco-Romanian ( dated: Rumanian or Roumanian; self designation limba română, ˈlimba roˈmɨnə is a Romance ODESSA which stands for the German phrase O rganisation d er e hemaligen SS - A ngehörigen which in turn translates Events 1056 - Byzantine Empress Theodora becomes ill dying suddenly a few days later without children to succeed the Throne Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Joanna Marie Valentina "Zizi" Lambrino ( 3 October 1898 in Roman, Romania - 11 March 1953 in Paris, Mircea Grigore Carol Hohenzollern ( 8 January / 9 January 1920 - 27 January 2006) also known as Mircea Grigore Carol of Romania He next married, in Athens, Greece, (10 March 1921), Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark (who was known in Romania as Crown Princess Elena), but the marriage soon collapsed in the wake of the king's affair with Elena "Magda" Lupescu (1895?–1977), the Roman Catholic daughter of a Jewish pharmacist and his Roman Catholic wife. Events 241 BC - First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands - The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark ( 2 May / 3 May, 1896 - 28 November, 1982) was the wife of King Carol II of Romania and Elena Lupescu ( 15 September 1895 (? in Iaşi (Jassy Romania – 29 June 1977) better known as Magda Lupescu Magda Lupescu had formerly been the wife of Army officer Ion Tâmpenu. As a result of the scandal, he renounced his right to the throne in December 1925 in favour of his son by Crown Princess Helen, Michael (Mihai), who became King in July 1927. Michael King of the Romanians, Prince of Hohenzollern (born October 25, 1921) reigned as King of the Romanians (Maiestatea Helena divorced Carol in 1928. Carol also had a son and a daughter by his mistress Maria Martini, a high-school student.

Through all these adventures, he became known above all as a playboy king. Playboy is an American Men's magazine, founded in Chicago Illinois, by Hugh Hefner and his associates which has grown into Playboy Purported eyewitnesses even claim him to have gone with a famous prostitute, Foamea Neagră, from the Crucea de piatră district. A fictionalized version of the episode is narrated by Petru Dumitriu in his novel Cronică de familie (Family Chronicle).

Rule

Returning to the country unexpectedly on 7 June 1930, Carol was proclaimed King the following day. Events 1099 - The First Crusade: The Siege of Jerusalem begins Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. For the next decade he sought to influence the course of Romanian political life, first through manipulation of the rival Peasant and Liberal parties and anti-Semitic factions, and subsequently (January 1938) through a ministry of his own choosing (the National Renaissance Front), with a constitution (27 February) reserving ultimate power to the crown. The National Renaissance Front ( Romanian: Frontul Renaşterii Naţionale, FRN also translated as Front of National Regeneration, Front of National Events 1560 - The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation In 1938, he banned the Iron Guard, which he had supported in the 1930s. The Iron Guard is the name most commonly given in English to a Far-right ultra- nationalist Antisemitic, fascist movement and political party

House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen

Carol I Queen Consort:     Elisabeth Children:    Princess Maria Ferdinand I Queen Consort:     Marie Children:     Prince Carol     Elisabeth, Queen of Greece     Maria, Queen of Yugoslavia     Prince Nicholas     Ileana, Archduchess of Austria     Prince Mircea Carol II Children:     Prince Michael Michael I Queen Consort:     Anne Children     Princess Margarita     Princess Elena     Princess Irina     Princess Sophie     Princess Maria

Carol also sought to build up his own personality cult to counter the growing influence of the Iron Guard, for instance by setting up a paramilitary youth organization known as Straja Ţării in 1935. The House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen is the Cadet branch of the senior Swabian branch of the Hohenzollern dynasty less known than the Franconian Carol I of Romania, original name Prince Karl Eitel Friedrich Zephyrinus Ludwig of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, later simply of Hohenzollern (April 20th 1839 - Pauline Elisabeth Ottilie Luise zu Wied ( Schloss Monrepos, Neuwied, 29 December, 1843 - Curtea de Argeş or Bucharest, Princess Maria/Marie of Romania ( Maria/Marie von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, 8 September 1870 – 9 April 1874) was the only child of Ferdinand I ( 24 August 1865 – 20 July 1927) was the King of the Romanians from October 10 1914 until his death Princess Marie of Edinburgh (Marie Alexandra Victoria later Queen of Romania; 29 October 1875 &ndash 10 July / 18 July 1938 For Queen Elisabeth of Romania, wife of Carol I, see Elisabeth of Wied. For her mother Queen Marie of Romania please see Marie of Edinburgh. Biography Born in Peleş Castle, Sinaia, Nicholas was the younger brother of Carol, Heir apparent, who renounced his rights of succession Princess Ileana of Romania ( 5 January 1909 - 21 January 1991) was the youngest daughter of Ferdinand I of Romania, King of the Michael King of the Romanians, Prince of Hohenzollern (born October 25, 1921) reigned as King of the Romanians (Maiestatea Michael King of the Romanians, Prince of Hohenzollern (born October 25, 1921) reigned as King of the Romanians (Maiestatea Queen Anne of Romania, (born Princess Anne Antoinette Françoise Charlotte of Bourbon-Parma on September 18, 1923) is the wife of the former Princess Margarita of Romania ( Margareta in the Romanian language) Princess of Hohenzollern (styled Crown Princess of Romania) (b Titles styles honours and arms Titles and styles 15 November 1950 - present: Her Royal Highness Princess Elena Princess Irina of Romania was born on 28 February 1953 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Princess Sophie/Sophia (Sofia of Romania was born on 28 October / 29 October 1957 in Tatoi, Greece, and is the fourth daughter of Princess Maria of Romania (b Hellerup, Denmark, 13 July 1964) is the youngest daughter and fifth child of Michael I (Mihai King A cult of personality or personality cult arises when a country's leader uses Mass media to create a heroic public image through unquestioning flattery and praise The Iron Guard is the name most commonly given in English to a Far-right ultra- nationalist Antisemitic, fascist movement and political party A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military force but which are not regarded as having the same status See also Youth The following is a List of youth organizations; all organizations are international unless noted as associated with a specific country Straja Ţării ( Romanian - roughly The Sentinel of the Motherland; also known as Străjeria - translatable as The Sentinel) was a Paramilitary

An excellent fictionalized account of life in Bucharest in the final years of Carol's reign can be found in Olivia Manning's novels The Great Fortune and The Spoilt City. Olivia Manning is also the name of the wife of Archie Manning and mother of Eli and Peyton Manning.

Exile

Forced under first Soviet and subsequently Hungarian, Bulgarian, Italian and German pressure to surrender parts of his kingdom to foreign rule, he was outmaneuvered at last by the pro-German administration of Marshal Ion Antonescu, and abdicated in favour of Michael, settling ultimately in Portugal. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. "Antonescu" redirects here For other persons with that surname see Antonescu (surname. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula.

Some believe Carol left Romania in a train laden with royal treasure -- paintings by Old Masters such as Titian, Rubens, and Rembrandt, hundreds of canvasses, jewels, the armor that had decorated the walls of the royal palaces of Pelişor and Peleş --, while others accuse his son, Michael, of the same things. Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio (c 1485 &ndash August 27 1576 better known as Titian, was the leading painter of the 16th-century Venetian Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (July 15 1606 &ndash October 4 1669 was a Dutch painter and etcher. Pelişor Castle ( Romanian: Castelul Pelişor /kas'telul 'peliʃ Today a historical monument Peleş Castle ( Romanian: Castelul Peleş /kas'te A death squad of Iron Guard legionnaires fired on the royal train, but failed to stop it. A death squad is an armed Squad that kills civilians terrorists or guerillas The sale in Portugal of much of this treasure gave him enormous wealth, which he spent lavishly, living a life of wasteful luxury. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula.

Carol and Magda Lupescu were married in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 3 June 1947, Magda taking the title of Princess Elena von Hohenzollern. Rio de Janeiro ("River of January" ˈhiw dʒi ʒʌˈnejɾu in Brazilian Portuguese, /ˈriːoʊ di ʒəˈnɛroʊ/ in English is the second largest city of Brazil |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Carol remained in exile for the rest of his life. He was never to see his son, King Michael, after his 1940 departure from Romania. Michael refused to meet his father ever again. ^[3]

His remains returned to Romania

Carol died and was buried in Portugal in 1953; his remains were returned to Romania in 2003, at the Curtea de Argeş monastery. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. The Cathedral of Curtea de Argeş (early 16th century is one of the most famous buildings in Romania, and stands in the grounds of a monastery 1 1/2 m north of Curtea They lie outside the cathedral that is the burial place of most Romanian kings. Neither of his sons participated in either ceremony. His younger son and successor, [[]]King Michael, was represented by his daughter, Princess Margarita, and her husband, Radu Duda, Prince of Hohenzollern-Veringen. Princess Margarita of Romania ( Margareta in the Romanian language) Princess of Hohenzollern (styled Crown Princess of Romania) (b Radu Duda Prince of Romania, Prince of Hohenzollern -Veringen was born on 7 June 1960 His eldest son, Carol Lambrino was forbidden (since 1940) to enter Romanian territory. Mircea Grigore Carol Hohenzollern ( 8 January / 9 January 1920 - 27 January 2006) also known as Mircea Grigore Carol of Romania Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania

Ancestry

Foreign honors

Styles of King Carol II of Romania Reference style His Majesty Spoken style Your Majesty Alternative style Sir

The UK awarded Carol the Order of the Garter. Wilhelmine of Baden ( September 21, 1788 – January 27, 1836) was Grand Duchess of Hesse and the Rhine A style of office, or honorific, is a term which by Tradition or Law precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or Title, or to the Majesty is an English word derived ultimately from the Latin Maiestas, meaning Greatness. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an Order of chivalry, or Knighthood, originating in Medieval England, and presently bestowed on recipients

References

See also

• Kings of Romania