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Michael I of Romania

Michael I
King Michael I of Romania by Emanuel Stoica.jpg
King Michael in 2007
King of Romania
1st reign 20 July 1927 – 8 June 1930
Predecessor Ferdinand I
Successor Carol II
Regents
2nd reign 6 September 1940 – 30 December 1947
Coronation 6 September 1940
Predecessor Carol II
Successor Monarchy abolished
Born (1921-10-25) 25 October 1921 (age 95)
Peleș Castle, Sinaia, Romania
Spouse Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma (m. 1948; d. 2016)
Issue Crown Princess Margareta
Princess Elena
Princess Irina
Princess Sophie
Princess Maria
House Romania
Father Carol II of Romania
Mother Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark
Religion Romanian Orthodox
Signature

Michael I (Romanian: Mihai I [miˈhaj]; born 25 October 1921) reigned as King of Romania from 20 July 1927 to 8 June 1930 and again from 6 September 1940 until his abdication on 30 December 1947.

Shortly after his birth, Michael's father Prince Carol had become involved in a controversial relationship with Magda Lupescu. In 1925, Carol was eventually pressured to renounce his rights to the throne and moved to Paris in exile with Lupescu. In 1927, Michael ascended the throne following the death of his grandfather, Ferdinand I. As he was still a minor, a regency council was instituted which composed of his uncle, Prince Nicholas; the Patriarch Miron Cristea; and the president of the Supreme Court, Gheorghe Buzdugan. The council proved to be ineffective and in 1930, Carol returned to Romania and replaced his son as king. As a result, Michael returned to being heir apparent to the throne and was given the additional title of Grand Voievod of Alba-Iulia.

Carol II was deposed in 1940, and Michael once again became king. Under the government led by the military dictator Ion Antonescu, Romania became aligned with Nazi Germany. In 1944, Michael participated in a coup against Antonescu, appointed Constantin Sănătescu as his replacement, and subsequently declared an alliance with the Allies. In March 1945, political pressures forced Michael to appoint a pro-Soviet government headed by Petru Groza. From August 1945 to January 1946, Michael went on a "royal strike" and unsuccessfully tried to oppose Groza's Communist-controlled government by refusing to sign and endorse its decrees. In November, Michael attended the wedding of his cousins, the future Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip of Greece in London. Shortly thereafter, on the morning of 30 December 1947, Groza requested a meeting with Michael where he was forced to abdicate. Michael was forced into exile, confiscated of his properties, and stripped of his citizenship. He married Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma in 1948 with whom he had five daughters and eventually settled in Switzerland.


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