Michael I of Romania

King Michael I of Romania^[1][2][3] (25 October 1921 – 5 December 2017), reigned as King of Romania for two periods.^[4] He was king from 20 July 1927 to 8 June 1930, and again from 6 September 1940, until forced to abdicate by the Communist Party of Romania. The communists were backed up by orders of Stalin to the Soviet armies of occupation on 30 December 1947.

King Michael I of Romania
King Michael I of Romania in 1947
King of Romania
First reign	20 July 1927 – 8 June 1930
Predecessor	Ferdinand I
Successor	Carol II
Regents	See list Prince Nicholas (1927–1930) Miron Cristea (1927–1930) Gheorghe Buzdugan (1927–1929) Constantin Sărăţeanu [ro] (1929–1930)
Second reign	6 September 1940 – 30 December 1947
Coronation	6 September 1940
Predecessor	Carol II
Successor	Monarchy abolished
Born	(1921-10-25)25 October 1921 Peleș Castle, Sinaia, Kingdom of Romania
Died	5 December 2017(2017-12-05) (aged 96) Aubonne, Vaud, Switzerland
Burial	16 December 2017 Royal Cathedral, Curtea de Argeș Monastery, Curtea de Argeș, Romania
Spouse	Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma ​ ​ (m. 1948; died 2016)​
Issue	Margareta of Romania Princess Elena Princess Irina Princess Sophie Princess Maria
House	Romania (from 2011) Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (until 2011)
Father	Carol II of Romania
Mother	Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark
Religion	Romanian Orthodox
Signature

He was one of the last surviving heads of state from World War II,^[5][6][7][8] the other one is Simeon II of Bulgaria.^[9]

He died 5 December 2017 of complications from leukemia in Aubonne, Switzerland at 96 years old.^[10]

Titles, styles and honours

Titles and styles

• 25 October 1921 – 28 December 1925: His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Romania, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
• 28 December 1925 – 20 July 1927: His Royal Highness Crown Prince Michael of Romania, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
• 20 July 1927 – 8 June 1930: His Majesty King Michael I of Romania, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
• 8 June 1930 – 6 September 1940: His Majesty King Michael I, The Grand Prince of Alba Iulia, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
• 6 September 1940 - 10 May 2011: His Majesty King Michael I of Romania, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
• 10 May 2011 - 5 December 2017: His Majesty King Michael I of Romania

Honours

National

• House of Romania: Sovereign Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Carol I

Foreign

•  France: Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honour
• Russia
  •  Soviet Union: Member of the Order of Victory
•  United States: Grand Officer of the Order of the Legion of Merit

Ancestry

He was a paternal first cousin of King Peter II of Yugoslavia and maternal first cousin of Queen Alexandra, Queen Consort of Yugoslavia, King Constantine II of Greece and his elder sister Queen Sofía, Queen Consort of Spain.

He was great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria I of the United Kingdom through both of his parents and was therefore a third cousin of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, King Harald V of Norway, King Juan Carlos I of Spain, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Elizabeth II.