Carol II of Romania

Carol II of Romania, born on October 15, 1893, was a sovereign whose reign was marked by both ambition and controversy. As the eldest son of King Ferdinand I, he was crown prince from 1914 until he renounced his rights to the throne in 1925 due to a series of personal and political missteps, including his desertion from the army during World War I and a scandalous marriage to Zizi Lambrino, a commoner.

After a tumultuous period, Carol returned to Romania in 1930 amidst a political crisis following the deaths of his father and the prime minister. He deposed his son, Michael, and claimed the throne, becoming King Carol II. His reign began during the Great Depression, which severely impacted the Romanian economy. He sought to consolidate power by weakening the parliament and establishing a royal dictatorship in 1938, abolishing political parties and forming the National Renaissance Front to counter the rising popularity of the fascist Iron Guard.

As World War II unfolded, Carol attempted to navigate Romania's precarious position, initially reaffirming alliances but later shifting towards Nazi Germany in hopes of securing protection for his country. However, the fragmentation of Greater Romania in 1940, with territories lost to the Soviet Union, Hungary, and Bulgaria, led to his downfall. Under pressure from General Ion Antonescu, he was forced to abdicate in favor of his son Michael I.

In exile, Carol II left Romania with a train carrying thirty truckloads of his personal fortune. Despite a failed assassination attempt by the Iron Guard, he continued to seek a return to power after the war, but was thwarted by the Western Allies. He eventually married Elena Lupescu in Brazil in 1947 and spent his final years in the Portuguese Riviera, where he passed away peacefully at the age of fifty-nine. His son, Michael, chose not to attend his funeral, reflecting the strained relationship between them.