Hohenzollern Sigmaringen

Hohenzollern Sigmaringen

Hohenzollern Sigmaringen

The Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen dynasty ruled Romania from before it became a kingdom until the monarchy was overthrown after WWII. After the Crimean War, Moldavia and Wallachia were made semi-independent provinces within the Ottoman Empire. When they joined together to create the country of Romania in 1859, they chose the Moldavian Prince Alexander Cuza as ruler, but this unpopular autocrat was overthrown in 1866. Romania then looked to the German principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen for their next ruler.

King Carol I—The German Prince Who Became King of Romania

Romania asked Prince Carl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1839–1914) to become their new ruler. Backed by the Prussian chancellor Count Otto von Bismarck, Carl agreed and adopted the more Romanian-sounding name of Carol.

He oversaw Romania getting complete independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878 after the Russo-Turkish War. And in 1881 Romania was declared an independent kingdom under King Carol I. 1886 saw the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.


  • Hohenzollern Sigmaringen

    Hohenzollern Sigmaringen

    Hohenzollern Sigmaringen

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