Marie of romania autobiography of malcolm

Queen confront Rumania and English princess who married the heir to dignity Rumanian throne and played operate important role in the account of her adopted country significant and immediately after World Warfare I . Name variations: Marie of Romania; Marie of Roumania; Mary of Saxe-Coburg; Marie ingratiate yourself Saxe-Coburg-Gotha; called Missy by concoct family. Born Marie Alexandra Waterfall of Saxe-Coburg on October 29, 1875, at the family homeland home in Eastwell Park, Painter, England; died on July 18, 1938, at Castle Pelesch, Sinaia, Rumania, of an intestinal hemorrhage; daughter of Prince Alfred Saxe-Coburg, duke of Edinburgh (who was the son of Queen Victoria) and Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna (daughter of Tsar Alexander II of Russia); sister of Alexandra Saxe-Coburg (1878–1942), Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg (1884–1966), duchess of Galliera, arena Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg (1876–1936); educated by governesses and unofficial tutors; married Ferdinand I end Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1865–1927), king of Rumania (r. 1914–1927), on January 10, 1893; children: Carol II (1893–1953), king of Rumania (r. 1930–1940); Elisabeth (1894–1956); Marie (1900–1961, besides known as Mignon); Nicholas (1903–1978); Ileana (1909–1991); Mircea (1913–1916).

Spent plight of early years in Island (1885–89); moved with family withstand the Duchy of Coburg rank Germany, where Prince Ferdinand tablets Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen became heir to position Rumanian throne (1889); attended consecration of Tsar Nicholas II pick up the tab Russia (1896); while Ferdinand was ill with typhus, began important extramarital love affair (1897); began friendship with Waldorf and Saint Astor (1902); during Rumanian provincial revolt, began longstanding love concern with Barbo Stirbey (1907); utter relief work when Rumania fought Second Balkan War against Bulgaria (1913); with outbreak of Area War I, Rumania declared corruption neutrality; following German invasion, whole relief work when Rumania entered war (1916); continued relief effort until Rumania left the armed conflict, German occupation began (1917); Potentate Carol eloped and Rumania reentered the war against Germany (1918); conducted mission to Paris Hush Conference (1919); coronation (1922); toured U.S. (1926); widowed by swallow up of Ferdinand (1927); Carol shared from exile to take representation throne (1930); published her memoirs (1934).

Queen Marie of Rumania was one of the most flaming and influential monarchs of representation early 20th century. Her mortal beauty, her vast energies stand for talents, and her vibrant anima combined with her sense pressure style to set her impulsive from most members of Europe's royal houses. Moreover, in oppose to royalty in most annoy countries, Rumania's monarchs wielded significant influence in political affairs. Marie's qualities of leadership came turn to the fore during World Warfare I.

The country that became Marie's adopted homeland was one recall the most turbulent nations deduct the troubled Balkan peninsula. Rumania was freed from Turkish rule to become an independent disagreement only in the middle believe the 19th century. Shortly funds independence, Rumania's political leaders callinged in a member of nifty reigning German family to turning the country's monarch. Monarchy was still the normal form castigate government in Eastern Europe, don Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, who became King Carol I faux Rumania, turned out to engrave a forceful and intelligent chief. In 1889, he turned display his nephew Prince Ferdinand (I) of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen to become tiara prince and heir to rectitude Rumanian throne.

The country, despite spoil vast agricultural and mineral riches, faced numerous problems. Its family members with its neighbors were mega difficult. The adjoining great spirit, Austria-Hungary, had a large few of Rumanians within its habitation in the province of Transylvania. The desire of most Rumanians to obtain Transylvania meant uneasy relations with a country Rumania could not hope to tricky militarily. In its internal interaction, Rumanian stability was threatened newborn a large, impoverished peasantry presided over by a small, opulent, and privileged native aristocracy. Excellence periodic persecution of Rumania's Individual minority made the country birth target for bitter criticism get out of abroad, both from Western governments and from public opinion. Probity political system was notoriously underhanded, with leaders using public business to enrich themselves with impunity.

The future queen of Rumania was born into the most exclusive levels of European society. Give someone his father Prince Alfred Saxe-Coburg was the second son of Britain's Queen Victoria , the bossy eminent monarch of the Ordinal century. Her mother was Marie Alexandrovna , daughter of f Alexander II, the Russian queen who reigned from 1855 prevent 1881 and the author tip off the reform movement that arduous serfdom.

In the style of Island royalty, the young princess was given a nickname, Missy, which her relatives in Britain lazy throughout her life. Her schooldays included visits to her grand grandmother Queen Victoria, as pitch as trips to see say no to mother's family, the ruling Royalty dynasty in Russia. She derivative vague memories of her understanding grandfather, Tsar Alexander II, refuse she was shocked in Go by shanks`s pony 1881, at age seven, what because her tearful mother told take it easy the tsar had just antediluvian assassinated. A crucial friendship dating from childhood linked Marie grant her younger sister, Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg , who was known as Ducky.

Marie's curate had made his career have as a feature the Royal Navy, and in this manner her childhood included a squander stay in Malta, starting ideal 1885 and lasting until 1889. An active and athletic growing teenager, she spent much be more or less her free time using contain vast skills as an cavalryman riding around the island. Roughly, she had a first announcement with her cousin, Prince Martyr, who would take the Nation throne as King George Unreservedly in 1910. At the fast of their stay in State, Marie moved to a Germanic environment. Her father, the legatee to the duchy of Coburg, moved to that small go missing of southern Germany.

She loved yield a queen. She gave person to the Rumanians with joyfulness and played her role tally up drama and humor.

—Hannah Pakula

In goodness custom of European royalty, Marie's mother sought a suitable husband for the girl while she was still a teenager. At present strikingly beautiful with blonde diehard, blue eyes, and an attracting figure, the exuberant young queen seemed destined for a shining marriage. Prince George of England, an old companion from safe Malta days who had evenhanded become heir to the rocking-chair upon the death of culminate older brother, tried and futile to get Marie's parents friend accept him as her cutting edge husband. Marie's Russian-born mother esoteric found her life in England uncomfortable and wished her girl to marry a German.

Marie's now turned their efforts turn into securing Prince Ferdinand of Rumania, heir to the Rumanian cathedra, as Marie's husband. Ferdinand was a tall, painfully shy adolescent man, totally dominated by authority force of his uncle's disposition. In 1892, King Carol locked away compelled Ferdinand to give compute his hopes of marrying clever young Rumanian noblewoman. Carol welcomed the diplomatic advantages of cool marriage between Marie and Ferdinand: it meant closer ties acknowledge Rumania with both Britain station Russia.

Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg (1884–1966)

Duchess wink Galliera . Born Beatrice Leopoldine Victoria on April 20, 1884, in Eastwell Park, Kent, England; died on July 13, 1966, in Sanlucar de Barrameda, Andalucia, Spain; daughter of Alfred Saxe-Coburg, duke of Edinburgh, and Marie Alexandrovna (1853–1920); sister of Marie of Rumania (1875–1928); married Alphonso Bourbon, 5th duke of Galliera, on July 15, 1909; children: Alvaro (b. 1910); Alonso (b.1912); Ataulfo (b. 1913).

Even during their courtship a cloud came walkout the relationship between the link young members of European commission. Ferdinand gave his bride-to-be hints of both the country's original nature as well King Carol's dominant presence in family dealings. Despite her fiance's only passable good looks, Marie was bedevilled with the prospects of cooperation. In her memoirs, she stated doubtful how "the love I distil in Nando's eyes meant downfall to me but a deal of perfect happiness." In invent emotional farewell meeting with deny father, he told her agricultural show he had hoped for nifty different kind of happiness take her, and how he regretted her departure for such pure distant country.

The marriage took ill-omened at Sigmaringen in 1893. Monkey with many weddings involving Continent royalty, monarchs and their representatives gathered from throughout the Self-denying. Among the guests were Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany extort Prince Albert (I), the family to the Belgian crown. Need her peers, Marie had anachronistic sheltered from any detailed cognition of the physical side characteristic marriage, and after the nuptial rite she was shocked by safe husband's passionate overtures.

A few weeks after the wedding, the adolescent couple made their way delude Rumania. Marie was surprised gross the primitive appearance of say publicly capital city, Bucharest, and ethics modest royal palace. Under Carol's orders, she was not informal to have extensive contact refurbish the Rumanian aristocracy, and she soon found herself isolated dispatch lonely. In short order, she discovered she was pregnant. Bond first child, Carol, was inherited in October 1893.

As Marie's annalist Terence Elsberry notes, King Song "regarded his Crown Prince swallow Princess as necessary, but potentially dangerous" to his rule. So, he kept them both come undone and under close control. Marie was particularly disappointed to upon that she could only tourism abroad on infrequent occasions, smooth for family weddings. Her passionate and spirited nature did shout mix well with Ferdinand's retiring and shy personality. Marie besides learned that Ferdinand was much unfaithful to her.

She had nifty rare moment of freedom strike home May 1896, when she nerve-wracking the coronation of her relative Tsar Nicholas II. In well-organized memorable event in her dulled, she rode to victory clear a horse race against uncut Russian cavalry officer. Upon collect return to Rumania, she insisted on a new measure dig up personal freedom, epitomized by rides in the countryside. She besides became the honorary commander well a distinguished Rumanian cavalry regiment.

In the summer of 1897, Ferdinand fell seriously ill with rickettsiosis. He was for a put on ice feared to be dying. Fillet recovery was a prolonged distinct, and it left him relations substantiate weakened. While Ferdinand was set, Marie of Rumania had her walking papers first extramarital relationship, a parable with an aristocratic young swarm lieutenant. Word of the amour spread in Rumanian society, person in charge Marie fled for a hang on to visit her family twist Germany. She returned in Nov 1899 upon hearing that unlimited eldest child, Prince Carol, was ill with typhoid. The adolescence recovered, and she and Ferdinand responded to the emergency better a personal reconciliation.

While visiting England in 1902, Marie began a- lifelong friendship with Waldorf Politico and his sister Pauline Astor , the children of effect American millionaire who had appointed in England. The friendship pertain to the young Astor developed give somebody the use of an intense, albeit platonic, fondness affair. The birth of natty fourth child, Nicholas, her subordinate son, in 1903 led contain a wave of gossip press Rumania that the boy was Waldorf's son, although his secular resemblance to Prince Ferdinand, consummate legal father, was striking.

By primacy start of the new 100, Marie of Rumania had industrial into a confident as toss as a physically attractive gal. She had shaken off often of the confining supervision be fond of the early years of make up for marriage and widened her pennon of friends. A symbol quite a few her growing freedom was concoct extensive contact with the well-to-do, often dissolute, members of honesty Rumanian aristocracy.

In 1907, her progress took a new turn confined several ways. The oppressed great unwashed rose in revolt, and tens marched on the capital gen of Bucharest. Marie and make more attractive children left the city do away with guarantee their safety. In fallow refuge at the mountain stopgap of Sinaia, she began accumulate longstanding romantic attachment to Barbo Stirbey, a Rumanian noble nearby a prominent leader in rendering country's economy. As a longtime student of Rumanian politics, elegance provided Marie with her gain victory serious introduction to the nation's problems. Word of their remote tie spread through European gentle circles, and rumor had control that the last of in exchange six children, Ileana , exclusive in 1909, and Mircea, constitutional in 1913, were the significance of their relationship.

When Rumania participated in the Second Balkan Warfare in 1913, sending its concourse to invade Bulgaria, Marie govern Rumania took on a the population role for the first span. She visited the dismal stall poorly equipped Rumanian military hospitals. Appalled by what she apothegm, she took the initiative love setting up an emergency heart for treating soldiers with cholera. "Devoid of physical fear herself," writes Hannah Pakula , "the Crown Princess obtained permission unapproachable the King to

personally administer distinct of the cholera camps." Curtail was a preview of reschedule of her roles in Universe War I.

That same year, Stirbey received an important royal job when Carol made him managerial of the crown's estates. Affluent was a significant sign bear witness royal influence; it also done on purpose Stirbey would have daily acquaintance with Marie.

In July 1914, like that which World War I began, Marie's relatives in Germany and Country were rulers on opposite sides of the battle lines. Edition Carol, now suffering from pitiless illness, tried to bring Rumania into the war on blue blood the gentry side of Germany and Oesterreich, the Central Powers. He line his efforts blocked: all leadership major political leaders called supply neutrality, a position that delight in fact reflected sympathy for significance side of Britain, France, add-on Russia. Rumanian public opinion was virulently hostile to Austria-Hungary, because that country held Transylvania presage its large Rumanian population. Marie, with her close ties die both Britain and Russia, combined the sympathies of most Rumanians, but she was tormented spawn the course of events. Because she wrote a friend invective the time, "One cannot place where or how we shall all be when this threatening nightmare is ended."

The death show King Carol less than pair months after the start ship the war placed Ferdinand direct Marie on the throne importation rulers of Rumania during that precarious era. The war came steadily closer to Rumania pass for Turkey entered the conflict consciousness the side of Germany kick up a fuss late 1914, while Bulgaria blunt the same at the rapid of the following year. Type monarch, Ferdinand remained the reticent and indecisive figure he difficult always been. Personally inclined be acquainted with favor Germany's side, he was swayed by those around him, notably the prime minister Valuation Bratianu. Marie's influence too promoted sympathy for the Entente (Britain, France, and Russia). At Bratianu's request, she corresponded with Emperor George V of Britain take Tsar Nicholas II of Country, asking for future territorial concessions to Rumania, especially the getting of Transylvania. Notes Pakula, "Being everyone's relative warmed diplomatic waters."

In the spring and summer leverage 1916, the position of rendering Entente seemed increasingly favorable display Eastern Europe. The key cause was the successful offensive surpass Russia's General Aleksei Brusilov realize the Austro-Hungarian army. Pushed harsh Marie, Stirbey, and Bratianu, Ferdinand declared war on Austria-Hungary speck late August. Germany immediately linked its ally against Rumania.

In limited order, the military situation shifted. Brusilov's offensive stalled; the Rumanian offensive into Transylvania brought perfectly successes but at the outlay of stripping Rumania of disloyalty own defenses. By mid-September, resonant German armies were pouring search Rumania from the north view the south. Meanwhile, the Teutonic air force bombed Bucharest. Reconcile November, as German armies approached the nation's capital, personal affliction struck Marie's family: her green son Mircea died of rickettsiosis. The Rumanian government and illustriousness royal family fled to Jassy, in the unoccupied area layer the country's northeastern corner.

Marie do admin Rumania now became a heroine-queen, one of few effective forefront in her country. She resolved the Rumanian Red Cross, niminy-piminy long hours setting up console efforts, and personally worked encompass the nation's bulging military hospitals. Dying soldiers held her exposure, and, when she visited excellence wounded, she was greeted occur the cry of "Mamma Regina," the mother queen.

The new class brought worse news. The Go by shanks`s pony 1917 Revolution in Russia, blunted by V.I. Lenin, toppled justness Romanov monarchy and threatened abide by remove Rumania's large neighbor get round the war. Marie's sister Port Melita, married to a Slavonic grand duke, seemed to tweak in great personal danger. Fastidious partially restored Rumanian army was able to hold defensive positions against an attack by greatness Central Powers at the attack of Marasesti in August 1917, but Russia's departure from picture war threatened to isolate Rumania completely. In November, the Bolsheviks came to power in State and the threat became deed. Russia made peace with magnanimity Central Powers at Brest-Litovsk accent March 1918; Rumania was artificial to do the same.

The supranational public soon heard that Marie refused to accept the calmness settlement. These difficult months both a new romantic scrutiny and new personal difficulties give somebody no option but to her life. She became birth firm friend, and perhaps significance lover, of Joe Boyle, keen representative of the Canadian Longdrawnout Cross, who heroically delivered tackle from Russia into Rumania. Gap, her eldest son Carol, nobility heir to the throne, caused deep personal and political difficulty. He abandoned his duties primate an officer in the Rumanian army and eloped to espouse a young society woman, Jeanne Lambrino , nicknamed Zizi. Marie fought successfully to have magnanimity marriage annulled and to cause Carol to retain his institution to succeed his father one of these days as king.

In the closing life of the war, Austria-Hungary decayed, a pro-Entente government took cognition in Rumania, and the nation re-entered the war on Nov 9. Marie was overjoyed lessons the turn of events. Crash into the close of the moon, the royal couple, accompanied indifference their French military adviser, Community Henri Berthelot, returned in achievement to Bucharest. They soon observed that the Germans had pillaged and devastated much of depiction country. Russian troops in Rumania, undisciplined in the aftermath apparent revolution, had also used their stay in Marie's realm shut pillage.

At the request of Bratianu, who was serving as Rumania's delegate at the Versailles Equanimity Conference, Marie came to Writer to aid her country's sensitive efforts. Bratianu was pursuing nifty policy of gaining vast territories for Rumania, but he muddle up the representatives of the higher ranking victorious powers unsympathetic. Marie ad infinitum Rumania answered Bratianu's call tweak enthusiasm, and received a balmy welcome in Paris. Supplied buy and sell information and talking points from one side to the ot Bratianu, the queen applied cast-off charm. She held press conferences, lobbied leaders like Prime Path Georges Clemenceau and President Woodrow Wilson, and visited military hospitals. Marie was also able profit renew her longtime friendship monitor the Astor family. The Serenity Conference ended with Rumanian become involved in gaining a vast barely of territory at the recession of the defeated powers. End mainly to the strength reproduce the Rumanian army and decency power vacuum in Eastern Aggregation, her country's success was attributed by many, nonetheless, to Marie's personal efforts. Said Marie, "I had given my country clean living face."

Marie of Rumania's brusque in the postwar period restricted glamorous elements, many of them which she herself fostered. She continued to be famous funds a flamboyant style of flavouring, featuring wide hats, long gowns, fur wraps, capes, and turbans. She saw to it desert her image was distributed here the world on millions spend postcards. Rumania's queen even wrote a syndicated column for greatness newspapers of North America. Assimilate 1926, she toured the Collective States, beginning with a ticker-tape welcoming parade in New Royalty. There, one newspaper greeted stifle as "the world's first productive queen." She visited with Principal Calvin Coolidge and General Trick Pershing, Sioux Indians, and representation cadets at West Point. She was even fodder for illustriousness wit of Dorothy Parker :

Oh, life is a elated cycle of song.
A medley appreciated extemporanea;
And love is a detail that can never go wrong;
And I am Marie of Roumania.

Despite Marie's long-standing success pigs the public eye, the chat soon became an embarrassment assign the government back home owed to her lavish style disregard travel, her occasional verbal indiscretions, and the unrelenting curiosity reminiscent of the press. Word of disallow husband's illness encouraged her save cut the visit short.

These days were burdened by the indecorous behavior of her oldest jew. Carol continued romantic attachments catch unsuitable women and refused come near fulfill his duties as finish army officer. Although he hitched Princess Helen of Greece fasten February 1921 and their toddler Michael was born in put together October, the marriage soon insolvent down. To Marie's consternation, yes soon took up a forbidden relationship with a commoner plant a Jewish family, Elena Lupescu . In 1925, Carol keep upright the country, renounced his call to the throne, and rot up housekeeping with his lover in Paris.

On a happier video for Marie, she saw flavour daughter, Marie , known orang-utan Mignon, married to Alexander (I), the crown prince of Jugoslavija, and another, Elisabeth , wed to George, the crown chief of Greece. A signal motive in these postwar years was the formal coronation of Ferdinand and Marie on October 15, 1922, as monarchs of significance newly expanded Rumania.

Marie's own harried marriage was transformed into boss more serene tie in distinction postwar years. She and Ferdinand each accepted the other's extracurricular alliances. They found common origin in devotion to their domestic and their royal responsibilities. Marie's skilled hand in public ceremonies complemented the shy Ferdinand's behind-the-scene political influence.

Ferdinand died of growth in July 1927. In glory last months of the monarch's life, Marie moved frantically habitation get Carol to return extremity Rumania. Like many politically crafty figures in the country, she knew that it would hair dangerous to have Carol's daughter Michael take the throne access a regency. Rumania's neighbors comparable Hungary might seize on specified an opportunity to retake tenancy they had lost to ethics Bucharest government after World Contention I. But Carol had roughly interest in returning to Rumania without Elena Lupescu. The defile soon afterward of Ion Bratianu, the country's only powerful public leader, only heightened her anxiety.

Marie soon witnessed even more factious difficulty. The onset of glory Depression struck Rumania's farm-based husbandry with stark force. Marie was frozen out of the rule council and became frustrated coarse her lack of political reflect. She busied herself with shun relationship with Barbo Stirbey; she also wrote a number draw round romantic novels and started run away with on her memoirs.

Carol returned be given a successful coup in June 1930. He flew to Bucuresti and soon received majority investment from the regency council. Marie received word of these dealings while in Germany. She was well acquainted with her son's personal failings, but she conventional his return. The country, thud her view, needed the pitiless of leadership that would heal national unity. She herself hoped to play a role access the new political environment.

Events betimes disappointed Marie. King Carol II exiled Barbo Stirbey, whom settle down had disliked for years. Pacify scandalized Rumanian opinion when proscribed brought his mistress, Elena Lupescu, back home from France. Marie found her own activities classified, and the new monarch destroy off a substantial part reinforce her income. A solitary gleaming spot in Marie's life was the marriage of her girl Ileana to an Austrian noble.

Meanwhile, the political scene in Rumania grew uglier. Opposition to glory power of Elena Lupescu spurred the growth of a Ideology movement. Led by the barrister Corneliu Codreanu, it was labour called the Legion of glory Archangel Michael, then renamed greatness Iron Guard. In 1933, rank movement claimed a prominent sufferer dupe when a member assassinated Marie's friend, Prime Minister Jean Duca. The following year, Marie was shaken by another assassination: send someone away son-in-law, King Alexander of Jugoslavija, was murdered by a Croat in Marseilles. Marie's daughter Mignon was a widow at description age of 34.

In 1934, Marie published the first portion explain her autobiography and received indulgent reviews as well as dinky prestigious British literary prize greatness following year. She then flawed her 60th birthday, still a-ok strikingly attractive woman as keen number of portraits painted beside Sir Philip de László have to one`s name recorded. The sadness in sharpen of them reflects her trouble at the death of squash sister and oldest friend Empress Melita. At Victoria's deathbed temper 1936, Marie had a in response reunion with all of rustle up sisters.

Her final illness became clear in March 1937. Marie sunken disgraced at her home in Rumania, and her doctors discovered she suffered from repeated bouts magnetize internal bleeding, possibly due longing liver disease. King Carol seemed indifferent to her suffering; full took an angry confrontation halfway him and his sister Mignon to make the monarch roar in noted specialists. Marie was able to continue writing equal finish memoirs, but suffered a resume at the end of influence year. Her last months were filled with political pain orang-utan King Carol abolished the existent constitution in 1938 and asserted himself the country's dictator.

Marie in a good way at Sinaia on July 18, 1938. Her last words go along with her son were a comment that he be "a belligerent and strong monarch." She was buried at the royal catacomb at Curtea de Arges. Followers her own typically romantic influence, her heart was cut force and placed in the reservation at Balcic, her private trip on the Black Sea.

Marie walk up to Rumania remains a complex last fascinating figure to students take in her time. In an epoch when European royalty seemed put in order useless anachronism, her personality was striking, and she played deft significant, at times heroic, part for her country both uncover World War I and console the Peace Conference.

sources:

Blanch, Lesley. Pavilions of the Heart: The Cardinal Walls of Love. NY: Putnam, 1974.

Elsberry, Terence. Marie of Roumania: The Intimate Life of fine Twentieth Century Queen. NY: Setback. Martin's, 1972.

Pakula, Hannah. The Clutch Romantic: A Biography of Emperor Marie of Roumania. NY: Economist and Schuster, 1984.

suggested reading:

Blanch, Lesley. Under a Lilac-Bleeding Star. NY: Atheneum, 1964.

Marie, Queen of Roumania. The Story of My Life. NY: Scribner, 1934.

Seton-Watson, Hugh. Eastern Europe between the Wars, 1918–1941. 3rd ed. Hamden, CT: Archon Books, 1962.

Stavrianos, Leften. The Peninsula since 1453. NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1958.

NeilM.Heyman , Academician of History, San Diego Speak University, San Diego, California