| Domnitor of the United Principalities | |
|---|---|
) | |
) Carol I | |
| Details | |
| Style | His Royal Highness |
| First monarch | Alexander I |
| Last monarch | Carol I |
| Formation | 5 February 1862 |
| Abolition | 15 March 1881 |
| Appointer | Hereditary |
Domnitor (pl. Domnitori) was the official title of the ruler of Romania between 1862 and 1881. It was usually translated as "prince" in other languages and less known as "grand duke". Derived from the Romanian word "domn" (lord or ruler) and, in turn, from the Latin "Dominus", Domnitor had been in use since the Middle Ages. Moldavian and Wallachian rulers had sometimes been referred to by the term, though their official titles had been voievod or hospodar, especially after they were officially nominated by the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire. The title acquired an officially recognized meaning only after Moldavia and Wallachia united in 1862 to form the United Romanian Principalities under Alexander John I, who had been the ruler of states since 1859. Alexander John was deposed in 1866 and succeeded by Carol I, who held the post until 1881. When Romania was proclaimed a kingdom in 1881, Carol became its first king.[1]
Domnitori of the United Principalities (1862–1881)
| Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandru Ioan Cuza | 20 March 1820–15 May 1873 (aged 53) | 5 February 1862 | 22 February 1866 | — | Cuza | ) |
| Carol I | 20 April 1839–10 October 1914 (aged 75) | 20 April 1866 | 15 March 1881 | Became King of the Romanians | Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen | ) |
See also
- King of the Romanians
- List of rulers of Moldavia
- List of rulers of Wallachia
- List of heads of state of Romania
References
- ^ Kremnitz, Mite; Sidney Whitman, Sidney (1899). Reminiscences of the King of Roumania. Harper& Brothers.