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King Mihai I denounces all historical and dynastic ties with House of Hohenzollern
Romanian King Mihai I announced that all dynastic ties between the Royal House of Romania and the Princely House of Hohenzollern had been cut, beginning on Tuesday, reads a material issued by the Elisabeta Palace press office.
King Mihai I makes it clear that his decision relies on his 'undisputed authority as Head of the Royal House of Romania,' considering the decision made by King Ferdinand I to grant a national and independent character to the Dynasty and the Royal House and honouring his duty towards history and his descendants and successors, complying with Articles 1(10), 15 and Annex 1 to the Fundamental Rules of the Royal Family of Romania, adopted on December 30, 2007.
'Acting in accordance with my own free will, I denounce all historical and dynastic ties with the House of Hohenzollern. On May 10, 2011, all dynastic ties between the Royal House of Romania and the Princely House of Hohenzollern are broken. In conformity with the wishes of our late grandfather, His Royal Majesty King Ferdinand I and his edict issued in 1921, the Royal Family of Romania and its members have carried and are carrying the title 'of Romania.' But, starting on May 10, 2011, the Royal House of Romania will not carry the name 'of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen' any longer. Henceforth, the Royal House of Romania will be known just by the name of 'The Royal House of Romania,'' says King Mihai I.
'Starting on May 10, 2011, no member of the Royal Family of Romania will carry or have the right to carry or use any title (either hereditary or ad personam) bestowed by any Head of the Princely House of Hohenzollern. The Head of the Royal House of Romania is the only authority entitled to bestow or accept any title or honour,' reads the document.
His Majesty said that the Fundamental Rules of the Royal Family of Romania had been amended: 'The Fundamental Rules of the Royal Family of Romania are amended by removing the constituents 'of Hohenzollern,' 'of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen' and 'of Hohenzollern-Veringen,' as far as they are part of the name of any member of the Royal Family of Romania. The amended Fundamental Rules of the Royal Family of Romania will be forwarded to the members of the Royal Family of Romania.'
The document, dated 'May 10, 2011, at the Elisabeta Palace in Bucharest,' bears the signature Mihai R.
The House of Hohenzollern is one of the most important dynasties in European history, providing kings and emperors of Prussia (1415-1918) and Germany (1871-1918). The House took its name from a castle in Swabia, originally documented as Zolorin or Zolre (currently Hohenzollern, in south Tuebingen, Baden-Wuerttemberg).
Burkhard I, count of Zollern in the 11th century, is the earliest recorded ancestor of the dynasty. After the third and fourth generation, the line split in two branches: Zollern-Hohenberg, which disappeared by 1486, and the counts of Nuremberg, whose descendants make up the current House.
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen is a branch of the Hohenzollern dynasty, which led Prussia and later Germany until 1918.
In Romania, the House of Hohenzollern was chosen as ruling dynasty in 1866 by the political leadership around Ion Bratianu. This dynasty included Carol I, prince (1866-1881) and King of Romania (1881-1914), Ferdinand I (1914-1927), Michael I (1927-1930, 1940-1947) and Carol II (1930-1940).