Crown Council of Romania
| Consiliul Regal a Romaniei | |
| Formation |
|
|---|---|
| Legal status | Advisory body |
| Membership | Members of the Council |
| Margareta of Romania (Queen-in-Council) | |
| Website | consiliul-regal.ro |
The Crown Council (Romanian: Consiliul de Coroană) was an institution that advised the King of Romania. Informal between 1866 and 1938, it was formalized by the 1938 Constitution, in effect for two years. The forum met on occasions of great national importance. It had a purely advisory role, and was convoked by the King on the government's advice.[1]
In 2010, the council was once again re-established by King Michael I on October 10, which succeeded the Political and Advisory Committee set up by the King during his exile and after 1989 Romanian Revolution.
List of Crown Councils
The Crown Councils that took place and the issues discussed were the following:
| Date | Reason | King |
|---|---|---|
| 2 April 1877 | Entry into the Romanian War of Independence | Carol I |
| 21 July 1914 | Approval of Romania's neutrality at the beginning of World War I | |
| 14 August 1916 | Approval of Romania's entry into the First World War | Ferdinand I |
| 17–19 February 1918 | Approval of the start of peace negotiations with the Central Powers | |
| 31 December 1925 | Took note of the abdication of Prince Carol | |
| 9 April 1937 | The exclusion of Prince Nicholas from the royal family | Carol II |
| 17 March 1939 | Discussion of the situation created by the occupation of Czechoslovakia | |
| 6 September 1939 | Approval of Romania's neutrality at the beginning of World War II | |
| 27 June 1940 | Approval of the Soviet ultimatum on Bessarabia | |
| 23 August 1940 | Discussion of negotiations with Hungary on Transylvania | |
| 30 August 1940 | Approval of the arbitration offer made by Germany and Italy regarding Transylvania | |
| 31 August 1940 | Took note of the content of the Vienna Dictate |
Institutionalization of the Crown Council
At the beginning of 1938, King Carol II decided to abolish the parliamentary regime and established a regime of personal authority, enshrined in law by drafting, approving by plebiscite and then promulgating a new Constitution. Several measures were taken to reorganize the state, which included: censorship, suspension of the immovability of magistrates and the stability of civil servants, dissolution of political parties, creation of a "mass" party (National Renaissance Front), professional organization in guilds, reform administrative etc.
Against this background, on March 30, 1938, a decree-law was issued establishing the Crown Council as a distinct political organism. According to the decree-law, the members of the Council were to be appointed by royal decree, from current or former dignitaries of the state, church, army and royal court or from prominent personalities of the country, the number of members not being limited. The Council maintained its consultative status.
Members
Historical members
The members of the Council bore the title of royal adviser, and received a monthly allowance of 50,000 lei. These were the following (those for whom the date is not specified were appointed on 30 March 1938):
- Former Prime Ministers didn't become Crown Councillors for different reasons; Barbu Știrbey (1927), was vetoed by King Carol II and Iuliu Maniu and Octavian Goga (1937—1938) refused to serve.
| Imaage | Name | Dates | Portfolio | PM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriarch Miron (1868–1939) |
30 March 1938 | 6 March 1939 | Patriarch 1919–1939 | 1938–1939 | |
| Mareșal Alexandru Averescu (1859–1938) |
30 March 1938 | 30 October 1938 | 1918 1920–1921 1926–1927 | ||
| General Artur Văitoianu (1864–1956) |
30 March 1938 | 6 September 1940 | 1919 | ||
| Alexandru Vaida-Voevod (1872–1950) |
30 March 1938 | 6 September 1940 | 1919–1920 1932 1933 | ||
| Gheorghe Mironescu (1874–1949) |
30 March 1938 | 6 September 1940 | 1930 1930–1931 | ||
| Nicolae Iorga (1871–1940) |
30 March 1938 | 6 September 1940 | 1931–1932 | ||
| Constantin Angelescu (1869–1948) |
30 March 1938 | 6 September 1940 | 1933–1934 | ||
| Gheorghe Tătărescu (1886–1957) |
30 March 1938 | 6 September 1940 | 1934–1937 1939–1940 | ||
| Constantin Argetoianu (1871–1955) |
30 March 1938 | 6 September 1940 | 1939 | ||
| Mareșal Constantin Prezan (1861–1943) |
30 March 1938 | 6 September 1940 | |||
| General Ernest Ballif (1871–1940) |
30 March 1938 | 6 September 1940 | |||
| A. C. Cuza (1857–1947) |
16 June 1939 | 6 September 1940 | |||
| Victor Iamandi (1891–1940) |
23 November 1939 | 6 September 1940 | |||
| Ion Mihalache (1882–1963) |
17 April 1940 | 26 June 1940 | |||
| Victor Antonescu (1871–1947) |
18 April 1940 | 6 September 1940 | |||
| Patriarch Nicodim (1864–1948) |
20 August 1940 | 6 September 1940 | Patriarch 1939–1948 | ||
| [[]] | Nicolae Bălan (1882–1955) |
20 August 1940 | 6 September 1940 | ||
| [[]] | Alexandru Nicolescu (1882–1941) |
20 August 1940 | 6 September 1940 | ||
- Metropolitan of Transylvania Nicolae Bălan, from August 20, 1940
- Metropolitan of the Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic Alexandru Nicolescu, from August 20, 1940.
2010–2017
Source:[2]
- HRH Crown Princess Margareta of Romania
- HRH Prince Radu of Romania
- HIRH Archduke Lorenz of Austria, Prince of Belgium
- Mr Andrew Popper, President of the Royal Council
- Master Adrian Vasiliu
- Dr Jonathan Eyal
- Mr Guy Pochelon
- HE Ambassador Mihnea Constantinescu (October 2010 – December 2015)
- Mr Anders Lindberg – Sweden (since January 2015)
- Dr Anneli Ute Gabanyi (since January 2016)
- Lawyer Dr Ioan-Luca Vlad, Secretary of the Council
Current members (2018-today)
Source:[3]
- HRH Princess Helena of Romania
- HRH Princess Sophie of Romania (since November 2024)
- HIRH Archduke Lorenz of Austria, Prince of Belgium
- Mr Andrew Popper, President of the Royal Council
- Master Adrian Vasiliu
- Dr Jonathan Eyal
- Dr Anneli Ute Gabanyi
- Lawyer Dr Ioan-Luca Vlad
See also
Bibliography
- Ion Mamina, Consilii de Coroană, Editura Enciclopedică, București, 1997
References
- ^ Ioan Mamina, Consilii de Coroană, pp. 7-9. Editura Enciclopedica, 1997, ISBN 978-9734502-02-8
- ^ "Consiliul Regal". Casa Majestății Sale. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- ^ "Consiliul Regal". Casa Majestății Sale. Retrieved 2026-01-25.