Crown Council of Romania

The Crown Council () 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.Ioan Mamina, Consilii de Coroană, pp. 7-9. Editura Enciclopedica, 1997,

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 IndependenceCarol 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 WarFerdinand 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 familyCarol 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. + Crown Councillors 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 19181920–19211926–1927 General Artur Văitoianu(1864–1956) 30 March 1938 6 September 1940 1919 Alexandru Vaida-Voevod(1872–1950) 30 March 1938 6 September 1940 1919–192019321933 Gheorghe Mironescu(1874–1949) 30 March 1938 6 September 1940 19301930–1931 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 1934–19371939–1940 Constantin Argetoianu(1871–1955) 30 March 1938 6 September 1940 1939 Mareșal Constantin Prezan(1861–1943) 30 March 1938 6 September 1940 General (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: 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: 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

Crown Council of Romania

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