1866. Establishing the constitutional monarchy – the making of Romania

Author: Gheorghe CLIVETI
Keywords: Romania, Great Powers, diplomacy, constitutional monarchy, Prince Carol of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.
DOI: 10.58543/rjmh.2024.15.1-2:29

Within the very complicated diplomatic and political context of the first part of 1866, when Europe was getting closer to the outbreak of the conflict between Austria and Prussia, the United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia took a step further in the national programme that had been expressed by the Ad-hoc Assemblies in 1857: the installation of the foreign prince and the establishment of the constitutional monarchy. Constantly under permanent external threat, the Union built in 1859 held out, and the foreign implant represented by Prince Carol I of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen proved to be an inspired choice for the evolution of the Romanian state. Even from this perspective, 1866 was a turning point for the relations between the young Romanian state and the Great Powers. Framed in the perspective of a fait accompli policy, the events in the United Principalities once again challenged the will of the European forum and marked a new stage in the Romanians’ road to independence.