Their Majesties King Michael I of Romania and Queen Ana visited Braşov, following the invitation of the County Council?s president, Aristotel Căncescu. It was the second post-December visit of the royal couple in Braşov, after their first one in 1996. The royalty were welcomed by county?s officialdom, historians, royalty henchmen, academicians, representatives of the Ex Politic Inmates? Association, writers and mass-media, accomplishing an old dream of the inhabitants.
Connection to the History
Artistotel Căncescu bestowed King Michael I and Queen Ana the Excellency Diploma and reminded the initiative to invite Their Majesties in Braşov, that he and the ex mayor of Braşov, Adrian Moruzi, had in 1992. The then government had rejected it and forbade the royalty to set foot in Romania.
?The King is our connection to the real history of Romania: the great-grandchild of King Carol I, who created the modern Romania, a powerful state; the grandson of King Ferdinand I who made of Romania a big country, with a population almost as numerous as England?s and a very powerful economy. King Michael ran the country in one of the worst periods of our history, that of the hitlerian, stalinist and communist dictatorships. He managed nevertheless to remain a vertical, moral man? Căncescu stated.
Under the King?s Flag
?The moral aura the royal family brings here will make more natural the reconciliation with the history. In the unite Europe there are more than one nation governed by powerful monarchies?, Adrian Moruzi declared, confident in the strong connection between the King and his country.
Octav Bjoza, president at interim of the Ex-Political Inmates Association, looked really excited while addressing himself to the King: ?Majesty, a great many among those who fought for theirs country and King died in the communist prisons. We didn?t succeed 50 years ago to stop the instauration of the communist down here and hunt out the soviet tanks, but we showed the whole world that not everybody in this country was a coward?.
Those who served under the flag of King Michael I of Romania wished long life to both the King and the Queen.
Academy?s Protector
Prefect Aurelian Danu thinks the visit had an historical charge: ?After 16 years, we are tending to normality; I?m glad to see how many are those who understand what Their Majesty represent in Europe and in the world and the lobby they have been making for Romania?.
Academician Alexandru Surdu reminded that King Michael I of Romania has been the protector of the Romanian Academy; he also mentioned the royalists among the academicians who suffered in prison for having fought for their King.
Symbols of 2006
His Majesty King Michael I of Romania ended the reunion by stating that 2006 is a year full of symbols for the Royal Family and the history of our country: ?140 years past since a European chef state ? Carol I - took the reins of our country and 125 since Romania has become an independent and sovereign kingdom. It is the last year of Romania outside the European Union?s boundaries. The Royal Family came in Romania to stand in with the people who understand their obligations towards their communities. You are here a few men ? local and district counselors, institutions? managers, academicians and teachers ? responsible for the six hundred thousand inhabitants of Braşov County. I exhort you to show them respect?.
Flowers for the King
King Michael, accompanied by local officialdom, walked on the historical centre of Braşov; they had dinner at Aro Palace and visited the Military Hospital ,,Queen Mary?. Many inhabitants accompanied the King to the Council Place, where the royal couple attended a religious service celebrated at the Orthodox Cathedral. Exiting the church, they were offered flower by dozens of citizens, eager to shake hands with the royalty. Their Majesty left Braşov in the afternoon.
The Swiss Exile
King Michael I of Romania, born at Sinaia on 25 October 1921, is the son of King Carol the 2nd. He was twice sovereign of Romania: within 20 July 1927 ? 8 June 1930 and 6 September 1940 ? 30 December 1947. Michael became king for the first time after the death of his grandfather Ferdinand and the relinquishment of his royal assignment by Carol II (December 1925). Deposed by his father, only three years later, he retook the crown a decade later, after the abdication of Carol the 2nd, as sovereign of the pro-German regime ruled by marshal Ion Antonescu, the supporter of the collaboration with the Germans in the World War II. After the soviet army occupied Romania, King Michael organized the arrest of marshal Antonescu on 23 August 1944. He countervailed the pro-soviet governments during 1945-1946. He was constrained to abdicate on 30 December 1947 and exiled himself at Versoix (Switzerland). He has been precluded from retuning in Romania until 1996.
