When I look into different consorts for this series, there are a few things that I consider. I look at sources available (this makes earlier consorts more difficult to cover), the role that they played within their family/ies and beyond, and their legacy. I’ve been mulling over this consort for a while, but after reading more on her last year, I thought that there is no better time to feature her. She lived through one of the most tumultuous periods in modern history and was a contemporary to many notable figures. Let’s get into one of the most complex consorts of the twentieth century: our January Consort of the Month: Queen Marie of Romania!
Consort of the Month: Queen Marie of Romania
Birth Date: 29 October 1875
Death Date: 18 July 1938
Tenure: 10 October 1914 – 20 July 1927
Birth Name: Marie Alexandra Victoria of Edinburgh
Spouse: Ferdinand I of Romania
House: Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Father: Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Mother: Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia
Why Do We Know Queen Marie of Romania?
Sadly, I do not come across many people who know of Marie, outside of very specific historical circles. She was related to several European royal families on both sides and would go on to play a crucial role in European politics. (Her relationship/marriage, and the relationships of her children are more than dramatic enough to make a Crown-style show- someone needs to make this happen.) My working theory is that as one of Queen Victoria’s grandchildren, she was one of forty-odd and it’s hard to stand out with several ruling monarchs and consorts. I will do my part to try to change that, though!
Queen Marie of Romania’s Early Life
Marie was born in October 1875 to the son of Queen Victoria and the daughter of Tsar Alexander II. Known to her family as Missy, Marie spent most of her childhood with her siblings and mother at Eastwell Park as her father travelled much of the time for his role in the Royal Navy. She received a sparing education- her mother believed that her children were not particularly gifted.
The family moved to Malta for the Navy, and then again to Coburg in 1889 when the Duke of Edinburgh inherited the title of Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Despite their varying locations, Marie spent her childhood and adolescent years with both her British and Russian cousins. As she was considered quite a beauty, she was very popular as a young woman. The future King George V proposed to Marie but as a Russian, her mother refused to agree to a marriage between first cousins.
Crown Princess of Romania
Marie’s mother suggested that Marie meet with Crown Prince Ferdinand of Romania who was looking for a bride. Born a Grand Duchess of Russia, the Duchess of Edinburgh largely hated life in the British Royal Family and was keen for her daughter to leave. The couple met in 1892 and were married in January of 1893.
King Carol insisted on the couple keeping a very small social circle and life was difficult for the social Marie. Their marriage was not the happiest of marriages but they did essentially become friends and had six children together.
It is thought that Marie may have had several affairs; Ferdinand also had several affairs. However, as a ruling couple, they worked well together and Ferdinand trusted his wife’s decisions.
A New Monarch and a War
King Carol I of Romania died in 1914- Ferdinand and Marie were named as King and Queen on 11 October. Romania did not immediately enter the First World War, but Marie continued to advocate for Romania to join Britain, France, and Russia- Romania officially entered the war in August 1916. Like many other royals, Marie worked as a nurse during the war- this would be a key piece of her lasting legacy.
Queen Marie was in Paris in 1919 for the Paris Peace Conference and was popular with the politicians there. Although she made various shocking comments while in Paris, many around her admitted that the beautiful and personable queen was able to accomplish anything.
The Next Generation
Out of Marie and Ferdinand’s six children, there was one king, King Carol II of Romania, and two queens, Queen Elisabeth of Greece and Queen Maria of Yugoslavia. Carol was a particularly difficult figure in the family and gave his mother quite a deal of trouble (to put it lightly). He was not well-liked, as he deserted the army during the First World War. He was also a playboy and in 1918 married Zizi Lambrino, a commoner. This was a major issue for the future King, and it was annulled a year later. He continued to have issues and renounced his rights to the throne.
However, Carol actually usurped the throne from his son, Michael, in 1930- Michael had inherited the throne upon his grandfather’s death in 1927 and a regency council ruled for him.
Widowhood
Marie’s widowhood remained somewhat difficult. Carol disliked his mother and continually tried to remove any support she might have. She was not particularly popular during Michael’s regency, and she never truly recovered from that in standing.
Marie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the summer of 1937; she died in July of 1938.
Notably, Marie published her autobiography in the 1930s. While it was met with mixed reviews when first published, it remains a valuable and interesting source for historians to this day.
Queen Marie of Romania: Interesting Facts
– The Queen Marie of Romania Sapphire, named for Marie, was the largest sapphire ever sold at auction (2003).
– Her coronation gown is held at a museum in the United States.
– Marie publicly declared herself as a follower of the Baháʼí teachings.
– In 2015, Marie’s heart was moved to Pelisor Castle- it is now held in the room where she passed.
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Further Readings/Listenings on Queen Marie of Romania
Gelardi, Julia P. Born to Rule: Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen Victoria. St Martin’s Griffin, 2006.
Marie, Queen of Romania. The Story of My Life. C. Scribner’s Sons, 1934. (You can find it on Archive.Org here.)
Pakula, Hannah. The last romantic: A biography of Queen Marie of Roumania. London: Weidenfield and Nicolson, 1985.
Looking for my earlier Consort of the Month posts? Read about:
Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Queen Marie Antoinette
Catherine de Medici
Queen Adelaide
Catherine de Valois
Marie de Guise
Queen Alexandra of Denmark
Empress Josephine of France
Queen Elizabeth of York
Queen Elisabeth de Valois
Queen Catherine of Braganza
Queen Caroline of Brunswick
Queen Josephine of Leuchtenberg
Elizabeth Stuart
Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians
Saint Margaret of Scotland
Queen Maud of Wales
Empress Sisi of Austria
I hope you have enjoyed Consort of the Month: Queen Maria of Romania!
Cheers,
The Historian
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You may wish to correct the misinformation in your article that King Carol I was Prince Ferdinand’s father. Carol was the brother of Ferdinand’s father.
Thanks for catching that, the comment is much appreciated!