Michael I of Romania

Michael I (born October 21, 1921) was King of Romania from September 6, 1940 to December 30, 1947. His father was King Carlo II, and his mother Helen of Greece, and Denmark. At 18, he was given a seat in the Romanian senate while under regency. At this time, in 1940, fascist Prime Minister Antonescu staged a coup d'etat against Carlo II, ending his riegn. By popular demand, the fascist government instated Michael as King. Although formally being above the Prime Minister in authority, and being head of the Army, real power was invested upon Antonescu who took upon him self the title; 'Leader of the People'.

By 1944 Michael had become increasingly pro-ally. When a communist revolt threatened the power of Antonescu, Michael, in a bold move, organized his own coup, taking power from the Prime Minister, and proclaiming Romania's loyalty to the Allies, declaring war on Germany, and declaring a cease fire with the Red Army; which had been invading Romania.

The sudden shift in Romania's loyalty was a blow to the Axis powers, and is speculated to have shortened the war by six months. At the end of the war, King Michael was awarded the highest degree (Chief Commander) of the Legion of Merit by U.S. President Harry S. Truman. He was also decorated with the Soviet Order of Victory by Joseph Stalin "for the courageous act of the radical change in Romania's politics towards a break-up from Hitler's Germany and an alliance with the United Nations, at the moment when there was no clear sign yet of Germany's defeat," according to the official description of the decoration. With the death of Michał Rola-Żymierski in 1989, Michael became the sole surviving recipient of the Order of Victory.

However, in time, the Romanian's elected a communist senate, which demanded his abdication. Under this government, Michael faced opposition, and was unable to save some members of the resistence from the communist political trails, who found their ideas counter to their agenda. Eventually, Micheal stopped his resistence, and gave into what he considered the will of the people, thus resigning from office on December 30, 1947. Recent documenation suggests that this abdication was forced upon him at gunpoint, around the time he would be traveling to London for his counsin's wedding.

He is one of three surviving monarchs from WWII.