Under King Carol I, Romania entered a period of relative stability and rapid economic development focused on infrastructure, such as the national railway system.
: In 1881, Romania was elevated to a Kingdom, with Carol I crowned as its first King, signaling its arrival as a significant regional power. 2. The Kingdom and the Road to War (1881–1914)
: On December 30, 1947 , King Michael was forced to abdicate at gunpoint. The People's Republic of Romania was proclaimed, ending 81 years of Hohenzollern rule and marking the beginning of four decades of Communist rule. România, 1866–1947
Romania initially remained neutral in World War I but joined the (Allies) in 1916 after being promised Transylvania and other territories.
: In 1938, King Carol II abolished the parliamentary system and established a personal dictatorship to counter growing political extremism. Under King Carol I, Romania entered a period
The modern era began with the overthrow of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza in 1866. A coalition of Liberals and Conservatives replaced him with , seeking a foreign prince to stabilize the nation and curb internal political infighting.
On August 23, 1944, as Soviet forces approached, to overthrow Antonescu, switching Romania to the Allied side. The Kingdom and the Road to War (1881–1914)
: This landmark document established Romania as a constitutional monarchy and provided a legal framework for modern political institutions, modeled after Western European systems.