King Michael Of Romania Renounces Ties To House Of Hohenzollern

05.10.2011 By Bostan Radu

King Michael of Romania announced Tuesday he is renouncing his historic and dynastic ties to the House of Hohenzollern, as well as the titles "Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen."

In a document released by his press office, King Michael says he wants to abide by the 1921 decision of his grandfather, King Ferdinand I, "to confer national and independent character" to the dynasty and Royal House.

King Michael says that, as of May 10, 2011, the Romanian Royal House will not use the title "Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen," and will no longer go by "House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen." The members of the Royal House will also renounce titles bestowed by the princely house of Hohenzollern.

The House of Hohenzollern is one of the most important dynasties in European history, providing kings and emperors of Prussia (1415-1918) and Germany (1871-1918). The House took its name from a castle in Swabia, originally documented as Zolorin or Zolre (currently Hohenzollern, in south Tuebingen, Baden-Wuerttemberg).

Burkhard I, count of Zollern in the 11th century, is the earliest recorded ancestor of the dynasty. After the third and fourth generation, the line split in two branches: Zollern-Hohenberg, which disappeared by 1486, and the counts of Nuremberg, whose descendants make up the current House.

Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen is a branch of the Hohenzollern dynasty, which led Prussia and later Germany until 1918.

In Romania, the House of Hohenzollern was chosen as ruling dynasty in 1866 by the political leadership around Ion Bratianu. This dynasty included Carol I, prince (1866-1881) and King of Romania (1881-1914), Ferdinand I (1914-1927), Michael I (1927-1930, 1940-1947) and Carol II (1930-1940).