Pictures Dated 28th October 2004

King Ferdinand I of Romania

A portrait of the ruler of Romania, King Ferdinand I (1865-1927), published shortly after he broke his country's neutrality to side with the Allies during the First World War. Ferdinand was married to Princess Marie, eldest daughter of the Duke of Edinburgh in 1893 and succeeded to the throne upon the death of his uncle, King Carol, on 10th October 1914. Romania was swiftly invaded and occupied by the German army who ruthlessly exploited the country's natural resources to aid their war effort. In spite of this, Romania profited from territory gained at the Paris Peace conference in 1919. Ferdinand ruled until his death in 1927.