Leaders of the "monstrous coalition"

C. A. Rosetti (1816–1885)

Lascăr Catargiu (1823–1899)

Ion Ghica (1816–1897)

Ion C. Brătianu (1821–1891)

"Monstrous coalition" (Romanian: Monstruoasa coaliție) is the name that has remained in the collective consciousness of Romania to refer to the alliance between conservatives and radical liberals in order to obtain Alexandru Ioan Cuza's removal from power in 1866. This name was promoted in its time by press favorable to Cuza.

Background

Although at the first analysis a coalition between the political centrists (radicals) and the political right (conservatives) seems unnatural in the context of 19th century politics of Romania, it was logical within the political context of the time: the personal authoritarian regime introduced by Cuza.

Authoritarian tendencies began to be manifested by the ruler early in 1863, and the personal regime was installed after the coup of 2 May 1864. He increased his own power at the expense of other institutions. On 10 May, Cuza amended, through plebiscite, the Paris Convention which had hitherto functioned as Constitution for the United Principalities, transforming it into Developing Statutes of the Paris Convention.^[1] The most important change was the redistribution of state organization so that the ruler should have more powers. From this point, the political scene was divided into two camps: Cuzists and opposition. Moreover, the ruler understood to govern over political groups with trustworthy people, of moderate shades, as Mihail Kogălniceanu or Nicolae Crețulescu.^[2]

The leaders of this coalition were the radical C. A. Rosetti, the conservative Lascăr Catargiu, and the moderate Ion Ghica.

The Consequences

The "monstrous coalition" was supported by large landowners and businessmen who were not satisfied with the policy of the ruler. A coalition emerged in 1864, after the National Assembly elections in Romania, second convocation, and was chaired by Ion C. Brătianu. Mihail Kogălniceanu remained loyal to Alexandru Ioan Cuza. In 1866, the coalition performed a coup d'état. On the morning of 11 February, at five o'clock, a group of soldiers entered the Royal Palace and forced the ruler to accept the abdication. Cuza was forced to swear that he would abdicate, after seven years of rule, and leave the throne to a foreign prince, as required in one of the provisions of the ad-hoc divans of 1857.^[3] The unionist press related that the argument of this heinous act was the charge that the elected ruler would have betrayed the interests of the country to a foreign power.^[4]

Two days later, on 13 February, Cuza left Bucharest, taking the road to Vienna, and, after him, on 10 May 1866, Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was proclaimed ruler of Romania, under the name of Carol I. Subsequently, Carol was asked to allow Cuza to return home. The monarch sent the request to the Council of Ministers, which rejected it.^[5]

References