The Importance of Queen Marie in Romanian History
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Abstract
Who was the real Queen Marie of Romania? The overall purpose of this
article is to take a fresh look at this enigmatic twentieth century Queen now
that the archives in Romania are finally open to Western scholars and a
definitive biography can be written.
On the one hand, during her own lifetime Marie was one of the best
known and admired royal figures in the Western world. Her selfless determination
to provide aid and comfort to countless numbers of wounded and
dying Romanian soldiers, as well as her dogged support to the Allies during
World War I are well known. Reflecting this view, the most recent biography
of the Queen by Hannah Pakula is aptly titled The Last Romantic.
On the other hand, Marie has had her critics. She was vain, highly ambitious,
and during her day rumors abounded throughout the courts of Europe
about her having extramarital affairs. Perhaps she was, as many people including
herself saw her, a modern Theodora, Empress of Byzantium.
article is to take a fresh look at this enigmatic twentieth century Queen now
that the archives in Romania are finally open to Western scholars and a
definitive biography can be written.
On the one hand, during her own lifetime Marie was one of the best
known and admired royal figures in the Western world. Her selfless determination
to provide aid and comfort to countless numbers of wounded and
dying Romanian soldiers, as well as her dogged support to the Allies during
World War I are well known. Reflecting this view, the most recent biography
of the Queen by Hannah Pakula is aptly titled The Last Romantic.
On the other hand, Marie has had her critics. She was vain, highly ambitious,
and during her day rumors abounded throughout the courts of Europe
about her having extramarital affairs. Perhaps she was, as many people including
herself saw her, a modern Theodora, Empress of Byzantium.
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