Domnitor

Principe Domnitorofthe United Principalities
Princely Coat of arms
Carol I
Details
Style	His Royal Highness
First monarch	Alexander I
Last monarch	Carol I
Formation	5 February 1862
Abolition	15 March 1881
Appointer	Hereditary

Principe Domnitor(Romanianpl.Principi Domnitori) was the official title of the ruler ofRomaniabetween 1862 and 1881. It was usually translated as "prince regnant"in other languages and less often as"grand duke"."Domnitor "is an adjective derived from theRomanianword "domn"(lordorruler) and, in turn, from theLatin"Dominus".The titleDomnhad been in use since the Middle Ages and it is also the Romanian equivalent to the SlavicHospodar.Moldavian and Wallachian rulers had used this term for their title of authority as the head of state, while "voievod"represented the military rank as the head of the army.

The title acquired an officially recognized meaning afterMoldaviaandWallachiaunitedto form theRomanian United PrincipalitiesunderAlexander John I,who had become the ruler of both states since 1859. Alexander John abdicated in 1866 and was succeeded byCarol I,who promulgated the first constitution who officially used the nameRomaniafor the country. He held the title until 1881. When Romania wasproclaimed a kingdomin March 1881, Carol became its first king.

Domnitoriof the United Principalities (1862–1881)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Alexandru Ioan Cuza	(1820-03-20)20 March 1820–15 May 1873(1873-05-15)(aged 53)	5 February 1862	22 February 1866	—	Cuza
Carol I	(1839-04-20)20 April 1839–10 October 1914(1914-10-10)(aged 75)	20 April 1866	15 March 1881	BecameKing of the Romanians	Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen

Timeline of the lifespans of Domnitors

This is agraphicallifespan timeline of Domnitors of Romania. The domnitors are listed in order of office.

See also

• King of the Romanians
• List of rulers of Moldavia
• List of rulers of Wallachia
• List of heads of state of Romania