The day of April 9, 1874, would forever remain one of the most painful in the history of the Romanian monarchy. On that day, King Carol I and Queen Elisabeth lost their only child, Princess Maria, a little girl barely three and a half years old. Her unexpected death, caused by the dreadful scarlet fever, marked the end of innocence and happiness in the lives of the two sovereigns.

A ray of light in the life of a royal couple

In an era when Romania was undergoing a profound process of modernization, the beginning of Carol I’s reign had brought hope and stability. The people placed their trust in a young, energetic ruler, devoted to the national cause, and the birth of a royal heir seemed to confirm that Romania’s destiny was taking shape under the sign of continuity and light.

On August 27 / September 8, 1870, in Bucharest, Princess Maria was born — the first and only child of the ruling couple. Her birth was met with joy not only by her parents but by the entire nation. She was the first princess born to a ruling family of foreign origin that had chosen to embrace the destiny of a developing nation. 

Her father, Prince Carol of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, ruler of the United Principalities, and her mother, Princess Elisabeth Pauline Ottilie Luise of Wied, would later be known in history as King Carol I and Queen Elisabeth — the first monarchs of modern Romania.

A child with a great heart and a noble soul

For the royal couple, the birth of little Maria was a true blessing. Queen Elisabeth had previously suffered no fewer than eighteen miscarriages, and this child was seen as a divine gift — a reborn hope after years of grief. Within royal circles, Maria was regarded as a precocious child, endowed with remarkable intelligence and sensitivity.

Her parents affectionately called her “Itty”, a diminutive of the English word little, and King Carol and Queen Elisabeth adored her with indescribable tenderness. The Queen wrote to her mother about her beloved daughter:

“She is such a wise and patient child! This charming little one is all my joy.”

Little Itty was a ray of sunshine, always eager to bring happiness to those around her. It was said that whenever she kissed someone, she would innocently add: “I want everyone to be happy.” A simple yet moving expression of her pure heart, remembered fondly by all who knew her.

In 1873, the royal family traveled to Germany to introduce the little princess to their princely relatives. Maria’s charm and spontaneity captivated everyone she met. Yet, despite the comfort and splendor of royal life, the child often felt a deep homesickness — her heart remained tied to Bucharest, the place where she felt safest, surrounded by her parents’ love.

The baptism of hope and the beginning of tragedy

To show their wish to integrate fully into Romanian culture, Carol and Elisabeth decided that their daughter would be baptized in the Orthodox rite — a first in royal history. The ceremony was officiated by Metropolitan Calinic Miclescu, and the gesture was perceived by the people as a sincere sign of devotion to Romanian faith and tradition.

However, fate had prepared a cruel blow. In the spring of 1874, an epidemic of scarlet fever spread through Bucharest. Despite all precautions and medical care, little Maria fell ill. Doctors fought to save her, but medicine at that time was powerless against such infectious diseases.

On April 9, 1874, at Peleș Castle in Sinaia, Princess Maria passed away before her fourth birthday. The loss devastated her parents. King Carol, known for his discipline and composure, was overcome with grief, while Queen Elisabeth carried the wound in her heart for the rest of her life.

The first royal funeral in Romanian history

The death of little Maria was not only a personal tragedy but also a national one. Romanians, who had seen in the princess a symbol of hope and future, mourned alongside their rulers.

Her body was laid to rest in the garden of Cotroceni Palace, during a solemn and deeply emotional ceremony — the first royal funeral in Romania’s modern history. On her cross was inscribed a verse from the Gospel of Luke:

“Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.”

King Carol I recorded in his journal, broken by sorrow:

“The religion of our child and the language she spoke have received for us a new sanctity, for every Romanian word will now remind us of the sweet sound of that dear voice which we shall never hear again in this world.”

These words capture the essence of a father’s grief — not only for the loss of his child but for the extinguishing of dynastic hope.

Turning sorrow into art and compassion

For Queen Elisabeth, the death of her only child was a wound that never healed. In later years, she would confess with disarming honesty:

“My child is my only beautiful poem.”

Her grief gradually transformed into artistic expression. Passionate about literature and the arts since childhood, the Queen sought solace in writing. At first, she published poems under the pseudonym E. Wedi, and from 1880 onward she adopted the literary name Carmen Sylva — inspired by the forests of her native city, Neuwied.

Through her writings, Elisabeth transformed pain into art and hope. She published poems, novels, short stories, and plays, some written in collaboration with Mite Kremnitz, a close friend of the royal court.

But the Queen’s creative pursuits went beyond literature. She became a symbol of educated femininity and royal charity, supporting artists, promoting traditional Romanian crafts, founding schools, and advocating for women’s education. These acts were perhaps her way of filling the immense void left by the loss of her beloved daughter.

The legacy of a life cut short

Princess Maria’s death also shaped the destiny of the Romanian monarchy. Carol I and Elisabeth never had another child, and the throne faced a succession crisis. The issue was resolved by bringing to Romania Prince Ferdinand of Hohenzollern, Carol’s nephew, who would later become King Ferdinand I of Romania, under whose reign the country would achieve its national unity.

Although the King and Queen continued to serve their nation with dignity, Maria’s memory remained present in every act of devotion and every foundation they laid. Less than a year after her death, they began building Peleș Castle, which would become a symbol of Romanian royalty. This grand project, imbued with elegance and beauty, was perhaps also a form of therapy — an attempt to transform pain into enduring grace.

A memory that never faded

Princess Maria never ruled, never signed treaties, and never attended great ceremonies. Yet her memory became part of the human essence of the Romanian monarchy. Her story symbolizes the fragility of life and the enduring power of parental love.

For the people, the tragedy of Romania’s first royal couple was a lesson in humanity and compassion. Behind the grandeur of monarchy and military uniforms, Carol I and Elisabeth were simply two grieving parents who learned to live with a silent but noble sorrow.

The story of little Maria remains one of the most moving episodes in Romanian history. In her few years of life, she brought joy, light, and hope to an entire nation. Her death left an indelible mark — not only on her parents’ hearts but also on the collective memory of a country, as a reminder of life’s fragility and of how true love can transcend even death itself.

Beyond sorrow, a legacy of the heart

The tragedy of King Carol I and Queen Elisabeth is not merely a tale of loss; it is a story of resilience and transformation. Through their suffering, they learned to channel their love into their country, to build, to inspire, and to leave behind a moral and cultural legacy.

From their tears arose a stronger Romania, and from their pain emerged the image of a monarchy rooted in compassion and humanity.

Today, more than a century later, the story of Princess Maria continues to move hearts. She remains a symbol of lost innocence, of love that never dies, and of hope reborn through art, beauty, and eternity.

We also recommend: Mother Alexandra, the most beautiful and courageous princess of Romania. How Princess Ileana was exiled by the communists