Magda Lupescu

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Elena “Magda” Lupescu (c. 1896 – June 29, 1977)^[1] was the mistress of King Carol II of Romania and later (after his abdication), his wife.

Contents 1 Parents and Siblings 2 Early life 3 A Royal Origin? 4 Royal Mistress 5 In Exile 6 Trivia 7 Notes 8 References 9 External links 10 See also

[edit] Parents and Siblings

While the general outline of Elena Lupescu’s life is fairly well known, precise details are often difficult to ascertain. This is due partly to the circumstances of the time and place, partly to unintentional mistakes and typographical errors, and partly to outright fabrications and obfuscations by her friends as well as by her numerous enemies, and, not least, by herself.

Elena^[2] Lupescu was born in Iaşi, Romania's second largest city and former capital of Moldavia. Her birth year is variously given as 1895, 1896, 1899, or 1902, and she was the daughter of Elise (or Eliza)^[3] and Nicolae Lupescu, an apothecary. Her mother, née Falk, was an Austrian-born Jew converted to the Roman Catholic Church prior to her marriage. Most sources agree that Nicolae Lupescu was a Jew who adopted this name upon his conversion to Orthodox Christianity, the established religion in Romania. There are three different versions as to his surname prior to conversion—it may have been Grünberg (variant spellings “Grunsberg”, “Grümberg”, etc.); or it may have been Wolff (variant spelling “Wolf”); or it may have been originally Grünberg and it was later changed to Wolff. The latter version is the most common, but, on balance, the first is the most probable.^[4] Also obscure is the origin of the nickname “Magda”, by which she was known later. According to Elena Lupescu herself, it was originally a mistake of an Italian journalist;^[5] but according to an alternative version, “Magda” was, at the time, Bucharest slang for “reformed prostitute”.^[6]

She had a younger brother, Constantin, but no information is available about him.

[edit] Early life

Elena Lupescu was raised from birth as a Catholic. She was educated at the “Diaconesele”, a Bucharest boarding school run by Bavarian nuns of the Institute of Mary from Nymphenburg,^[7] and one of the best school for girls in the country.

According to Quinlan, at some point during Elena’s childhood, her family moved to Sulina, a port on the Danube, where Nicolae Lupescu opened an apothecary. In 1912 they moved back to Jassy, and her father started a novelty shop. There is no information about Elena’s life during Romania’s participation in World War I (1916–1918), when much of the country, including Bucharest, was occupied by the Central Powers and a temporary capital was established at Jassy.

In 1919, Elena Lupescu married Ion Tâmpeanu, an officer^[8] in the Romanian Army. There are few details of their life together; according to Quinlan, Elena did not adapt well to garrison life and had several affairs. The marriage ended in divorce, but it is not clear when. Quinlan places it in 1920; while, according to Easterman, she was still married to Tâmpeanu in 1923, when she first encountered Carol. After the divorce, Elena resumed her maiden name, Lupescu.

[edit] A Royal Origin?

Some authors (e.g., Easterman, p. 81–85), have suggested that there was something mysterious about Elena Lupescu’s origins and early life; that, indeed, she may have been of royal blood, an illegitimate daughter of King Carol I, and thus a cousin of Carol II. There are three main arguments: that Romanian law at the time barred Jews from owning apothecaries, and hence there was something unusual about Elena’s father owning one; that it was unusual for a girl of Elena’s parentage to be accepted at one of the best schools in Bucharest; and that it was highly unusual for a Romanian army officer to be allowed to mary someone of Jewish background.

There is little merit to any of these arguments. As far as Romanian law of the time went, Nicolae Lupescu ceased being a Jew upon his conversion—there was nothing preventing him from owning an apothecary. But even before his conversion, the law could have been easily circumvented in a country as rife with corruption as Romania, especially in Jassy, where Jews were close to half of the city’s population.

As to Elena’s education, she was a German-speaking Catholic daughter of a Catholic mother, that is, the very student who would have been most readily admitted at a school run by German nuns. But even her being Jewish would not have necessarily constituted a major obstacle. For instance, between 1890 and 1916, Jews constituted, on average, 7% of the student body of the Lycée “Gheorghe Lazăr” of Bucharest, a boys’ school described as “the school of the Romanian élite”.^[9]

Finally, her marriage to an Army officer would not have been problematic, because neither she nor her parents were legally Jewish, and most Romanians would not have regarded her as such. That came later, when the character of Romanian anti-Semitism gradually changed and her parents’ Jewish origins were stressed for political reasons.

[edit] Royal Mistress

The circumstances of the first encounter between Elena Lupescu and Crown Prince Carol (later King Carol II of Romania) are obscure. According to Paul of Hohenzollern-Romania, who cites Carol’s diaries, they first met in March 1923,^[10] when she was still married to Tâmpeanu. It may have been a chance encounter at a car race,^[11] or it may have been arranged, at Elena’s request, by a photographer named Posmantir^[12] employed by Fundația Carol I, a charitable organisation founded by Carol’s grand-uncle.^[13] A second meeting may have been arranged by one of Carol’s friends, Tăutu, a Romanian Navy Captain.^[14] At any rate, two years later, in February 1925,^[15] Carol and Elena began a serious relationship, which endured until his death in 1953.

Elena was a witty and outspoken woman; a tall, perhaps fleshy, redhead with milky-white skin and green eyes.^[16] Other sources are less flattering, describing her features as coarse and her conversation as vulgar.^[17] All sources agree that she walked with a peculiar swing of the hips, which, depending on one’s point of view, was either sexy or crude, and that she was, in almost every respect, the opposite of Crown Princess Elena, Carol’s spouse at the time.

Carol made no effort to hide the relationship; on the contrary, he flaunted it, and it was that, rather than his marital infidelity or Elena Lupescu’s character or background which caused the ensuing scandal. The scandal was aggravated by Carol’s earlier behavior (during the war he had contracted a morganatic marriage to Ioana “Zizi” Lambrino, although Romania’s Constitution forbade Crown Princes to marry Romanian citizens), as well as by the enmity between Carol and the very powerful Brătianu clan. It was supporters of the latter who fostered the first anti-Semitic attacks against Elena Lupescu.^[18] But, initially, knowledge of the royal scandal was restricted to the Bucharest élite and to the foreign press; the Romanian press was prevented by censorship from reporting it.

Matters came to a head in December 1925, when Carol, having represented the Romanian royal family at the funeral of Queen Alexandra, eventually ended up in Milan in company of Elena Lupescu, making the front page of almost every Italian newspaper.

Carol was fully aware that, as Crown Prince, his marrying Elena Lupescu, or, as he called her, “Duduia”^[19] was, on constitutional as well as social grounds, out of the question. He abdicated his rights to the succession to the Romanian throne, as well as his membership in the royal family (he had done so once before, in connexion to his first marriage, but that renunciation had been later rescinded), and adopted the name of “Carol Caraiman”. The renunciation was ratified by Parliament on January 4, 1926, and four-year-old Mihai, Carol’s son with Crown Princess Elena, became heir apparent; Carol was banned from returning to Romania. Elena, by that time Queen Mother, divorced Carol in 1928.

King Ferdinand, Carol’s father, died in 1927; Mihai succeeded to the throne and a regency headed by Crown Prince Nicolae, Carol’s younger brother, came into being. The regency proved unstable, and the political instability increased when Ion I. C. Brătianu, head of the Brătianu clan and leader of the National-Liberal party, died unexpectedly. His younger brothers lacked both his strength of character and his political acumen, and their hold on power weakened. In late 1928 the Liberal government was replaced by a coalition headed by Iuliu Maniu; Carol’s return seemed now to be only a matter of time. Negotiations were carried out through various intermediaries, while Carol’s supporters, including Crown Prince Nicolae and a number of Army officers, tried to pressure the government into speeding his return. Although no written evidence exists, it is likely that eventually Carol made two promises to Maniu: that he would join the regency, rather than lay claim to the throne, and that he would give up Elena Lupescu.^[20] He intended to keep neither.

Carol returned unopposed to Romania on June 6, 1930, and immediately mounted what was essentially a constitutional coup. His renunciation was declared invalid by Parliament with an overwhelming majority, and he was proclaimed King in short order. When he brought back “Duduia” is not clear; it may have been as early as the end of June, or it may have been August, but she was definitely in Bucharest by October.^[21] From then on, she was, in all but name, Carol’s wife and his partner in his political enterprises.

During the reign of King Carol II (1930–1940), corruption and political intrigue in Romania rose to unprecedented heights. Carol and Duduia weathered economic crisis, labour unrest, the rise of Fascism, assassination attempts and military plots, to become the master manipulators of Romanian politics.^[22] Those Carol could not bribe, he forced into retirement (Maniu) or imprisoned (Ion Antonescu); those he could not bend to his will, he suppressed ruthlessly (the Legion of the Archangel Michael); and, in the process, the couple accumulated an impressive fortune.

Elena Lupescu is sometimes described as the power behind the throne, especially (for obvious reasons) by those close to the extreme right.^[23] Duduia undoubtedly enjoyed a great deal of influence of the King, but Carol's actions were entirely consistent with his behaviour prior to meeting Elena Lupescu. Moreover, the speed with which, upon his return, when Duduia was still abroad, he out-manoeuvred any opposition to his plans is ample demonstration of his political abilities. Their relationship is perhaps best viewed as a partnership, with Elena the junior, but very influential, partner.

Elena Lupescu did not enjoy any official status, and, until 1938, did not accompany the King on any state functions. However, she entertained at her Aleea Vulpache^[24] villa in downtown Bucharest the cream of Romanian high society: politicians, industrialists (Max Auschnitt, Nicolae Malaxa), press magnates (Pamfil Șeicaru), and blue-blooded aristocrats (Marthe Bibesco). It was even rumoured at some point (but never proved) that the leader of the violently anti-Semitic Iron Guard, Corneliu Zelea Codreanu, might have been hiding there from the police.^[25]

In 1938, Carol put an end to parliamentary democracy^[26] and proclaimed himself a dictator. But international developments were beyond his control. By the summer of 1940, France had fallen and the Versailles system had collapsed, leaving Romania friendless and almost completely surrounded by enemies. In quick succession, without firing a shot in her own defence, Romania was forced to make painful territorial concessions to the USSR, to Hungary, and to Bulgaria. Whether any government could have survived such a catastrophe is doubtful; but to survive both it and Hitler’s personal enmity was impossible.

By early September, Carol was out of options. He was forced to abdicate in favour of his son, Mihai (September 5); General Antonescu assumed dictatorial powers with the support of the Army and most political parties. A few days later, Carol, Duduia, their faithful aide, Ernest Urdăreanu, and as many belongings as they could pack in a hurry, left Romania aboard a special train. They crossed the border in a hail of bullets: the Legionnaires were trying to revenge their leader, assassinated on Carol’s orders.

[edit] In Exile

They travelled to Spain, then to Portugal, and eventually they settled in Mexico City. When Romania joined the war on Hitler’s side, Carol explored the possibility of setting up a Romanian government in exile; but his proposals were rebuffed by both the British and the Americans.^[27] In 1944 he contacted the Soviets with a similar purpose,^[28] but Stalin never answered and developments in Romania made Carol’s proposal moot.

Elena Lupescu did not tolerate well Mexico City’s high altitude, so in 1944 they moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. But her health did not improve; by early 1947 her condition was diagnosed as pernicious anaemia. After 22 years together, Carol and Elena Lupescu were finally married in a hotel room in Rio de Janeiro, either on June 3, 1947^[29] or on July 5, 1947;^[30] it was Carol’s third marriage, and Elena’s second. Henceforward, she would be known as Princess Elena of Romania.^[31]

Elena’s health improved,^[32] but they were advised to move to a more temperate climate. Carol and Elena finally settled in Estoril, Portugal. There Carol died suddenly of a heart attack in 1953. He was interred in the royal pantheon of the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora in Lisbon. Elena survived him by 24 years, and was eventually buried next to him.^[33]

In 2003, the remains of King Carol II and Princess Elena of Romania were brought back to the country of their birth at the request and expense of the Government of Romania. They were interred in the Curtea de Argeş Monastery complex, the traditional burial ground of Romanian royalty; but, not being of royal blood, Elena was buried in the monastery’s cemetery, rather than in the Royal Chapel.^[34]

[edit] Trivia

Elena Lupescu is mentioned in the song “Don Juan” by the Pet Shop Boys (under the name “Maria Lupescu”, an admitted error). She is also the subject of a famous bit of doggerel:

Have you heard about Magda Lupescu

Who came to Romania’s rescue?

It’s a wonderful thing

To Be under a king--

Is democracy better, I esk you?

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Find-A-Grave for birth and death dates. Because she died at night there is some question of whether her death date is June 28 or June 29, 1977.
2. ^ “Elena” is the Romanian form of “Helen”, a name popular in most Orthodox countries, and derived from the mother of Constantine I, Helena of Constantinople.
3. ^ Many sources give her name as “Elizei”. That is an obvious misunderstanding, caused probably by an original author who did not speak Romanian. In Romanian, “Elizei” is the genitive case of “Eliza”; thus, the phrase “Eliza’s daughter” is in Romanian “fiica Elizei”, just as “Mary’s son” is in Romanian “fiul Mariei”. “Eliza” is, of course, the Romanian form of “Elise”.
4. ^ No author has ever explained why Elena Lupescu’s father should have changed his name from “Grünberg” to “Wolff”. It appears more likely that the name Wolff, which is the approximate German or Yiddish equivalent of Lupescu, was an invention of Elena Lupescu’s detractors.
5. ^ Easterman, p. 75
6. ^ St. John, p. 114
7. ^ See Congregatio Jesu România for a short history of the Institute of Mary (Institutul Sfânta Maria) in Romania, and Institute of Mary for an overview of this Catholic institution.
8. ^ His rank is variously described as Lieutenant, Captain, or Major; the first is the most likely version.
9. ^ Livezeanu, pp. 197–198
10. ^ p. 86
11. ^ Cosma, pp. 50–51
12. ^ Variant spellings “Postmantir”, “Posmartir”.
13. ^ Easterman
14. ^ Cosma, pp. 51–52
15. ^ Paul of Hohenzollern-Romania, p. 86
16. ^ Quinlan
17. ^ Pakula, p. 326; Cosma, p. 50
18. ^ Paul of Hohenzollern-Romania, p. 88
19. ^ An approximate English equivalent would be, “the Mrs.”.
20. ^ Paul of Hohenzollern-Romania, p. 148
21. ^ Paul of Hohenzollern-Romania, p. 153 Lupescu's return led to the resignation of the Prime Minister, Iuliu Maniu. It has been argued that Duduia's return was a mere pretext, the resignation being caused by Maniu's authoritarian ambitions. However, it should be noted that Maniu's reputation for personal probity and strict morality was unparalleled among Romanian politicians of the day.
22. ^ Carol's task was facilitated by the fact that, constitutionally as well as by tradition, Romanian monarchs were more closely involved in political life than their Western counterparts.
23. ^ Ernest Urdăreanu was supposed to have said, “I control the King, because I control Mrs. Lupescu”. The statement is very likely apocryphal, and there is no evidence that Urdăreanu exercised anything other than the control every able and loyal secretary exercises over his employer.
24. ^ Today Strada Ankara (Ankara Street).
25. ^ It was also said that Lupescu had established her own intelligence service (e.g., Cosma, p. 161), but that is probably a wild exaggeration. It should be noted that the same was said about virtually every prominent Romanian politician. For instance, Iuliu Maniu's private spy service was supposedly run by none other than Eugen Cristescu, later (1940–1944) head of Serviciul Secret de Informații, Romania's Secret Intelligence Service (Cosma, p. 177).
26. ^ Romania's system was closer to a “directed” or “guided” democracy than to Western European constitutional monarchies (Fischer-Galați).
27. ^ Paul of Hohenzollern-Romania, p. 206–214
28. ^ Paul of Hohenzollern-Romania, p. 217
29. ^ royalsportal.de
30. ^ Paul of Hohenzollern-Romania, p. 223
31. ^ Paul of Hohenzollern-Romania, p. 223; Cosma, p. 302
32. ^ It has been suggested that Lupescu's illness had been feigned to force Carol into marriage (Cosma, p. 302), but Paul of Hohenzollern-Romania finds this unlikely and attributes the improvement to a successful medical treatment (p. 223). Whatever the truth, it seems unlikely that Carol would have married her as long as he still entertained any hope of returning to the throne.
33. ^ Cosma, p. 302
34. ^ Carol al II-lea nu mai încape; Find-A-Grave

[edit] References

• Cosma, Neagu. (1998) Culisele Palatului Regal. Ediție revăzută și adăugită. București: Editura Globus. ISBN 9734900994.
• Easterman, A.L.. (1942) King Carol, Hitler, and Lupescu, London: Victor Gollancz Ltd., especially the chapter “Who is Magda Lupescu”, p.69–85.
• Fischer-Galați, Stephen Alexander. (1991) Twentieth Century Rumania. 2nd ed. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0231074638
• Ionescu, Șerban N. (1994) Who Was Who in Twentieth-Century Romania East European Monographs, No. 395. Boulder, New York: East European Monographs. ISBN 0880332921.
• Livezeanu, Irina. (1995) Cultural Politics in Greater Romania: Regionalism, Nation Building, and Ethnic Struggle, 1918–1930. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 0801486882.
• Pakula, Hannah. (1984) The Last Romantic: A Biography of Queen Marie of Roumania. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0671463640.
• Paul, Prince of Hohenzollern-Roumania. (1988) King Carol II: A Life of My Grandfather. London: Methuen. ISBN 0413165701.
• Quinlan, Paul D. (1995) The Playboy King: Carol II of Romania, Contributions to the Study of World History, No. 52. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0313295190.
• St. John, Robert. (1957) Foreign Correspondent. 1st ed. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

[edit] External links

• Find A Grave: Magda Lupescu. Accessed 23 Jan 2006.
• GENEALOGIES » Dethroned Houses » Greece » Genealogy on royalsportal.de. Accessed 23 Jan 2006.
• Congregatio Jesu România Includes a short history of the Institute of Mary in Romania, in Romanian.
• Police Report Bucharest police report on Elena Lupescu and her political influence, dated 1935/06/29, published by the Bucharest newspaper “Ziua” on 2003/02/15, in Romanian. Of questionable authenticity.
• Institute of Mary The history of the Institute of Mary, from the Catholic Encyclopedia.
• Carol al II-lea nu mai încape Report on the arrangements to transfer the remains of Carol II and Elena Lupescu from Portugal to Romania, published by the newspaper “Adevarul” on 2003/01/22, in Romanian.

[edit] See also

• List of Jewish Romanians