A king on horseback. What stories could this statue tell? This is the Equestrian statue of Carol I. It stands here on Calea Victoriei in Revolution Square. The statue faces the National Museum of Art of Romania and the Central University Library.
The Carol I statue is a monument to Romania’s first king. Carol I ruled for 48 years. His reign saw Romania gain independence. It also saw the birth of modern Romanian institutions.
Let’s talk about this statue’s interesting history. The original statue was created by Ivan Meštrović in 1939. It quickly became a symbol of Bucharest. It stood in the square opposite the Royal Palace. The statue witnessed many important events. These events occurred during the inter-war era and World War II.
After King Michael I abdicated in 1947 things changed. The Communist government demolished the statue. This happened in the night of December 30-31 1947. It was an important visual symbol of the monarchy. The statue was destroyed in 1948.
Fast forward to 2007. The Bucharest City Hall decided to recreate the statue. This was 18 years after the Romanian Revolution. They wanted to place it in its original location. They considered using Meštrović’s original plans. However, they eventually assigned the project to Florin Codre. He created a similar statue but not an exact copy.
The new Carol I statue was inaugurated on December 6 2010. Princess Margareta of Romania attended. Her husband Prince Radu was also present. The Mayor of Bucharest Sorin Oprescu assisted. Former Presidents Ion Iliescu and Emil Constantinescu were there too. Prime Minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu also attended. A message from the former King Michael I was read.
The bronze statue is massive. It weighs 13 tons and is 13 meters tall. The statue itself is 7 meters high. The pedestal is 6 meters tall.
There is a rumor about the old Carol I statue. Some say it is buried in front of the Palace of Agriculture in Brăila. Soviet forces supposedly put it there during World War II. Another theory suggests its bronze was used for a statue of Lenin. That statue stood in front of Casa Scânteii from 1960 to 1990.
Today the Carol I statue has regained its public significance. It is a popular tourist attraction. Public events are held here periodically. The annual festivity of May 10 is special. It celebrates Carol I’s arrival in Bucharest in 1866. It also marks the declaration of independence in 1877. The statue stands as a reminder of Romania’s history. It is a symbol of its monarchy. It connects the past with the present.