Istrate Micescu
Encyclopedia
Istrate Micescu was a Romanian lawyer and Law and Political Science professor at the University of Law in Bucharest and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania. Considered genius by most of his students and fellow lawyers and intellectuals, he spoke fluently most European languages including ancient Greek and Latin.
. He studied at Sorbonne
where he also obtained his PhD magna cum laude. In 1918, he joined the National Liberal Party of Romania
and was a deputy in the Parliament of Romania
in 1920, 1927 and 1931. On December 29, 1937, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania in the Goga-Cuza government. He served as Foreign Minister until February 1938.
Micescu was the author of the 1938 Constitution of Romania
which established the monarchic regime of King Carol II of Romania
.
where he died three years later..
Bound to the land by a passion that had to do with a feudal notion of property, Istrate Micescu used to invest his earnings in small properties, some of which did not return any income. He particulary cared for the one in Ciumeşti, in the vicinity of Miceşti
, where the roots of his family were and where he had his most beautiful mansion built.
His most famous property was the mansion of Miceşti, built in 1928 in Neo-Romanian style. The plans were drawn by architect Edmond Algi van Saanen and the building contractor was the famous engineer Corani. Istrate Micescu gathered there a valuable library, but it was scattered away after the establishement of the communist regime
. The mansion was also used by the Ceauşescu couple
as hunting lodge. Even if Istrate Micescu was rehabilitated in 1990, the properties confiscated by the communists have not been returned yet to the Micescu family.
Early life and career
Micescu was born to one of the families of the nobility in Romania, son of professor and liberal politician Nicolae Micescu and Maria Rădulescu on May 22, 1881 in PloieştiPloiesti
Ploiești is the county seat of Prahova County and lies in the historical region of Wallachia in Romania. The city is located north of Bucharest....
. He studied at Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
where he also obtained his PhD magna cum laude. In 1918, he joined the National Liberal Party of Romania
National Liberal Party (Romania)
The National Liberal Party , abbreviated to PNL, is a centre-right liberal party in Romania. It is the third-largest party in the Romanian Parliament, with 53 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 22 in the Senate: behind the centre-right Democratic Liberal Party and the centre-left Social...
and was a deputy in the Parliament of Romania
Parliament of Romania
The Parliament of Romania is made up of two chambers:*The Chamber of Deputies*The SenatePrior to the modifications of the Constitution in 2003, the two houses had identical attributes. A text of a law had to be approved by both houses...
in 1920, 1927 and 1931. On December 29, 1937, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania in the Goga-Cuza government. He served as Foreign Minister until February 1938.
Micescu was the author of the 1938 Constitution of Romania
1938 Constitution of Romania
The 1938 Constitution of Romania was the fundamental law that established the authoritarian monarchic regime of King Carol II. It was drafted by a university professor, Istrate Micescu, based on suggestions given by the king, and made public on February 20, 1938. Four days later, voters were...
which established the monarchic regime of King Carol II of Romania
Carol II of Romania
Carol II reigned as King of Romania from 8 June 1930 until 6 September 1940. Eldest son of Ferdinand, King of Romania, and his wife, Queen Marie, a daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second eldest son of Queen Victoria...
.
Imprisonment and death
He was arrested in 1948 and sentenced to 20 years of forced labour for an imaginary conspiracy against the Communist regime at Aiud prisonAiud prison
Aiud prison is a prison complex in Aiud, central Transylvania, Romania.It is infamous for its political inmates, especially during the reign of Romania's by Nazi allies and later communists...
where he died three years later..
Private life
Married 4 times, he had 3 children (Roger Micescu, Mariana Micescu si Istrate Micescu Jr.).Bound to the land by a passion that had to do with a feudal notion of property, Istrate Micescu used to invest his earnings in small properties, some of which did not return any income. He particulary cared for the one in Ciumeşti, in the vicinity of Miceşti
Micesti
Miceşti may refer to several places in Romania:*Miceşti, a commune in Argeş County*Miceşti, a village in Alba Iulia municipality, Alba County*Miceşti, a village in Tureni Commune, Cluj County*Casele Miceşti, a village in Feleacu Commune, Cluj County...
, where the roots of his family were and where he had his most beautiful mansion built.
His most famous property was the mansion of Miceşti, built in 1928 in Neo-Romanian style. The plans were drawn by architect Edmond Algi van Saanen and the building contractor was the famous engineer Corani. Istrate Micescu gathered there a valuable library, but it was scattered away after the establishement of the communist regime
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
. The mansion was also used by the Ceauşescu couple
Ceausescu family
Nicolae Ceauşescu, who led Romania from 1965 to 1989, had a large family, several members of which wielded influence in Communist Romania. Below are given outlines of his immediate family members' lives, with links to those who have separate articles about them....
as hunting lodge. Even if Istrate Micescu was rehabilitated in 1990, the properties confiscated by the communists have not been returned yet to the Micescu family.