Domnitor

*Principe Domnitor* of the
United Principalities
Principe Domnitor of the; 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

Domnitor, in full Principe Domnitor (Romanian pl. Principi Domnitori) was the official title of the ruler of Romania between 1862 and 1881. It was usually translated as "prince regnant" in English and most other languages, and less often as "grand duke". "Domnitor" is an adjective derived from the Romanian word "domn" (lord or ruler) and, in turn, from the Latin "Dominus". The title Domn had been in use since the Middle Ages and it is also the Romanian equivalent to the Slavic Hospodar. 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 after Moldavia and Wallachia united to form the Romanian United Principalities under Alexander John I, who had become the ruler of both states since 1859. Alexander John abdicated in 1866 and was succeeded by Carol I, who promulgated the first constitution who officially used the name Romania for the country. He held the title until 1881. When Romania was proclaimed a kingdom in March 1881, Carol became its first king.^[1]

Domnitori of 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	Became King of the Romanians	Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen