Carmen Sylva (pseudonym, real name Elisabeth Pauline Ottilie Luise Princess of Wied, Elisabeth I Queen of Romania)

writer

born: 29.12.1843 in Neuwied

died: 02.03.1916 in Bucharest

The daughter of Hermann Fürst zu Wied (1814-1907) and his wife Marie, née Princess of Nassau-Weilburg (1825-1902), she received a comprehensive education and was sent on extensive trips abroad and to friendly courts, including Biebrich, in her youth. Elisabeth's marriage to Karl Eitel Friedrich von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1839-1914, Carol I of Romania from 1881) took place in 1869; elected Prince on April 20, 1866, he had gained independence from Turkey in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877/78; the two principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia were united under the name "Romania" and full sovereignty was proclaimed at the Congress of Berlin in 1879. In 1881 he became King of Romania as Carol I.

The princess was popular with the Romanian population, was involved in health and social welfare, founded schools and hospitals and cared for the wounded during the war. A talented musician herself, she also championed literature, science and art, including the revival of folk art. Carmen (synonymous with "song in the forest" or "song of the forest") also became known as a writer of neo-romantic, neo-impressionist style, including poems, dramas, light novels, fairy tales and translations of Romanian poetry into German. In her memoirs "Mein Penatenwinkel", she describes her childhood experiences in Wiesbaden and at the Biebrich court, among other things. The queen, who was highly revered as "Mama Regina", is buried in Curtea de Argez.