BRATIANU, ION (CONSTANTIN)

born June 2, 1821, Pitesti, Walachia [now in Romania] died May 16, 1891, Florica, Rom. statesman and longtime premier (187688) of Romania, who, with King Carol I, was the principal architect of modern Romania. After taking part in the 1848 revolution at Bucharest, Bratianu withdrew to Paris, where he worked for the union and autonomy of the Danubian principalities, Moldavia and Walachia. With the principalities subsequently united as Romania under Prince Alexandru Cuza, Bratianu founded the Romanian Liberal Party with his brother Dumitru and in 1866 figured prominently in the deposing of Cuza and the election as prince of Romania of Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, later (1881) King Carol I. As minister of finance, Bratianu played an important role in designing the Romanian constitution of 1866; but, following an abortive antidynastic coup in 1870, he fell from favour. Eventually restored to favour, Bratianu served from 1876 to 1888except for a brief interval in 1881as premier. Bratianu's autocratic, corrupt administration, which was redeemed somewhat by constitutional and land reforms and by his own personal character, was also marked by Romania's alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary (1883). Advancing age and an army scandal finally forced him from office in 1888.