Michael I of Romania

Michael ascended the throne in July 1927 at age five after his grandfather's death and his father Carol's scandalous exile with Magda Lupescu, becoming Europe's youngest crowned head under a regency council. Three years later Carol returned, shoved him aside, and reigned as Carol II until 1940, when Michael took the crown again - this time under Ion Antonescu's military dictatorship aligned with Nazi Germany. In 1944 Michael participated in a coup against Antonescu, appointed a new premier, and declared for the Allies, but by March 1945 Soviet pressure installed Petru Groza's communist government; Michael's "royal strike" to block its decrees failed. On 30 December 1947, Groza compelled him to abdicate, the monarchy was abolished, and Michael was forced into exile, stripped of citizenship and property. He married Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma in 1948, settled in Switzerland with their five daughters, and remained barred from Romania until 1992, when his Easter visit drew an estimated million people to Bucharest - a reception so overwhelming the post-communist government blocked further returns until 1997.