Carol II of Romania vs Yeongjo of Joseon

Carol II became King of Romania on June 8, 1930, after returning from exile. He had renounced his rights to the throne in 1925, but his son Michael's regency was overthrown, and Carol was invited back by a political faction.

Carol II abolished the constitution and established a royal dictatorship on February 10, 1938. He banned all political parties, created the National Renaissance Front as the sole legal party, and concentrated power in his own hands, aiming to counter the rise of the Iron Guard.

Under pressure from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, Carol II accepted the Second Vienna Award on August 30, 1940, ceding Northern Transylvania to Hungary. This territorial loss caused widespread outrage and severely weakened his regime.

On September 6, 1940, Carol II was forced to abdicate by General Ion Antonescu, who took power with support from the Iron Guard. Carol fled Romania, spending the rest of his life in exile in Portugal, Mexico, and Brazil.

Yeongjo implemented the Tangpyeong policy to reduce factional strife by appointing officials from all factions. He banned factional labels and promoted merit-based appointments. This stabilized the court but did not eliminate factionalism entirely.

Yeongjo introduced the Gyunyeokbeop, a uniform military tax that replaced various service obligations with a cloth tax. This reduced the burden on commoners and increased state revenue, though it faced opposition from the aristocracy.

King Yeongjo ordered his son Crown Prince Sado to be locked inside a rice chest for eight days, leading to his death by starvation. Sado had been accused of mental illness and violent behavior. This event traumatized the court and led to Jeongjo's later reforms.

Yeongjo reigned for 52 years (1724-1776), the longest of any Joseon king. His reign saw cultural flourishing, economic stability, and political reforms, but also the tragic death of his son. He died at age 81, leaving a mixed legacy.