Ferdinand I of Romania vs King Gwanghaegun of Joseon

Ferdinand I became King of Romania on October 10, 1914, following the death of his uncle, King Carol I. He inherited a kingdom at a critical moment, as World War I had just begun, and Romania was initially neutral.

Ferdinand I signed the Treaty of Bucharest with the Allies on August 17, 1916, committing Romania to enter World War I on their side. Romania declared war on Austria-Hungary on August 27, 1916, aiming to annex Transylvania.

Following the collapse of Austria-Hungary, the Great National Assembly of Alba Iulia proclaimed the union of Transylvania with Romania on December 1, 1918. Ferdinand I ratified this union, fulfilling a key national goal and greatly expanding Romania's territory.

Ferdinand I signed the Agrarian Reform Law of 1921, which expropriated large estates and redistributed land to peasants. This reform aimed to address rural poverty and create a stable class of small landowners, but it also weakened the traditional aristocracy.

Ferdinand I and Queen Marie were crowned in a grand ceremony at Alba Iulia on October 15, 1922, symbolizing the unification of all Romanian provinces. The coronation affirmed the creation of Greater Romania after World War I.

Gwanghaegun became king of Joseon at age 33 after the death of his father, King Seonjo. He inherited a war-torn kingdom and pursued a pragmatic foreign policy to maintain stability.

Gwanghaegun adopted a neutral stance between the declining Ming dynasty and the rising Manchu (Later Jin) state. He maintained diplomatic relations with both, avoiding direct military conflict and preserving Joseon's security.

A faction of officials led by Kim Yu staged a coup, deposing Gwanghaegun and exiling him to Jeju Island. They accused him of neglecting Confucian rituals and being too conciliatory toward the Manchu, installing his nephew Injo as king.

After being deposed, Gwanghaegun was exiled to Jeju Island, where he lived under house arrest for the rest of his life. He died in 1641, a forgotten figure despite his diplomatic achievements.