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Magda Lupescu

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Royalty

The Resume

    (circa September 15, 1895-June 29, 1977)
    Born in Iasi, Romania
    Birth name was Elena Lupescu
    Long-term mistress of King Carol II of Romania
    Married Carol in exile in Rio de Janeiro (July 5, 1947)
    Known after marriage as Princess Elena

Why she might be annoying:

    Guesses for her birth year range from 1895 to 1902.
    She obscured the details of her early life.
    She allegedly got the name 'Magda' from Bucharest slang for a prostitute. (No wonder she kept her background secret.)
    She reportedly beat Carol and was once seen brandishing a pistol and chasing the naked king down a palace corridor.
    She was widely accused of being the real power behind the throne.
    She allegedly feigned a serious illness to get Carol to marry her on her 'deathbed,' then had a miraculous recovery.

Why she might not be annoying:

    She had striking looks, with pale skin, flaming red hair and green eyes.
    She had a bawdy sense of humor.
    She was a convenient scapegoat for people looking for someone to blame for Romania's troubles.
    Much of the criticism of her was ugly antisemitism. (For example, the National Peasant Party denounced her as 'the sinister Jewish influence at the palace... responsible for almost every evil in this country.')
    Often short on servants while in exile, she would prepare Carol's favorite meals herself, among other domestic chores.
    Carol said, 'She is the other half of my being, the other half of my mind.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 93.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 30 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 30 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying