He immediately adopted the Romanian spelling of his name, Carol, and his descendants would rule Romania until the overthrow of the monarchy in 1947.

Ceausescu ruled communist Romania for 24 years before being ousted in 1989 and executed alongside his wife .

The Social Democratic Party ruled Romania from 1990 until 1996.

Mr. Ceausescu ruled Romania with an iron hand, and the secret police were the most intrusive in Eastern Europe.

One, draped with a Romanian flag, contained the body of King Carol II, who ruled Romania from 1930 to 1940.

In 1866, he was the president of the council which decided to invite a foreign dynasty to rule Romania.

Mr. Ceausescu, who ruled Romania with an iron fist for a quarter-century, struggled briefly with the soldiers but said nothing.

Ceaușescu was given many honorary awards for scientific achievement in the field of polymer chemistry during the period when her husband ruled Romania.

Thus was buried Nicolae Ceausescu, who ruled Romania for a quarter-century until the army executed him and his wife, Elena.

But the Ceausescus were not the first couple to rule Romania in this century whose resting place was obscure and unmarked.