Elena was born in Bucharest, Rumania on 21st September 1864 and died in Paris in 1947. Educated initially at home by an English governess, Elena went on to study French in Paris.
Elena met fellow poet Elizabeth of Wied, sho was Queen of Romania at the time as the wife of King Carol 1 of Romania. Elena became one of the Queen's Ladies in Waiting.
After an affair with the heir to the Romanian throne and because the Constitution forbade the marriage of the heir to the throne to a Romanian commoner, Elena was sent to live in Paris. She was a delegate to the League of Nations in 1925 - 1926 and a delegate of the Paris Peace Conference at the end of the Second World War.
Romania remained neutral for the first two years of The First World War and declared war on Germany on 27th August 1916. The Romanian military campaign was disastrous for Romania
Romanian troops crossed the border with the Austro-Hungarian Empire in August 1916, officially entering the conflict on the side of the Allies - who were known as the "Entente Powers" during WW1.
Romania's argument with the Austro-Hungarian Empire concerned Transylvania, which was mainly Romanian but governed by Hungarians. The Romanian government signed a treaty with the Entente Powers, their objective being Romanian unity. Under the terms of the alliance, all Romanian territories in the Austro-Hungarian Empire would be returned to Romania.
German General Erich von Falkenhayn took control of Germany's fight against Romania. By December 1916, the Germans had taken most of the country, including Bucharest.
With the collapse of Russia the following year, Romania had no protection. The Romanians were surrounded by the Germans and forced to surrender. Romania had 335,000 casualties in WW1. They eventually gained control of Transylvania, which was given to them under terms of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles.
With the collapse of Russia the following year, Romania had no protection. The Romanians were surrounded by the Germans and forced to surrender. Romania had 335,000 casualties in WW1. They eventually gained control of Transylvania, which was given to them under terms of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles.
Photos: Elena Vacarescu
The King of Romania on horseback, 1916 from “The Illustrated War Record” published in 1918 - photographer unknown.
L'âme des oiseau
Le printemps a jeté sa lyre
Sous les saules et les roseaux.
O grands bois, pouvez vous me dire
Que de vient l'âme des oiseaux?
Tout l'avril est fait de leur grâce!
J'en avais un, mais il est mort…
Et depuis je trouve l'espace
Vide de concert et d'essor.
Plus légère encor que leurs ailes,
Que le duvet au bord des nids,
Qui les reprend, où s'en vont-elles
Les âmes des pauvres petits?
Vous que la sève emplit de flammes,
Ô fleurs, ô saules, ô roseaux,
Priez avec vos âmes,
Priez pour l'âme des petits oiseaux.
From “L'âme sereine, no. 47”, Paris, Éd. Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1896
Translation: The souls of the birds
Spring threw down its lyre
Under the willows and reeds.
Oh great woods, can you tell me
From whence comes the soul of birds?
All of April is made of their grace!
I had one, but it died ...
And since then I find my space
Void of music and harmony..
Even lighter than their wings,
Than the down on the edge of their nests,
Who takes them, where do they go
The souls of those poor little things?
You that the sap fills with flames,
Oh flowers, oh willows, oh reeds,
Pray with all your souls,
Pray for the souls of the little birds.
