Constantin C. Arion
Constantin C. Arion (also known as Costică Arion; June 18, 1855 – June 27, 1923) was a Romanian politician, affiliated with the National Liberal Party, the Conservative Party and, after 1918, the People's Party. He served two terms as Minister of Religion and Public Instruction, one term as Minister of Agriculture, and another one as Interior Minister before World War I. His career peaked in 1918, when he was Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Constantin C. Arion | |
|---|---|
Arion in 1918 | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania | |
| In office March 5, 1918 – October 23, 1918 | |
| Monarch | Ferdinand I |
| Preceded by | Alexandru Averescu |
| Succeeded by | Constantin Coandă |
| Minister of Administration and Interior of Romania | |
| In office March 28, 1912 – October 14, 1912 | |
| Monarch | Carol I of Romania |
| Preceded by | Alexandru Marghiloman |
| Succeeded by | Take Ionescu |
| Minister of Religion and Public Instruction | |
| In office July 7, 1900 – February 13, 1901 | |
| Preceded by | Constantin Istrati |
| Succeeded by | Spiru Haret |
| In office December 29, 1910 – October 14, 1912 | |
| Preceded by | Spiru Haret |
| Succeeded by | Constantin G. Dissescu |
| Minister of Agriculture and Royal Domains | |
| In office April 5, 1913 – December 31, 1913 | |
| Preceded by | Ioan Lahovary |
| Succeeded by | Alexandru Constantinescu-Porcu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 18, 1855 Bucharest |
| Died | June 27, 1923 (aged 68) Bucharest |
A young lawyer who supported political reform, Arion moved progressively to the right, and, ca. 1885, became involved with the political club Junimea. As a Conservative policymaker and disciple of Alexandru Marghiloman, he rewrote legislation on education reform and brought the Romanian Orthodox Church under the control of its high clergy. Like Marghiloman, Arion supported the Central Powers during most of World War I, a position which seemed to carry most weight during the 1918 armistice. His participation in the Marghiloman government recovered for Romania the region of Bessarabia, but the subsequent return of Ententist forces made him a political suspect. He spent the remainder of his life as a marginal.
In addition to his presence in political life, Arion was an art patron, university professor, and philanthropist. He was the brother of Virgil Arion, and the father of Dinu C. Arion.