Alexandru P. Mavrodi (December 7, 1881 – September 24, 1934) was a

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

n journalist, theater figure and politician. Born in

Dorohoi Dorohoi () is a municipiu, city in Botoșani County, Romania, on the right bank of the river Jijia, which broadens into a lake on the north. History Dorohoi used to be a market for the timber and farm produce of the north Moldavian highlands; m ...

, he studied dramatic arts at the Iași Conservatory. He then earned two doctorates, in Law from Paris and in Philosophy from Bonn. He entered journalism in 1898, writing for several

Iași Iași ( , , ; also known by other alternative names), also referred to mostly historically as Jassy ( , ), is the second largest city in Romania and the seat of Iași County. Located in the historical region of Moldavia, it has traditionally ...

newspapers: ''Opinia'', ''Evenimentul'', ''Ordinea'' and ''Gazeta Moldovei'',Nicolae Titulescu, ''Opera politico-diplomatică'', p. 1121. Bucharest: Fundația Europeană Titulescu, 2003 where he became editor. In 1903, he became a “second-rate” actor at the

Iași National Theatre The Iași National Theatre (or Vasile Alecsandri National Theater; in Romanian: Teatrul Național Vasile Alecsandri) in Iași, Romania, is the oldest national theatre and one of the most prestigious theatrical institutions in Romania. In 1956, ...

. Initially unpaid, his roles were minor but demanded stage presence; the young actor was tall, spoke clearly and looked well in formal costume. Likely due to the insignificance of his roles, Mavrodi emerged as a malcontent, ready to defend perceived victims of injustice, particularly actresses “insulted” by directors. He would respond to personal slights by recruiting seconds and asking for a duel. After leaving Iași, he went to Paris, where he studied journalism for two years on a scholarship. Returning to Romania and moving to

Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ro, București ) is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, less than north of ...

, he briefly worked as a political reporter at ''

Adevărul ''Adevărul'' (; meaning "The Truth", formerly spelled ''Adevĕrul'') is a Romanian daily newspaper, based in Bucharest. Founded in Iași, in 1871, and reestablished in 1888, in Bucharest, it was the main left-wing press venue to be published dur ...

'' and '' Dimineața''. He was chief editor and later manager of the official

National Liberal National liberalism is a variant of liberalism, combining liberal policies and issues with elements of nationalism. Historically, national liberalism has also been used in the same meaning as conservative liberalism (right-liberalism). A seri ...

journal ''Viitorul''. There, he wrote about politics and reviewed plays under the pen name Alexandru Fronda (a character in

Haralamb Lecca Haralamb George Lecca (; – March 9, 1920), also known as Haralamb Leca, Har. Lecca,C. D. Fort., "Recenzii. Cărți. ''Antologia poeților olteni, de I. C. Popescu-Polyclet''", in ''Arhivele Olteniei'', Nr. 45–46/1929, p. 546"Noutăți. Știri ...

’s play ''Câinii''). While at ''Viitorul'', he became embroiled in a scandal regarding the re-election of

Duiliu Zamfirescu Duiliu Zamfirescu (30 October 1858 – 3 June 1922) was a Romanian novelist, poet, short story writer, lawyer, Nationalism, nationalist politician, journalist, diplomat and memoirist. In 1909, he was elected a list of members of the Romanian Acade ...

President of the Chamber of Deputies President of the Chamber of Deputies may refer to: * List of presidents of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies * List of presidents of the Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia * President of the Chamber of Deputies (Brazil) * President of the Chamber of Dep ...

. The newspaper’s constant attacks on Zamfirescu prompted him to challenge Mavrodi to a duel, sending seconds to the editor’s office. Mavrodi also chose seconds, but they were unable to agree to terms.Mihai Chiper, ''Pe câmpul de onoare'', e-book. Bucharest: Editura Humanitas, 2017, In 1915, he became director of the

National Theater Bucharest The National Theatre Bucharest ( ro, Teatrul Naţional "Ion Luca Caragiale" București) is one of the national theatres of Romania, located in the capital city of Bucharest. Founding It was founded as the ''Teatrul cel Mare din București'' ("Gra ...

and general director of theaters. He was brought in to save an institution in chaos and on the verge of bankruptcy; unlike his predecessors, he was an insider.Ioan Massoff, ''Teatrul românesc: privire istorică'', vol. V, p. 103. Bucharest: Editura pentru Literatură, 1974 He held this position until 1918, again in 1922-1923 and finally from 1931.George Enescu (ed. Laura Manolache), ''George Enescu: 1898-1936'', p. 79. Bucharest: Editura Muzicală, 1988 He was head of the Radio Society and of the journalists’ union. A key member of King

Carol II Carol II (4 April 1953) was King of Romania from 8 June 1930 until his forced abdication on 6 September 1940. The eldest son of Ferdinand I, he became crown prince upon the death of his grand-uncle, King Carol I in 1914. He was the first of th ...

’s camarilla, he was treasured by the king and

Elena Lupescu Magda Lupescu (born Elena Lupescu; 3/15 September 1899 – 29 June 1977), later officially known as Princess Elena of Romania, was the mistress and later wife of King Carol II of Romania. Early life and family Many of the facts relating to he ...

for the information he provided regarding senior Liberal figures.Ioan Scurtu, ''Istoria românilor în timpul celor patru regi (1866-1947)'', p. 110. Bucharest: Editura Enciclopedică, 2004 He sat as a Liberal in the

Chamber of Deputies The chamber of deputies is the lower house in many bicameral legislatures and the sole house in some unicameral legislatures. Description Historically, French Chamber of Deputies was the lower house of the French Parliament during the Bourbon R ...

(1931) and in the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

. He was deputy state secretary in the prime minister’s office from November 1933 until his death.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mavrodi, Alexandru 1881 births 1934 deaths People from Dorohoi University of Paris alumni University of Bonn alumni Camarilla (Carol II of Romania) National Liberal Party (Romania) politicians Members of the Chamber of Deputies (Romania) Members of the Senate of Romania Adevărul writers Romanian newspaper editors Chairpersons of the National Theatre Bucharest Romanian male stage actors Romanian theatre critics Romanian trade union leaders