Michael became King when his father CAROL II abdicated in his favor in September 1940. His accession to power coincided with ANTONESCU’s seizure of power and Michael could do nothing to prevent it. However in August 1944 Michael was able to turn the tables and had Antonescu arrested and locked away in a closet in his palace. His attendants disarmed Antonescu’s bodyguard and a new government was formed that evening, 22 August. The government’s first act was to declare war on Germany. Michael remained King until the end of 1947 when he decided he could no longer lead a Communist state.