At home with the ‘king of the Roma gypsies’

Produced and directed by Jim Wickens – Editor: Agnieszka Liggett

He calls himself the international King of the Gypsies. From the small town of Sibiu, in Transylvania, Romania, Dorin Cioaba, claims to reign over Europe’s largest ethnic minority – the Romany Gypsies. In Romania he is something of a celebrity.

“I’m their leader,” he told us. “I represent the represent the Roma at European institutions. We look for projects to improve the Roma situation.”

Dorin inherited his title from his father, Florin, who passed away in 2013. At his funeral thousands of people lined the streets, as the procession went by, tossing gold coins into the streets.

Claims against Nazis

Now the new king runs the International Romani Union from a building across the road from his royal palace. From there, he employs a team filing compensation claims against the German government for some 80,000 Roma and their descendants who suffered at the hands of the Nazis in world war two.

Each claimant or their descendant pays five euros to the king to prepare a claim.

King Cioaba has travelled across the world, advocating for “Europe’s unwanted people”, many of whom have moved to the UK in recent years.

Channel 4 News was granted exclusive access to the king and the royal family and were treated to a feast in the marbled-floored house complete with exotic fish tank, chandeliers and a giant gold Christmas tree.

Married at 14

He told us he was married at 14 in the Roma tradition. His wife was even younger. “It’s a tradition I’m trying to ban,” he told us. “Both myself and my father have tried to raise it to 16 or 17. In some communities marriages take place at 10 or 12.”

Outside by the pool we were introduced to his pack of Chihuahuas, each named after an international currency. “He is like William, Prince William,” he proudly proclaimed, introducing us to his son Bodan, who will inherit the title after his death.

‘Give Roma a chance’

Discussing the large numbers of Roma Gypsies who have moved to Britain, Mr Cioaba told Channel 4 News the British government should deport those involved in crime. “But those who go there to work – and even those who go there and claim legally – should be helped by the British government and given a chance,” he said.

Mr Cioaba also doubles up as a preacher at his local Roma Pentecostal church, where he conducts services and baptisms. Such churches are increasingly popular among Roma communities across Europe. Channel 4 News attended during the baptism of 97-year-old Elisabeta Caldararu.

A Holocaust survivor, she was deported by the Nazis during the war. She told us three of those close to her died on the way, including her grandmother, Yova. Now with the king’s help she has successfully obtained a pension from the German government and has chosen to be baptised into the church.