the "order of bene merenti of the royal house" (romanian: ordinul bene merenti al casei domnitoare) was instituted as a decoration on 20 february 1876 by prince carol i (later king carol i of the kingdom of romania) during his tenth year of reign as domnitor or sovereign prince of the united principalities of romania. the decoration was changed into an order on 16 december 1915 by king carol i's nephew king ferdinand i of romania. on 8 september 1940, the order was abolished and replaced with the order of st. george by king ferdinand i's grandson king michael i.