The bust at the north end of Piața 1 Decembrie depicts Alexandru Ioan Cuza (also known as Alexandru Ioan I). He was the first ruler of the United Principalities (Moldavia and Wallachia) from 1859 and of the newly created nation-state of Romania from 1862. Cuza promoted liberal and profoundly progressive reforms that led to the modernization of the Romanian state and society. In 1866, however, a broad coalition of the parties of the time forced Alexandru Ioan Cuza to abdicate. He died in Heidelberg on May 15, 1873, at the age of 53.