Romania's King of the Gypsies is laid to rest in 'air conditioned' coffin as thousands of Roma turn up for four-mile funeral march through his Transylvanian hometown

Florin Cioaba was the 'King' of the Romanian Roma community

The 58-year-old died of a heart attack while on holiday in Turkey

He famously married off his daughter when she was 12 years old



Thousands of Roma turned out for the funeral of their self-styled King as he was laid to rest in his hometown in Transylvania today.

Florin Cioaba, 58, who had taken to wearing a king's crown as the leader of the minority community, became famous around the globe for arranging a marriage for his 12-year-old daughter.

After watching her storm out of the church to avoid becoming a child bride, 'King' Cioaba became an advocate for education for Roma girls and began preaching that girls should not marry before the age of 16.

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Royal farewell: Mourners, including 'King' Florin's sons and his wife Marita, stand around the glass-roof air-conditioned coffin, during a religious service at the 'King's home March of the Roma: Thousands of Romani gypsies followed the truck heading for the cemetery to honour their leader Tears for the king: Female relatives of late 'Gypsy King' mourn during his funeral in Sibiu, northern Romania The royal guard: Bodyguards stand near the glass-covered coffin during the funeral procession on Friday

This despite the fact that his dutiful daughter Ana-Maria had returned to the church moments later and was indeed married off to a 15-year-old boy of her father's choice.

Cioaba died of a heart attack while on holiday in Turkey last week, and received the sendoff worthy of a royal.

His body was carried in an air-conditioned glass covered coffin down a four mile route in Sibiu, Transylvania.

A banner emblazoned with his crowned visage was draped across an apartment building in his hometown. Stonemasons have been carving his tomb in black marble for the last week.

‘He cared very much about his Roma community and he helped it a lot. He integrated it into Romanian society, he sent the members of the community to school,’ his relative Ion Rudaru said.

Crown lost: Mourners gather around a truck carrying the coffin of Florin Cioaba, the self-styled 'King' of the Roma community, who died last week aged 58

Community loss: The body of the 'King' was taken on a four mile funeral cortege followed by thousands of Roma

Next in line: The two oldest sons of King Florin; Dorin, right and Daniel, left, greet mourners in Sibiu Controversial: King Florin, seen on a large banner on an apartment block in Sibiu, became a household name after forcing his daughter Ana-Maria to marry when she was 12 years old Last journey: 'King' Florin later gained a reputation as an activist for improved communication between the Roma and the Romanian community and promoted education for young Roma girls Regina of the Roma: 'Queen' Marita stands next to her husband's cross placed outside their residence in Sibiu, 118 miles northwest of Bucharest The last journey: The casket of 'King' Florin Cioaba is carried by pallbearers in the cemetery at the end of the funeral march

Before the funeral, his elder son Dorin was crowned ‘the international king of Roma,’ while his younger son Daniel was crowned ‘the king of Romanian Roma,’ succeeding him as the heads of Europe's largest Roma community.

Cioaba himself took over the mantle in 1997 from his father Ion Cioaba, who was deported during the Holocaust to the Soviet Union.

Roma sociologist Ciprian Necula described Cioaba as a moderate leader and a mediator who used his pulpit to deliver many of his messages, including urging Roma not to beg on the streets, calling on them to wait until age 16 to be married and demanding more rights for the minority.

‘When I greeted him “I kiss your hand, Your Majesty,” he replied, “Stop that nonsense!”,’ Necula said Friday.

Fit for a king: The specially made coffin was allegedly air -onditioned for the Roma 'King' New King: Dorin Cioaba, the new King of the Gypsies, kisses the hand of his mother Marita next to his father's coffin, after the crowning ceremony Gypsy leader: Roma Gypsy women in traditional dress at wake for their late King this week

His people: An elderly Roma man takes part in the funeral of the 'King' a title Florin Cioaba had held since 1997 after his own father's death Close-knit: Women gather at the mourning preparations in the Cioaba family home with guests arriving and visiting Florin Cioba's coffin for the last time International leader: Musicians play in honour of 'King' Florin, praised for standing up to former French President Nicolas Sarkozy whom he denounced for repatriating Romanian Roma from France

Tradition: A Roma man throws coins for children at the funeral of 'King' Florin Cioaba in Sibiu

Cioaba was strongly influenced in his policies by his wife, Marica, whom he married when they were both 14 and with whom he had four children, Necula added.

He could be critical of European leaders, including former French President Nicolas Sarkozy whom he denounced for repatriating Romanian Roma from France.