Ferdinand I of Bulgaria

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His Majesty Ferdinand I, King of Bulgaria (February 26, 1861 - September 10, 1948), born His Highness Prince Ferdinand Maximilan Karl Leopold Maria of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was monarch of Bulgaria as well as an author, botanist and philatelist.

Related Topics:
February 26 - 1861 - September 10 - 1948 - Monarch - Bulgaria - Philatelist

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Ferdinand was born in Vienna, a prince of the ducal family of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. The son of Prince Augustus of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1818-81) and his wife Clémentine of Orléans (1817-1907), Ferdinand was a grand-nephew of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and of Leopold I, first king of the Belgians. His father Augustus was a brother of the Prince Consort of Portugal, and also a first cousin of both Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert. Indeed, the ducal family of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha had contrived to occupy, either by marriage or by direct election, several European thrones in the course of the 19th century. Following the family trend, Ferdinand was himself to found the royal dynasty of Bulgaria.

Related Topics:
Vienna - Saxe-Coburg-Gotha - Augustus of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha - Clémentine of Orléans - Ernst I - Leopold I - Portugal - Queen Victoria - Prince Albert - Bulgaria

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Ferdinand was proclaimed Prince Regnant of autonomous Bulgaria on July 7, 1887 in the Gregorian calendar (the "New Style" used hereinafter), ten months after the abdication of his predecessor Prince Alexander.

Related Topics:
Prince Regnant - Bulgaria - July 7 - 1887 - Gregorian calendar - Prince Alexander

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Bulgaria's domestic political life was dominated during the early years of his reign by liberal party leader Stefan Stambolov, whose foreign policy saw a marked cooling in relations with Russia, formerly seen as Bulgaria's protector.

Related Topics:
Stefan Stambolov - Russia

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Despite Ferdinand's evident preference for handsome young blond men, he took his responsibility to wed and father a dynasty with the utmost seriousness, marrying Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma, daughter of Roberto I of Parma on April 20, 1893 at the Villa Pianore in Luccia in Italy, producing four children:

Related Topics:
Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma - Roberto I of Parma - April 20 - 1893

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• Boris III (1894-1943)
• Kyril (1895-1945)
• Eudoxia (1898-1985)
• Nadejda (1899-1958). Married Duke Albrecht von Württemberg.

Following Maria Luisa's death (on January 31, 1899), Ferdinand married Eleonore Caroline Gasparine Louise, Princess Reuss-Köstritz, on February 28, 1908.

Related Topics:
January 31 - 1899 - Eleonore Caroline Gasparine Louise - Reuss - February 28 - 1908

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Ferdinand's bisexuality was both well-known and exploited throughout European diplomatic circles. His regular holidays on Capri, then a famous haunt for wealthy gay men, was common knowledge in royal courts throughout Europe. It became the custom for visiting dignitaries seeking favour from Ferdinand to be accompanied by a handsome young equerry. A much recounted tale of First World War vintage centred around the occasion the Bulgarian war minister arrived at Ferdinand's quarters to discuss an urgent military matter, only to discover that Ferdinand had left for a picnic with a young man he had just met.

Related Topics:
Capri - First World War

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Stambolov's fall (May 1894) and subsequent assassination (July 1895) paved the way for a reconciliation of Bulgaria with Russia, effected in February 1896 with the conversion of the infant Prince Boris from Catholicism to Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

Related Topics:
1894 - 1895 - 1896 - Catholicism - Eastern Orthodox

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Ferdinand became Tsar of Bulgaria upon that country's declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire on October 5, 1908. The two Balkan Wars of October 1912-July 1913 saw the partial reversal of initial Bulgarian territorial gains.

Related Topics:
Bulgaria - Ottoman Empire - October 5 - 1908 - Balkan Wars - 1912 - 1913

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Ferdinand abdicated on October 3, 1918 after Bulgaria's defeat in World War I, which she had entered (October 1915) on the side of Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire in an attempt to reverse the losses of 1913.

Related Topics:
October 3 - 1918 - World War I - 1915 - Germany - Austria-Hungary

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He died in Burglassschloßen in Coburg, Germany and is buried there in St. Augustin's Catholic Church.

Related Topics:
Coburg - Germany

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