King Simeon II of Bulgaria and his family

[frederika]

 
Aleksandr 1878-1886
the first ruler of the independant Bulgaria was prince Aleksander of Batternburg a relitive of princess Alice of greece he arrived in bulgaria in 1877 Aleksanda was an effective ruler and was very populer among his people he found the narrow constitution unexceptable and suspended it in 1881 giving him self absolot power he then started a masive reform program which angered the Tzar Aleksandr III who deposed him in 1886 he died in 1893 at the age of 36 he said as he left "God help Bulgaria"

Ferdanand I 1887-1918
Aleksandr III chose Ferdanand of saxs corburg as the next ruler a half Italian halth german Prince the bulgarian royal family retained its italian links from then on.

Ferdanand was a very unrelieble and arrogant man he also pushed through much modernisation Bulgaria developed faster than any other country in the reagon

Ferdanand Married his Italian cousin Maria Louisa 1865-1899 she died in childbirth he then Married Elenor or Reuss 1860-1917.

The reform minded priminister Stambolov declered Bulgarias inderpendance in 1908 Ferdanand Became Tzar in his own right. Ferdanand Later had Stanbolov murdered. He sided with the germans in WWI he was then deposed and died in exile in 1948.

Boris III 1918-1943

Boris  was a very Populer monach he converted to Othodoxsy and led a modest life in line with his people boris a shy man who disliked conflict he preferd to stay in the backgrouned and leave the polotics to the polotions he was murdered on the way back from visiting Hitler tamparing with the oxogen Masks was the suspected cause of his death
Boris Married Gogiovan1907-2002 of Italy in 1930 she had two children Maria Louisa and Simon.

Simon 1943-1946

Simon was 6 when he became Tzar his prince Kryll served as redent until he was exicuted by the Communists in 1945 the Communists riged a reforendom on the monachy which was abolished in 1946 the royal family lived in spain where simon married a spanish Countess Margaraita 1935-  In 1996 he retured to bulgaria in 2001 he formed his own political party and one the National election becoming the Prime minister he promised to rid the country on unemployment  within 100 days which he did not achiev but he has improved the conditions for the Bulgarian people who resently a poll said faved a retern of the Communists!

[Marc]

Tsar Simeon is also an example of changing his surname!He chaged it from von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha to Sakskoburgotski to sound much more Bulgarian than German!

[cimbrio]

I was in Bulgaria twice three years ago and asked what they think of the whole Monarchy thing. Though all or most of the Bulgarians I met with (which were of all ages and ethnic groups) manifested their hope and admiration for Simeon of saxe-Coburg, none of them wish a return of the monarchy; I think they just see it as an anticuated institution. However, it's good that Simeon's quite popular (he's quite popular here in Spain, where he's lived most of his life). In any case, I think it's interesting that he's now Prime Minister. The memory of his (possibly assassinated) father is also very much alive, and there's always candles lit next to his grave in the fabulous Rila Monastery, buried at the foot of some mountains south of Sofia.

[Elisabeth]

I think what Cimbrio wrote is true, the monarchy probably won't be restored in Bulgaria - although there's an off-chance that it could be, given the right circumstances.

However, when I was in Bulgaria I noticed that Simeon's father, Tsar Boris III, was still regarded with fondness, even with a great deal of nostalgia. Taxi drivers liked to point out to us Boris' Garden and the Tsar's Highway (near Shipka, where, we were informed, Boris liked to race cars). They (and all the other Bulgarians I met, even on the Left) also invariably referred to Simeon as "The Tsar." Not Simeon Saksborgotski or "the prime minister," but - "The Tsar."

And, as I was informed by a reliable source, this is also the case with all of his ministers in the government: Simeon is not only "The Tsar," they even address him as "Your Majesty." Simeon is accorded this degree of respect partly because of his own political accomplishments (such as getting Bulgaria into the European Union) but also and perhaps even more importantly because of the enduring historical legacy of his father. Boris III is still popular among Bulgarians because of his wily maneuvering during WWII, his annexation of ancestral Bulgarian lands, and the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews from Hitler's clutches (although those Jews in the annexed territories perished). His untimely death - many still believe he was poisoned by Hitler - only adds to his mystique.

[cimbrio]

Very well put Elisabeth. In Dulcie M. Ashdown's book "Royal Murders" Hitler is very much suspected of being behind Boris III's death (I think the official reason was heart attack). Mussolini is also a probable "royal" murderer if we consider the Pope as a "Prince" for the Pope at the time was discussing the Church's position toward Fascism. He "died in his sleep" after being administered a dose by his doctor (who was, "funnily" enough, Mussolini's mistress' father!)...

[Marlene]

Very well put Elisabeth. In Dulcie M. Ashdown's book "Royal Murders" Hitler is very much suspected of being behind Boris III's death (I think the official reason was heart attack). Mussolini is also a probable "royal" murderer if we consider the Pope as a "Prince" for the Pope at the time was discussing the Church's position toward Fascism. He "died in his sleep" after being administered a dose by his doctor (who was, "funnily" enough, Mussolini's mistress' father!)...

By the way, the family does not think that Hitler was behind the death. Have you read the two excellent bios
on Boris?
Dimitroff, Pashanko  Boris III of Bulgaria  (1986)
     Groueff, Stephane  Crown of Thorns  (1987)

[Elisabeth]

By the way, the family does not think that Hitler was behind the death. Have you read the two excellent bios
 on Boris?
Dimitroff, Pashanko  Boris III of Bulgaria  (1986)
      Groueff, Stephane  Crown of Thorns  (1987)

I've read Dmitroff's book - I think. Also one about the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews which dealt with Boris III's death. I think historians are pretty much agreed that Boris died of natural causes (heart disease). But that doesn't stop the ordinary Bulgarian in the street from wondering. It's one of those historical (non)mysteries that never quite goes away, isn't it? Because Boris had just returned from a trip to Germany before he died, and previously he had supposedly been in good health.

[Elisabeth]

For anyone interested, the book about the Bulgarian Jews during WWII is called Beyond Hitler's Grasp: The Heroic Rescue of Bulgaria's Jews, by Michael Bar-Zohar (Adams Media, 1998). The section dealing with Boris III's mysterious death is from pp. 232-239.

For a less generous view of Boris' role in the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews, see the excellent documentary film The Optimists (the director is a Bulgarian-Israeli named Comforty), which gives all the credit to the Bulgarian people, parliament, and Orthodox Church.

[pablo]

 The success of Marita Operation(Yougoslavia) was in check, it was very necessary to maintain Bulgaria at war.
 Hitller never would had poisoned him.

 Regards.

 

[Marc]

Does anyone have any good colour portraits of the members of Bulgarian royal family?Kings?Queens?

[Elisabeth]

  The success of Marita Operation(Yougoslavia) was in check, it was very necessary to maintain Bulgaria at war.
  Hitller never would had poisoned him.

  Regards.

  

I don't think Hitler poisoned Boris, but if you wanted to make a case for it, the evidence could point to murder: Boris was an official ally of Nazi Germany but he was never going to be Hitler's lackey (the way the Hungarians were, for example). He not only refused to hand over the Bulgarian Jews (thanks to enormous pressure brought upon him by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the Bulgarian people, and not least the Bulgarian parliament), but he also refused to allow Bulgarian soldiers to serve on the Western or Eastern fronts. And these are just two of the reasons why Boris remains so popular among average Bulgarians to this day - he kept them out of WWII to the extent that it was possible to do so. (The U.S. and I think Britain bombed Sofia a few times - but that was about it for international strife. Boris' ambassador to the U.S. even said, "our declaration of war isn't serious" - but the U.S. took it seriously - to a certain - very limited! - extent.)

[Eurohistory]

Very well put Elisabeth. In Dulcie M. Ashdown's book "Royal Murders" Hitler is very much suspected of being behind Boris III's death (I think the official reason was heart attack). Mussolini is also a probable "royal" murderer if we consider the Pope as a "Prince" for the Pope at the time was discussing the Church's position toward Fascism. He "died in his sleep" after being administered a dose by his doctor (who was, "funnily" enough, Mussolini's mistress' father!)...

King Boris was sickly and he was under tremendous stress during these times trying to juggle his country, his relationship with Nazi germany and also keeping an eye on the Soviet Union and the Allies...it is not a surprise that he suffered a quick death most likely induced by overwork, tension and stress.

Arturo Beéche

[Robert_Hall]

He did not change it. That is his name in Bulgarian. He needed a last name for a passport and to enter politics.
BTW, on Mon. am the Metropolitan of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church announced that Simeon was "King by origin and annoint, head of government by duty". Whatever that is supposed to mean. The monarchy has already been abolished by popular referendum and the BOC carries little weight in the country now. Should be interesting to see what reaction the satement brings- if any.

[Eurohistory]

I think King Simeon made a terrible blunder when he entered politics.

Arturo Beéche

[Robert_Hall]

Uou may be correct, Arturo. His popularity is not so good now and his government  is barely holding a new coalition together. The sad case of another Bulgarian soldier being shot recently [American friendly fire !] is not helping the general disconent  with the Ieaqi involvement and the mad rush to get more foreign investment is proving another problem. Elections are due in June, I think and there is no guarentee that  his party will remain credible.