1861 - 1948 (87 years)
Has more than 100 ancestors and 33 descendants in this family tree.
1844 - 1921 (77 years)
Birth |
28 Mar 1844 |
Palais des Tuilleries, Paris, Île-de-France, France |
Died |
3 Jul 1921 |
Ehrenburg Castle, Coburg |
|
Father |
August Ludwig von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 13 Jun 1818, Vienna |
Mother |
Marie Clementine de Bourbon, b. 3 Jun 1817, Neiully-sur-Seine |
Married |
20 Apr 1843 |
St Cloud |
|
Family |
Louise Marie Amélie von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 18 Feb 1858, Royal Palace, Brussels |
Married |
4 Feb 1875 |
Royal Palace, Brussels |
Divorced |
15 Jan 1906 |
Children |
| 1. Leopold von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 1878 |
| 2. Dorothea von Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha, b. 1881 |
|
|
1858 - 1924 (66 years)
Birth |
18 Feb 1858 |
Royal Palace, Brussels |
Died |
1 Mar 1924 |
Hotel Nassauer Hof, Wiesbaden |
|
Father |
King Leopold II Louis-Philippe Marie Victor von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 9 Apr 1835, Brussel, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, België |
Mother |
Erzherzogin Marie Henriette von Lothringen, b. 23 Aug 1836, Buda, Magyarország |
Married |
22 Aug 1853 |
Brussel, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, België |
|
Family |
Ferdinand Philipp Maria August Raphael von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 28 Mar 1844, Palais des Tuilleries, Paris, Île-de-France, France |
Married |
4 Feb 1875 |
Royal Palace, Brussels |
Divorced |
15 Jan 1906 |
Children |
| 1. Leopold von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 1878 |
| 2. Dorothea von Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha, b. 1881 |
|
|
1845 - 1907 (62 years)
Birth |
8 Aug 1845 |
Chateau d'Eu |
Died |
14 Sep 1907 |
Karlsbad |
|
Father |
August Ludwig von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 13 Jun 1818, Vienna |
Mother |
Marie Clementine de Bourbon, b. 3 Jun 1817, Neiully-sur-Seine |
Married |
20 Apr 1843 |
St Cloud |
|
Family |
Leopoldina Teresa de Bragança, b. 13 Jul 1847, Río de Janeiro,, Brasil |
Married |
15 Dec 1864 |
Río de Janeiro,, Brasil |
Children |
| 1. Peter von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 1866 |
+ | 2. August Leopold Philipp Maria M von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 6 Dec 1867, Río de Janeiro,, Brasil |
+ | 3. Ludwig Gaston Klemens Maria Mi von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 15 Sep 1870, Ebenthal, , Kärnten, Österreich |
|
|
1847 - 1871 (23 years)
Birth |
13 Jul 1847 |
Río de Janeiro,, Brasil |
Died |
7 Feb 1871 |
Wien, Österreich |
|
Father |
Pedro II de Bragança, b. 2 Dec 1825, Río de Janeiro,, Brasil |
Mother |
Teresa Maria de Bourbon-Sicilie, b. 14 Mar 1822, Naples |
Married |
4 Sep 1843 |
Río de Janeiro,, Brasil |
|
Family |
Ludwig August Maria Eudes von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 8 Aug 1845, Chateau d'Eu |
Married |
15 Dec 1864 |
Río de Janeiro,, Brasil |
Children |
| 1. Peter von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 1866 |
+ | 2. August Leopold Philipp Maria M von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 6 Dec 1867, Río de Janeiro,, Brasil |
+ | 3. Ludwig Gaston Klemens Maria Mi von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 15 Sep 1870, Ebenthal, , Kärnten, Österreich |
|
|
1846 - 1927 (80 years)
Birth |
8 Jul 1846 |
Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France |
Died |
3 Jun 1927 |
Alcsut, Magyarország |
|
Father |
August Ludwig von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 13 Jun 1818, Vienna |
Mother |
Marie Clementine de Bourbon, b. 3 Jun 1817, Neiully-sur-Seine |
Married |
20 Apr 1843 |
St Cloud |
|
Family |
Joseph Karl von Österreich, b. 2 Mar 1833, Pressburg, , Bratislavský, Slovakia |
Married |
12 May 1864 |
Coburg |
Children |
| 1. Elisabeth Klementine von Österreich, b. 18 Mar 1865, Alscut |
| 2. Maria Dorothea von Österreich, b. 14 Jun 1867, Alcsut, Magyarország |
+ | 3. Erzherzogin Margarethe Klementine Maria von Österreich, b. 6 Jul 1870, Alcsut, Magyarország |
+ | 4. Erzherzog Joseph August von Österreich, b. 9 Aug 1872, Alcsut, Magyarország |
| 5. Laszlo Philipp von Österreich, b. 16 Jul 1875, Alcsut, Magyarország |
| 6. Elisabeth Henriette von Österreich, b. 9 Mar 1883, Alcsut, Magyarország |
| 7. Klothilde Maria von Österreich, b. 9 May 1884, Fiume |
|
|
1833 - 1905 (72 years)
Birth |
2 Mar 1833 |
Pressburg, , Bratislavský, Slovakia |
Died |
13 Jun 1905 |
Fiume |
|
Father |
Erzherzog Joseph Anton Johann von Österreich, b. 9 Mar 1776, Firenze, Toscana, Italia |
Mother |
Herzogin Marie Dorothea von Württemberg, b. 1 Nov 1797, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg,, Deutschland |
Married |
24 Aug 1819 |
Kirchheim unter Teck, Baden-Württemberg, Deutschland |
|
Family |
Marie Clotilde von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 8 Jul 1846, Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France |
Married |
12 May 1864 |
Coburg |
Children |
| 1. Elisabeth Klementine von Österreich, b. 18 Mar 1865, Alscut |
| 2. Maria Dorothea von Österreich, b. 14 Jun 1867, Alcsut, Magyarország |
+ | 3. Erzherzogin Margarethe Klementine Maria von Österreich, b. 6 Jul 1870, Alcsut, Magyarország |
+ | 4. Erzherzog Joseph August von Österreich, b. 9 Aug 1872, Alcsut, Magyarország |
| 5. Laszlo Philipp von Österreich, b. 16 Jul 1875, Alcsut, Magyarország |
| 6. Elisabeth Henriette von Österreich, b. 9 Mar 1883, Alcsut, Magyarország |
| 7. Klothilde Maria von Österreich, b. 9 May 1884, Fiume |
|
|
1848 - 1894 (45 years)
Birth |
23 Oct 1848 |
Coburg |
Died |
6 May 1894 |
Schloss Biederstein |
|
Father |
August Ludwig von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 13 Jun 1818, Vienna |
Mother |
Marie Clementine de Bourbon, b. 3 Jun 1817, Neiully-sur-Seine |
Married |
20 Apr 1843 |
St Cloud |
|
Family |
Maximilian Emanuel von Bayern, b. 7 Dec 1849, München, Bayern, Deutschland |
Married |
20 Sep 1875 |
Ebenthal, , Kärnten, Österreich |
Children |
| 1. Luitpold Emanuel Ludwig Maria von Bayern, b. 30 Jun 1890, Schloss Biederstein, München, Bayern, Deutschland |
| 2. Herzog Siegfried August Maximilian Maria von Bayern, b. 10 Jul 1876, Bamberg, Bayern, Deutschland |
| 3. Herzog Christoph Joseph Klemens Maria von Bayern, b. 22 Apr 1879, Schloss Biederstein, München, Bayern, Deutschland |
|
|
1849 - 1893 (43 years)
Birth |
7 Dec 1849 |
München, Bayern, Deutschland |
Died |
12 Jun 1893 |
Feldafing |
|
Father |
Herzog Maximilian von Bayern, b. 4 Oct 1808, Bamberg, Bayern, Deutschland |
Mother |
Prinzessin Ludovika Wilhelmine von Bayern, b. 30 Aug 1808, München, Bayern, Deutschland |
Married |
9 Sep 1828 |
Tegernsee, Bayern, Deutschland |
|
Family |
Marie Amalie von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 23 Oct 1848, Coburg |
Married |
20 Sep 1875 |
Ebenthal, , Kärnten, Österreich |
Children |
| 1. Luitpold Emanuel Ludwig Maria von Bayern, b. 30 Jun 1890, Schloss Biederstein, München, Bayern, Deutschland |
| 2. Herzog Siegfried August Maximilian Maria von Bayern, b. 10 Jul 1876, Bamberg, Bayern, Deutschland |
| 3. Herzog Christoph Joseph Klemens Maria von Bayern, b. 22 Apr 1879, Schloss Biederstein, München, Bayern, Deutschland |
|
|
1861 - 1948 (87 years)
Birth |
26 Feb 1861 |
Vienna |
Died |
10 Sep 1948 |
Coburg |
|
Father |
August Ludwig von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 13 Jun 1818, Vienna |
Mother |
Marie Clementine de Bourbon, b. 3 Jun 1817, Neiully-sur-Seine |
Married |
20 Apr 1843 |
St Cloud |
|
Family |
Maria Luisa Pia Teresa de Bourbon-Parma, b. 17 Jan 1870, Roma, Latium, Italia |
Married |
20 Apr 1893 |
Lucca, Toscana, Italia |
Children |
+ | 1. Zar Boris III von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 30 Jan 1894, Sofia, Bulgaria |
| 2. Cyrillus von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 1895 |
+ | 3. Nadejda von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 30 Jan 1899, Sofia, Bulgaria |
|
|
1870 - 1899 (29 years)
Birth |
17 Jan 1870 |
Roma, Latium, Italia |
Died |
31 Jan 1899 |
Sofia, Bulgaria |
|
Father |
Ducca Roberto Ludovico Maria di Parma, b. 9 Jul 1848, Firenze, Toscana, Italia |
Mother |
Maria della Grazia Pia de Borbone di Due Siciles, b. 2 Aug 1849, Gaeta |
Married |
5 Apr 1869 |
Roma, Latium, Italia |
|
Family |
Zar Ferdinand I von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 26 Feb 1861, Vienna |
Married |
20 Apr 1893 |
Lucca, Toscana, Italia |
Children |
+ | 1. Zar Boris III von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 30 Jan 1894, Sofia, Bulgaria |
| 2. Cyrillus von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 1895 |
+ | 3. Nadejda von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 30 Jan 1899, Sofia, Bulgaria |
|
|
1818 - 1881 (63 years)
Birth |
13 Jun 1818 |
Vienna |
Died |
26 Jul 1881 |
Schloss Ebenthal |
|
Father |
Ferdinand Georg Aug von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 28 Mar 1785, Coburg |
Mother |
Maria Antonie Gabriele von Kohary, b. 1797 |
Married |
1815 |
|
Family |
Marie Clementine de Bourbon, b. 3 Jun 1817, Neiully-sur-Seine |
Married |
20 Apr 1843 |
St Cloud |
Children |
+ | 1. Ferdinand Philipp Maria August Raphael von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 28 Mar 1844, Palais des Tuilleries, Paris, Île-de-France, France |
+ | 2. Ludwig August Maria Eudes von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 8 Aug 1845, Chateau d'Eu |
+ | 3. Marie Clotilde von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 8 Jul 1846, Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France |
+ | 4. Marie Amalie von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 23 Oct 1848, Coburg |
+ | 5. Zar Ferdinand I von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 26 Feb 1861, Vienna |
|
|
1817 - 1907 (89 years)
Birth |
3 Jun 1817 |
Neiully-sur-Seine |
Died |
16 Feb 1907 |
Vienna |
|
Father |
Roy Louis Philippe de France, I, b. 6 Oct 1773, Palais Royale |
Mother |
Marie Amelie Therese de Bourbon-Sicilie, b. 26 Apr 1782, Caserta |
Married |
25 Nov 1809 |
Palermo |
|
Family |
August Ludwig von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 13 Jun 1818, Vienna |
Married |
20 Apr 1843 |
St Cloud |
Children |
+ | 1. Ferdinand Philipp Maria August Raphael von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 28 Mar 1844, Palais des Tuilleries, Paris, Île-de-France, France |
+ | 2. Ludwig August Maria Eudes von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 8 Aug 1845, Chateau d'Eu |
+ | 3. Marie Clotilde von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 8 Jul 1846, Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France |
+ | 4. Marie Amalie von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 23 Oct 1848, Coburg |
+ | 5. Zar Ferdinand I von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 26 Feb 1861, Vienna |
|
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1870 - 1899 (29 years)
Birth |
17 Jan 1870 |
Roma, Latium, Italia |
Died |
31 Jan 1899 |
Sofia, Bulgaria |
|
Father |
Ducca Roberto Ludovico Maria di Parma, b. 9 Jul 1848, Firenze, Toscana, Italia |
Mother |
Maria della Grazia Pia de Borbone di Due Siciles, b. 2 Aug 1849, Gaeta |
Married |
5 Apr 1869 |
Roma, Latium, Italia |
|
Family |
Zar Ferdinand I von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 26 Feb 1861, Vienna |
Married |
20 Apr 1893 |
Lucca, Toscana, Italia |
Children |
+ | 1. Zar Boris III von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 30 Jan 1894, Sofia, Bulgaria |
| 2. Cyrillus von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 1895 |
+ | 3. Nadejda von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 30 Jan 1899, Sofia, Bulgaria |
|
|
1894 - 1943 (49 years)
Birth |
30 Jan 1894 |
Sofia, Bulgaria |
Died |
28 Aug 1943 |
Sofia, Bulgaria |
|
Father |
Zar Ferdinand I von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 26 Feb 1861, Vienna |
Mother |
Maria Luisa Pia Teresa de Bourbon-Parma, b. 17 Jan 1870, Roma, Latium, Italia |
Married |
20 Apr 1893 |
Lucca, Toscana, Italia |
|
Family |
Giovanna Elisabetta di Savoya, b. 13 Nov 1907, Roma, Latium, Italia |
Married |
25 Oct 1930 |
Assisi |
Children |
|
|
1895 - 1944 (49 years)
Birth |
1895 |
Died |
1944 |
|
Father |
Zar Ferdinand I von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 26 Feb 1861, Vienna |
Mother |
Maria Luisa Pia Teresa de Bourbon-Parma, b. 17 Jan 1870, Roma, Latium, Italia |
Married |
20 Apr 1893 |
Lucca, Toscana, Italia |
|
1899 - 1958 (59 years)
Birth |
30 Jan 1899 |
Sofia, Bulgaria |
Died |
15 Feb 1958 |
Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Deutschland |
|
Father |
Zar Ferdinand I von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 26 Feb 1861, Vienna |
Mother |
Maria Luisa Pia Teresa de Bourbon-Parma, b. 17 Jan 1870, Roma, Latium, Italia |
Married |
20 Apr 1893 |
Lucca, Toscana, Italia |
|
Family |
Albrecht Eugen Maria Philipp C von Württemberg, b. 8 Jan 1895, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Deutschland |
Married |
24 Jan 1924 |
Bad Mergentheim |
Children |
| 1. Living |
| 2. Living |
| 3. Living |
| 4. Living |
| 5. Living |
|
|
-
Name |
Ferdinand I von Sachsen-Coburg |
Prefix |
Zar |
Birth |
26 Feb 1861 |
Vienna |
Gender |
Male |
Death |
10 Sep 1948 |
Coburg |
Siblings |
4 Siblings |
+ | 1. Ferdinand Philipp Maria August Raphael von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 28 Mar 1844, Palais des Tuilleries, Paris, Île-de-France, France d. 3 Jul 1921, Ehrenburg Castle, Coburg (Age 77 years) ▻ Louise Marie Amélie von Sachsen-Coburg, m. 4 Feb 1875 | + | 2. Ludwig August Maria Eudes von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 8 Aug 1845, Chateau d'Eu d. 14 Sep 1907, Karlsbad (Age 62 years) ▻ Leopoldina Teresa de Bragança, m. 15 Dec 1864 | + | 3. Marie Clotilde von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 8 Jul 1846, Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France d. 3 Jun 1927, Alcsut, Magyarország (Age 80 years) ▻ Joseph Karl von Österreich, m. 12 May 1864 | + | 4. Marie Amalie von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 23 Oct 1848, Coburg d. 6 May 1894, Schloss Biederstein (Age 45 years) ▻ Maximilian Emanuel von Bayern, m. 20 Sep 1875 | + | 5. Zar Ferdinand I von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 26 Feb 1861, Vienna d. 10 Sep 1948, Coburg (Age 87 years) ▻ Maria Luisa Pia Teresa de Bourbon-Parma, m. 20 Apr 1893 | |
Person ID |
I6319 |
Geneagraphie |
Last Modified |
29 Aug 2000 |
Family |
Maria Luisa Pia Teresa de Bourbon-Parma, b. 17 Jan 1870, Roma, Latium, Italia d. 31 Jan 1899, Sofia, Bulgaria (Age 29 years) |
Marriage |
20 Apr 1893 |
Lucca, Toscana, Italia |
Children |
+ | 1. Zar Boris III von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 30 Jan 1894, Sofia, Bulgaria d. 28 Aug 1943, Sofia, Bulgaria (Age 49 years) |
| 2. Cyrillus von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 1895 d. 1944 (Age 49 years) |
+ | 3. Nadejda von Sachsen-Coburg, b. 30 Jan 1899, Sofia, Bulgaria d. 15 Feb 1958, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Deutschland (Age 59 years) |
|
Family ID |
F2275 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Last Modified |
29 Aug 2000 |
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Notes |
- Aged 26 and a retired lieutenant of the Austrian Army, he was elected Prince of Bulgaria by the Great National Assembly in Turnovo on July 7th, 1887, after the abdication of Prince Alexander Battenberg.
Upon his arrival in Sofia, he worked with the great Prime Minister of the day, Stefan Stambolov and his government; secretly supported by Austria and England, he managed to counter the opposition of Russia, which had been trying to prevent the Great Powers from recognizing him. His marriage to a Catholic, Mary Louise, daughter of Robert, Duke of Parma, in 1893, increased Russia's hostility. However, after the death of Tsar Alexander III and the murder of Stefan Stambolov in 1895, relations with St. Petersburg improved. Prince Ferdinand won the support of the new Russian Tsar, Nicholas I, by baptizing Boris, heir to the Bulgarian throne, in the Eastern Orthodox faith in 1896. Following the baptism, Ferdinand was officially recognized by Russia, and the other Powers. The Pope, Leo XIII, vehemently disapproving, promptly excommunicated the Prince. Some years later, Pope Benedict XV reinstalled him to the faith.
Having stabilized Bulgaria's position, Ferdinand and his government pursued active domestic and foreign policies. During the late summer of 1908, taking advantage of the difficulties besetting the Ottoman Empire, he declared Bulgaria's independence and proclaimed himself Tsar of the Bulgarians on October 6th. During the following year, this too was recognized by the Powers.
Prompted by the mood of his nation to liberate and unite Bulgarians still living under Ottoman rule, he exploited Turkey's problems (war with Italy since 1911), and entered into a secret treaty with Serbia in March 1912, followed by similar accords with Montenegro and Greece. He assumed supreme command of the Bulgarian army when the First Balkan War started. The spectacular successes of the victorious Bulgarian army kindled great ambitions in him and he supported his government to seek the full unification of the Bulgarian people.
The second Balkan War started on June 16th, 1913 and ended with the crushing defeat of Bulgaria and the Treaty of
Bucharest. The betrayal of Bulgaria by her ex-allies Serbia, Montenegro and Greece influenced Tsar Ferdinand to accept his government's policy decision to side with the Central Powers during World War I, which Bulgaria entered in 1915. The war ended in defeat for Bulgaria and Ferdinand abdicated on October 3rd, 1918 in favour of his son Boris III. He left the country on the same day and settled in Germany.
King Ferdinand was known as a skillful diplomat and strong and gifted Head of State. His reign left a significant and lasting impact on the political, cultural and social life of Bulgaria. The progress of the fledgling Bulgarian State to a level where it was regarded as the strongest and most advanced Balkan country, was due in no small measure, to its first Tsar of modern times and his innovative spirit, which guided it into the Twentieth Century.
********************************************
"POLITICS IS NOT A SCIENCE, BUT ART": these words of Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor of Germany, were often cited by Tsar Ferdinand in the presence of his sons, the crown prince Boris and Kiril of Preslav.
Beauty was his only ideal. Unreliable. One could not count on him taking the same stand at six o'clock as at two o'clock or four o'clock," a diplomat very close to the second monarch of the Third Bulgarian State recalled. His description is a good starting point for the understanding of the two groups of historians who have been arguing over the life and deeds of Tsar Ferdinand for many decades now. His supporters and admirers point out that the German prince Ferdinand Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, born on 26 February 1861, had dreamt of the crown since his childhood, which involved a wealthy upbringing and the will to shoulder the burden of power. When in the summer of 1887 Prince Ferdinand arrived to Vidin, he was apparently full of ambitions to build a powerful state and to lay the foundations of a lasting Coburg dynasty. Second lieutenant in the Austro-Hungarian army, he was elected by the Grand National Assembly as monarch of Bulgaria and ascended the throne, vacated by Prince Alexander I, in a very different situation. The country was in an upsurge, hopes for the future pushing it ahead. Under Ferdinand, Bulgaria made considerable progress in many spheres: politics, economy, culture and defence. At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, Bulgaria was developing faster than any of its neighbors. Ferdinand's historic merit is that he did not stand in the way of that development, but in many ways encouraged the modernization of the country. In the beginning, Ferdinand I knew little about Bulgarians' situation and readily learned from Stambolov The son of Princess Clementine - King Louis Philippe of France's daughter - he displayed remarkable strength of character. With aristocratic upbringing and manners, fluent in several languages, he was a versatile politician and a skilled diplomat when faced political tensions. In 1908 his nose for diplomacy told him the time had come to declare Bulgaria's independence, changing his prince's crown for that of a tsar. A number of historians flatly condemn Ferdinand I as a ruler. It is telling that one book about the ruler by Steven Constant, is entitled Ferdinand the Fox, referring to his cunning, resourcefulness and, often, perfidy. Other opponents of the Coburg dynasty denounce his "personal rule" at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century as a violation of the principles of democracy. He actually did not establish an autocracy, but he did have complete control over the army, the foreign ministry and the appointment of cabinet ministers, thus holding the key elements of power in his hands and forcing politicians, diplomats and generals into submission. "Bulgaria was too small a state for his plans and ambitions. He had always hoped to be a ruler of European magnitude, equal to the Emperor of Russia, the Kaiser of Germany and the Queen of England... It was no confidence that he was aspiring after Constantinople...," writes the historian Ilcho Dimitrov about the range of Ferdinand's ambition. Ferdinand coveted the Byzantine crown. He came to Bulgaria without formal international recognition and had to fight fiercely for his self-assertion, never forgetting his great dream, in pursuit of which he gave up the attainable for the unachievable. In crucial historical moments Ferdinand's diplomatic patience deserted him. He failed to consult the government or the National Assembly about Bulgaria's entry into the Second Balkan War in the summer of 1913 and the alliance with Germany and Austro-Hungary during World War I. It was his desire for fame that fuelled his overinflated self-confidence and resulted in two national disasters in 1913 and 1919. Presumably, Ferdinand was seeking the best way to defend Bulgaria's national interests, and Bulgaria did score some victories in the First Balkan War in 1912- 1913. A memorable Bulgarian victory was won at Adrianople in the spring of 1913 when Turkey was brought to its knees and forced to give up most of its European territories. But again, uncontrolled willfulness prevailed over slow perseverance and impulsiveness over well-considered strategy. The history of the Balkan wars gives evidence of arbitrary decisions of the monarch, too Several months earlier he threw the Bulgarian army into bloody and hopeless fights at Catalca in Turkey. At the time of his abdication in the autumn of 1918, Tsar Ferdinand realized the irony in the words he had pronounced upon ascending the throne: "I have come here to stay!" This bitterness rankled him till his death in 1948.
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