Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha 237012 225660885 2008-07-14T19:56:22Z AreJay 94447 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/87.121.96.26|87.121.96.26]] to last version by Thijs!bot (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {|align=right |{{Infobox_Monarch | name =Simeon II / Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha / Simeon Sakskoburggotski | title =former Tsar of Bulgaria, Chairman of the Coalition (Political) | image =[[Image:Simeonofbulgaria.jpg|250px]] | caption =Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha as [[Prime Minister of Bulgaria]] | reign =[[28 August]], [[1943]] - [[15 September]], [[1946]] | coronation = | predecessor =[[Boris III of Bulgaria]] | successor =<b>Monarchy Abolished</b> <br><i>de facto</i> successor:<br> [[Vasil Kolarov]] (President) | heir = | consort =[[Margarita Gomez-Acebo y Cejuela]] | issue =[[Kardam, Prince of Turnovo]] <br> [[Kyrill, Prince of Preslav]] <br> [[Kubrat, Prince of Panagiurishte]] <br> [[Konstantin-Assen, Prince of Vidin]] <br> [[Princess Kalina of Bulgaria]] | royal house =[[Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]] | royal anthem = | father =[[Boris III of Bulgaria|Boris III]] | mother =[[Giovanna of Italy|Giovanna di Savoia, Princess of Italy]] | date of birth ={{birth date and age|1937|6|16}} | place of birth =[[Sofia]], [[Bulgaria]] | date of death = | place of death = | buried = |}} |- | {{Bulgarian Royal Family}}{{infobox kgstyles| royal name= Simeon II | image=| dipstyle=[[Majesty|His Majesty]]| offstyle=Your Majesty| altstyle=Sir|}} |} '''Simeon of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha''' (Bulgarian: Симеон Сакскобургготски) or '''Simeon II of Bulgaria''' (born [[June 16]], [[1937]]) was head of state as the [[Tsar of Bulgaria]], ''Tsar Simeon II'', from 1943 to 1946. He served as [[Prime Minister of Bulgaria]] from 2001 until August 2005. He is known in the English speaking world as '''Simeon [[Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]]''', which is the name of his family's ancestral homeland without the preceding ''of''. Simeon is one of the few living heads of state from the pre-World War II-era and he is also the only monarch in history who became Prime Minister of his country through a land-slide victory in democratic nation-wide elections, after 55 years of exile imposed on his family by the communist republic established in 1946. Simeon is a relative of the British Queen [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Elizabeth II]] and Belgian King [[Albert II of Belgium|Albert II]]. They belong to the [[House of Wettin]]. The Bulgarian Royal House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha is also a link between them. Simeon is a [[Knight of the Golden Fleece]]. Simeon is the only living person who still bears the Slavonic title "Tsar". He never signed any abdication papers although he was deposed by the communists in 1946 and the monarchy was abolished through a plebiscite held in the presence of the Soviet army. ==Royal history== Simeon is the son of [[Boris III of Bulgaria|Tsar Boris III]] and [[Giovanna of Italy|Tsaritsa Giovanna di Savoia]]. Following his birth, king Boris III sent an air force officer go to the [[River Jordan]] to obtain water for Simeon's baptism in Orthodox faith.<ref>Kate Connolly, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/jun/20/worlddispatch.kateconnolly "Once upon a time in Bulgaria"], ''The Guardian'', June 20, 2001.</ref> He became Tsar on [[August 28]] [[1943]] upon the death of his father, shortly after his return to Bulgaria from a meeting with [[Adolf Hitler]].<ref> Aronson, Theo, ''Crowns in Conflict'', p.202</ref> Since Tsar Simeon was only six years old upon assuming the throne, his uncle [[Prince Kyril of Bulgaria]], Prime Minister [[Bogdan Filov]] and Army General Mihov were appointed [[regent]]s.<ref> Hindley, Geoffrey, ''The Royal Families of Europe'', p.156 </ref> On 5 September 1944 the [[Soviet Union]] declared war on Bulgaria and the Red Army invaded the country. On [[9 September]] [[1944]], Prince Kyril and the other regents were deposed by a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]-backed [[coup]] and arrested. The three regents, all members of the last three governments, Parliament deputies, heads of the army and eminent journalists were executed by the Communists in February 1945.<ref> ibid </ref> ==Towards exile== The royal family (Queen Giovanna, Simeon II and his sister [[Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria|Maria-Louisa]]) remained at [[Vrana Palace]] near Sofia, while new communist regents were appointed. In her memoirs, Queen Giovanna recounts that [[Soviet]] soldiers at that time would entertain themselves by shooting at random in the direction where she was walking with the children. On [[15 September]] [[1946]], a plebiscite was held in the presence of the Soviet army. It resulted in over 97% approval for a newly-established Soviet republic and abolished the monarchy. On [[16 September]] [[1946]], the royal family was exiled from Bulgaria. However, Simeon II never signed any abdication papers. The royal family first went to [[Alexandria]], [[Egypt]], where Queen Giovanna's father [[Victor Emanuel III]], King of Italy, lived in exile. There, Simeon II finished [[Victoria College, Alexandria|Victoria College]] (along with Crown Prince[[ Leka of Albania]]). In July 1951, the Spanish government of [[Francisco Franco]] granted asylum to the family. ==Education and business career== In [[Madrid]], Simeon studied at the Lycée Française, but did not graduate. On 16 June 1955, upon turning 18, in accordance with the [[Tarnovo Constitution]] Simeon II read his proclamation to the Bulgarian people as the Tsar of Bulgaria, confirming his will to be king of all Bulgarians and follow the principles of Tarnovo Constitution and free Bulgaria. In 1958, he enrolled at [[Valley Forge Military Academy and College]] in the [[United States]], where he was known as "Cadet Rylski No. 6883",<ref> ibid </ref> and graduated as a second lieutenant. Once again in Spain, Simeon studied law and business administration. He became a businessman. For thirteen years, he was chairman of the Spanish subsidiary of [[Thomson SA|Thomson]], a French defence and electronics group. He was also an adviser in the banking, hotel, electronics, and catering sectors. ==Monarch in exile== Simeon issued several political declarations during his exile through his "chancellery" in Madrid directed at the Communist regime in Bulgaria and his exiled compatriots. His early attempts at forming an official [[government in exile]] did not come to fruition.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} ==Marriage and family== In 1962 Simeon married a Spanish aristocrat, [[Margarita Gomez-Acebo y Cejuela|Doña Margarita Gomez-Acebo y Cejuela]].The couple have five children — four sons (Kardam, Kyril, Kubrat and Konstantin) and a daughter, Kalina, all of whom subsequently married Spaniards.<ref> ibid </ref> All of his sons received names of Bulgarian kings. * [[Kardam of Turnovo|Kardam]] (born 1962) married Miriam Ungria y López. They have two sons, [[Boris of Bulgaria|Boris]] and [[Beltran of Bulgaria|Beltran]]. * [[Kyrill of Preslav|Kyrill]] (born 1964) married Rosario Nadal y Fuster-Puigdorfila. They have two daughters, [[Mafalda of Bulgaria|Mafalda]] and [[Olimpia of Bulgaria|Olimpia]], and one son, [[Tassilo of Bulgaria|Tassilo]]. * [[Kubrat of Panagiurishte|Kubrat]] (born 1965) married Carla Maria Royo-Villanova y Urrestarazu. They have three sons: [[Mirko of Bulgaria|Mirko]], [[Lukás of Bulgaria|Lukás]] and [[Tirso of Bulgaria|Tirso]]. * [[Konstantin-Assen of Vidin|Konstantin-Assen]] (born 1967) married María Garcia de la Rasilla y Gortazar. They have twins, [[Umberto of Bulgaria|Umberto]] and [[Sofia of Bulgaria|Sofia]]. * [[Kalina of Bulgaria|Kalina]] (born 1972) married [[Antonio "Kitín" Muñoz Valcárcel]]. They have one son, [[Simeon Hassan Muñoz|Simeon]]. ==Political return== {{Infobox Prime Minister | country = the [[Republic of Bulgaria]] | nationality = Bulgarian | order = 47th [[Prime Minister of Bulgaria|Prime Minister]] of the [[Republic of Bulgaria]] | term_start = [[24 July]] [[2001]] | term_end = [[17 August]] [[2005]] | predecessor =[[Ivan Kostov]] | successor = [[Sergey Stanishev]] | party = [[National Movement for Stability and Progress|NDSV]] | signature = TsarSimeonIIOfBulgariaAutograph.jpg }} In 1990, after the fall of communism, Simeon was issued a new Bulgarian passport. In 1996, fifty years after the abolition of monarchy, Simeon returned to Bulgaria and was met in many places crowds cheering: "We want our King!" <ref>[http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/infoBios/setimes/resource_centre/bio-archive/saxe-coburg-gotha_simeon Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha - Prime Minister of Bulgaria<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He did not, at that point, make any political announcements or moves. Various estates in Bulgaria that had been nationalized under the republic were returned to the Bulgarian royal family. In 2001 Simeon proclaimed his will to return to Bulgaria for the common good and announced the formation of a new political party, the [[National Movement Simeon II]] ("NMSII"), dedicated to "reforms and political integrity." Simeon promised that in 800 days the [[Bulgarian people]] would feel the positive effects of his government and would enjoy significantly higher standards of living. NMSII won a large victory in the parliamentary elections held on [[June 17]], [[2001]], capturing 120 out of the 240 seats in Parliament and defeating the two main political parties until then. Simeon gave an oath as [[List of Prime Ministers of Bulgaria|Prime Minister of Bulgaria]] on [[July 24]], forming a coalition with the Turkish ethnic party [[Movement for Rights and Freedoms]] (MRF). He gave ministerial positions in his government mainly to [[Technocracy|technocrats]] and Western-educated economic specialists. In 2002 his efforts were recognized by his receiving the 2002 [[Path to Peace Award]] from the [[Path to Peace Foundation]].<ref>[http://www.thepathtopeacefoundation.org/ Path to Peace Foundation website]</ref> The development of Bulgaria's capital markets has moved forward, with the first [[Eurolev]] issue in 2004. During his time in power, Bulgaria joined NATO, but the country remained mired in mass poverty, official corruption, and organized crime. In 2005 elections, Simeon remained second political power and formed a new coalition government with the Bulgarian Socialist Party and [[Movement for Rights and Freedoms]]. Simeon II was given the unofficial ceremonial post of Chairman of the Coalition Council. ==Views on restoration of the Bulgarian monarchy== Simeon II has never renounced his royal claim to the Bulgarian throne. He has used the title "Tsar of the Bulgarians" in his political statements during his exile. Since his return to Bulgaria, however, Simeon has consistently declined to reveal his views on the restoration of the Bulgarian monarchy. ==Ancestors== <center>{{ahnentafel top|Ancestors of Simeon II of Bulgaria|width=100%}} {{ahnentafel-compact5 |style=font-size: 90%; line-height: 110%; |border=1 |boxstyle=padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; |boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc; |boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9; |boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc; |boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc; |boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe; |1= 1. '''Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha''' |2= 2. [[Boris III of Bulgaria]] |3= 3. [[Giovanna of Savoy]] |4= 4. [[Ferdinand I of Bulgaria]] |5= 5. [[Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma]] |6= 6. [[Victor Emmanuel III of Italy]] |7= 7. [[Elena of Montenegro]] |8= 8. [[August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 5th Prince of Kohary]] |9= 9. [[Princess Clémentine of Orléans]] |10= 10. [[Robert I, Duke of Parma]] |11= 11. Princess Maria Pia of the Two Sicilies |12= 12. [[Umberto I of Italy]] |13= 13. [[Margherita of Savoy]] |14= 14. [[Nicholas I of Montenegro]] |15= 15. [[Milena Vukotić]] |16= 16. [[Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 4th Prince of Kohary]] |17= 17. Maria Antonia Koháry de Csábrág |18= 18. [[Louis-Philippe of France]] |19= 19. [[Maria Amalia of the Two Sicilies]] |20= 20. [[Charles III, Duke of Parma]] |21= 21. [[Louise Marie Thérèse of France]] |22= 22. [[Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies]] |23= 23. [[Maria Theresa of Austria (1816-1867)|Maria Theresa of Austria]] |24= 24. [[Victor Emmanuel II of Italy]] |25= 25. [[Maria Adelaide of Austria]] |26= 26. [[Ferdinand, 1st Duke of Genoa]] |27= 27. [[Princess Elizabeth of Saxony]] |28= 28. [[Mirko Petrović Njegoš]] |29= 29. Anastasija Martinović |30= 30. Petar Vukotić |31= 31. Jelena Voivodić }} {{ahnentafel bottom}}</center> ==References== {{reflist}} ==Bibliography== ===Books=== * Curley, Walter J.P. (1975) ''Monarchs in Waiting'', London: Hutchinson & Co. (pp.23-25: "Bulgaria: His Majesty King Simeon II") * Fenyvesi, Charles (1981) ''Royalty in Exile'', London: Robson Books. (pp.153-171: "Czar Simeon of the Bulgars") ISBN 0-86051-131-6 * Dimitroff, Pashanko (1986) ''Boris III of Bulgaria 1894-1943'', London. ISBN 0-86332-140-2 * Groueff, Stephane (1987) ''Crown of Thorns'', Lanham MD. and London. ISBN 0-8191-5778-3 * Lauder-Frost, Gregory (1989) ''The Betrayal of Bulgaria'', Monarchist League Policy Paper, London. * Aronson, T. (1986) ''Crowns In Conflict'', London: John Murray (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN 0-7195-4279-0 * Hindley, G. (1979) ''The Royal Families of Europe'', London: Lyric Books Ltd. ISBN0 0-07-093530-0 ===Articles=== * ''The Daily Telegraph'', Obituary for "HM Queen Ioanna of the Bulgarians", London, 28 February 2000. ==See also== * [[List of monarchs who lost their thrones or abdicated in the 20th century]] * [[Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]] ==External links== {{external links}} * [http://www.b-info.com/places/Bulgaria/Royal/Simeon/ The first website about Simeon II of Bulgaria] focuses on his pre-1995 history *[http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/infoBios/setimes/resource_centre/bios/saxe-coburg-gotha_simeon ''Financial Times'' July 2001] Biography *[http://www.standartnews.com/archive/2005/02/10/english/opinion/ Saxe-Coburg-Gotha's address, [[February 10]] [[2005]]] concerning amending the constitution to bring it in line with EU requirements *[http://www.rigasummit.lv/en/?id=127 Saxe-Coburg-Gotha's statement, [[July 5]] [[2002]]] concerning Bulgaria's candidacy for [[NATO]] membership: "The role of the international community should be gradually transformed from crisis response to integration. Palliative measures intended to mitigate yet another crisis cannot bring stability and prosperity. The best solution is the region's integration into the European and Euroatlantic institutions." *[http://www.ndsv.bg] NMSII website *[http://www.dps.bg] MRF website {{s-start}} {{s-hou|[[Royal House of Bulgaria|House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]]|16 June|1937|||[[House of Wettin]]}} {{s-reg|}} {{s-bef|before=[[Boris III of Bulgaria|Boris III]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[List of Bulgarian monarchs|Tsar of Bulgaria]]|years=[[August 28]], [[1943]] – [[September 15]], [[1946]]}} {{s-vac|reason=[[People's Republic of Bulgaria|Republic declared]]}} |- {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Boris III of Bulgaria|Boris III]]</br><small>as [[List of Bulgarian monarchs|Tsar of Bulgaria]]</small>}} {{s-ttl|title=Head of State of Bulgaria</br><small>as [[List of Bulgarian monarchs|Tsar of Bulgaria]]</small>|years=[[August 28]], [[1943]] – [[September 15]], [[1946]]}} {{s-aft|after=[[Vasil Kolarov]]</br><small>as [[List of Presidents of Bulgaria|Chairman of the Provisional Presidency<br>of the People's Republic of Bulgaria]]</small>}} |- {{s-bef|before=[[Ivan Kostov]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[List of Prime Ministers of Bulgaria|Prime Minister of Bulgaria]]|years=[[July 24]], [[2001]] – [[August 17]], [[2005]]}} {{s-aft|after=[[Sergey Stanishev]]}} |- {{s-pre}} {{s-new|loss|reason=[[People's Republic of Bulgaria|Monarchy abolished]]}} {{s-tul|title=[[List of Bulgarian monarchs|Tsar of Bulgaria]]|years=[[September 15]], [[1946]] – [[Present (time)|present]]|reason=}} {{s-inc|heir=[[Kardam, Prince of Turnovo|Prince Kardam]]}} |- {{s-bef|before=[[Prince Alexander Ernst of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Prince Alexander Ernst]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Line of succession to the Saxon throne#Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Line of succession to the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha throne]]|years=10<sup>th</sup> position}} {{s-aft|after=[[Kardam, Prince of Turnovo|Prince Kardam]]}} {{end box}} {{Bulgarian monarchs}} {{BulgarianPrimeMinisters}} [[Category:Bulgarian monarchs|Simeon II of Bulgaria]] [[Category:Prime Ministers of Bulgaria|Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]] [[Category:Bulgarian politicians|Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]] [[Category:World War II political leaders|Simeon II of Bulgaria]] [[Category:House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]] [[Category:Kohary family]] [[Category:People from Sofia|Simeon II of Bulgaria]] [[Category:Leaders ousted by a coup|Simeon II of Bulgaria]] [[Category:Bulgarian Orthodox Christians|Simeon II of Bulgaria]] [[Category:Knights of the Golden Fleece|Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]] [[Category:Knights of the Order of Saint Januarius]] [[Category:1937 births|Simeon II of Bulgaria]] [[Category:Living people|Simeon II of Bulgaria]] [[Category:Rulers deposed as children]] [[Category:Modern child rulers]] [[Category:Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Christians]] [[ar:سيميون الثاني من بلغاريا]] [[bg:Симеон Сакскобургготски]] [[ca:Simeó II de Bulgària]] [[cs:Simeon II.]] [[da:Simeon Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha]] [[de:Simeon Sakskoburggotski]] [[et:Simeon II]] [[es:Simeón de Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha]] [[fr:Siméon II de Bulgarie]] [[gl:Simeón II de Bulgaria]] [[ko:불가리아의 시메온 2세]] [[id:Simeon Sakskoburggotski]] [[it:Simeone II di Bulgaria]] [[he:סמיון סקסקובורגוצקי]] [[hu:II. Szimeon bolgár cár]] [[mk:Симеон ІІ]] [[nl:Simeon Sakskoboerggotski]] [[ja:シメオン・サクスコブルクゴツキ]] [[no:Simeon av Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha]] [[nds:Simeon II.]] [[pl:Symeon II]] [[pt:Simeão II da Bulgária]] [[ro:Simeon al II-lea al Bulgariei]] [[ru:Сакскобургготский, Симеон Борисов]] [[sk:Simeon II.]] [[sl:Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]] [[fi:Simeon Sakskoburggotski]] [[sv:Simeon Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha]] [[tr:Simeon Sakskoburggotski]] [[zh:西美昂·萨克森-科堡-哥达斯基]]