Simeon Borisov Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (born 16 June 1937) is a Bulgarian politician who reigned as the last Tsar of the Tsardom of Bulgaria as Simeon II from 1943 until 1946. As he was a minor, royal power was exercised on his behalf by a regency council led by his uncle Kiril, Prince of Preslav, General Nikola Mihov and prime minister, Bogdan Filov. In 1946, the monarchy was abolished by a referendum, forcing Simeon into exile.

Following the fall of Communism in Bulgaria, Simeon returned to his home country in 1996, and founded the National Movement for Stability and Progress party (also known as the National Movement Simeon II party). After leading that party and winning the 2001 election, as Simeon Sakskoburggotski he proceeded to govern Bulgaria as prime minister of the Republic of Bulgaria from 2001 to 2005. In the 2005 election the NDSV finished second and Simeon led the party into a coalition government with the Bulgarian Socialist Party. In 2009, after NDSV failed to win any seats in the National Assembly, he retired from politics. As of 2026, Simeon is one of only two living men who were heads of state during World War II, along with the 14th Dalai Lama, although both held only mostly symbolic roles in their respective governments in those days.

Royal history

thumb|left|200px|Prince Simeon as a baby

thumb|left|200px|Prince Simeon of Bulgaria

Simeon was born to Boris III of Bulgaria and Giovanna of Italy. Following his birth, Boris III sent an air force officer to the Jordan River to obtain water for Simeon's baptism in the Orthodox faith. He succeeded to the throne on 28 August 1943 upon the death of his father, who had just returned to Bulgaria from a meeting with Adolf Hitler. Since Simeon was only six years old, his uncle Prince Kiril, Prime Minister Bogdan Filov, and Lt. General Nikola Mihov of the Bulgarian Army were appointed regents.

Under his father, Bulgaria joined the Axis powers in World War II but managed to preserve diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union. Still, on 5 September 1944 Stalin declared war on Bulgaria and three days later, the Red Army entered the country without encountering resistance. On the next day, 9 September 1944, Prince Kiril and the other regents were deposed by a 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 sentenced to the death by the Communist dominated People's Court and executed in February 1945. This referendum actually violated the Tarnovo Constitution, which held that any change in the form of the state could only be implemented by a Grand National Assembly convened by the tsar.

On 16 September 1946, the royal family was exiled from Bulgaria while given a way to take out large amount of movable property. They first went to Alexandria, Egypt, where Simeon's grandfather Victor Emmanuel III, the former king of Italy, lived in exile. There, in 1951, Simeon studied at Victoria College (along with Crown Prince Leka of Albania). In July 1951, General Francisco Franco's dictatorship in Spain granted asylum to the family. He took part in the ship tour organized by King Paul of Greece and Queen Frederica in 1954, which became known as the "Cruise of the Kings" and was attended by over 100 royals from all over Europe.

Education and business career

In Madrid, Simeon studied at the Lycée Français. On 16 June 1955, upon turning 18, in accordance with the Tarnovo Constitution, Simeon read a proclamation to the Bulgarian people, claiming that he was Tsar of Bulgaria and confirming his will to be Tsar of all Bulgarians and to follow the principles contrary to those of the communist regime then ruling 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",

In 2001, Simeon, who had by this time taken the name Simeon Borisov Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, announced he would return to Bulgaria to form a new political party, the National Movement Simeon II (later renamed to NMSP), dedicated to "reforms and political integrity." Simeon promised that in 800 days the Bulgarian people would feel tangible positive effects of his government and would enjoy significantly higher standards of living.

Prime minister

thumb|[[President of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski and Simeon on 28 August 2003]]

NMSP won a large victory in the parliamentary elections held on 17 June 2001, capturing 120 of the 240 seats in Parliament and defeating the two main pre-existing political parties. Simeon was sworn in as Prime Minister of Bulgaria on 24 July, forming a coalition with the ethnic Turkish-led party, Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF). He gave ministerial positions in his government mainly to technocrats and Western-educated economic specialists. During his time in power, he received the Path to Peace Award from the Path to Peace Foundation in 2002. Bulgaria next joined NATO and joined the U.S.-led coalition against Iraq.

Subsequent political career

In the 2005 elections, Simeon's party ranked second and participated in the grand coalition government led by the Bulgarian Socialist Party and including the Movement for Rights and Freedoms. Simeon was given the unofficial ceremonial post of Chairman of the Coalition Council. In the 2009 elections, the party got just 3.01% of the votes and no parliamentary seats. Shortly after, on 6 July, Simeon also resigned as NMSP leader.

Views on restoration of the Bulgarian monarchy

Simeon used the title "Tsar of the Bulgarians" in his political statements during his exile. Since returning to Bulgaria, he consistently avoided revealing his views on the restoration of the Bulgarian monarchy, notwithstanding the original name of his party. Upon taking office as Prime Minister, Simeon swore to uphold the republican constitution. Otherwise he has not renounced the family's claim to any restoration of the Bulgarian monarchy.

Autobiography

Simeon wrote an autobiography in French under the title Siméon II de Bulgarie, un destin singulier that was released in Bulgaria on 28 October 2014. It was first presented at the headquarters of the UNESCO in Paris on 22 October 2014.

Titles and styles

  • 16 June 1937 – 28 August 1943: His Royal Highness The Prince of Turnovo
  • 28 August 1943 – 15 September 1946: His Majesty The Tsar of the Bulgarians
  • 15 September 1946 – present: His Majesty Tsar Simeon II of the Bulgarians (title of pretense and by courtesy)
  • 24 July 2001 – 17 August 2005: His Excellency Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

In a statement published on its website on 1 May 2015, the Bulgarian Patriarchate announced that Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha will be referred to as Tsar of Bulgaria in all public and private services held in the dioceses of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Dynastic honours

  • House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Koháry: Knight and Grand Master of the Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius
  • House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Koháry: Grand Master of the Royal Order of Saint Alexander
  • Bulgarian Ministry of Defence: Collar of the Order of Justice

Foreign state and dynastic honours

  • : Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown]
  • : Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honour
  • Two Sicilian royal family:
  • Knight of the Royal Order of Saint Januarius
  • Bailiff Knight Grand Cross of the Two Sicilian Royal Sacred Military Order of Saint George
  • : Knight Grand Cordon, Special Class of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance
  • : Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of Independence
  • Portuguese royal family: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa
  • Russian imperial family: Knight of the Imperial Order of Saint Andrew
  • :
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III
  • Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece

National awards

  • : Honorary degree of the National Guards Unit of Bulgaria
  • : Jubilee badge of honour of the Bulgarian Chitalishte community

Foreign awards

  • : Paneuropean Union integration award
  • : Honorary degree of the University of Bucharest
  • : Adoptive Son of Madrid

Arms

{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 175px<div style="text-align: center;">Arms of the Sovereign of Bulgaria (1943–1946)</div>

| style="text-align: center;" | 115px<div style="text-align: center;">Personal arms of Simeon</div>

|}

Patronages

National patronages

  • : Patron of the National day of Bulgaria

See also

  • The Boy Who Was a King, a 2011 Bulgarian documentary by Andrey Paounov.
  • House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Notes

References

Bibliography

  • Ramon Perez-Maura, El rey possible: Simeon de Bulgaria, Belacqua, Madrid, 2002 ()
  • Simeon II de Bulgarie, Sébastien de Courtois, Un destin singulier, Flammarion, 2014 ()

Books

In addition to the books listed in the References, the following may be mentioned:

  • Walter J.R. Curley, Monarchs in Waiting. London: Hutchinson & Co., 1975. (pp.&nbsp;23–25: "Bulgaria: His Majesty King Simeon II")
  • Pashanko Dimitroff, Boris III of Bulgaria 1894–1943. London, 1986.
  • Charles Fenyvesi, Royalty in Exile. London: Robson Books, 1981. (pp.&nbsp;153–171: "Czar Simeon of the Bulgars")
  • Stephane Groueff Crown of Thorns, Lanham MD. and London, 1987.
  • Gregory Lauder-Frost, The Betrayal of Bulgaria, Monarchist League Policy Paper, London, 1989.
  • Robert K. Massie and Jeffrey Firestone, The Last Courts of Europe. New York: Greenwich House, 1983.

Articles

  • The Daily Telegraph, Obituary for "HM Queen Ioanna of the Bulgarians", London, 28 February 2000.
  • King Simeon II – Personal website
  • The first website about Simeon II of Bulgaria focuses on his pre-1995 history
  • Saxe-Coburg-Gotha's statement, 5 July 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."
  • Saxe-Coburg-Gotha's address, 10 February 2005 concerning amending the constitution to bring it in line with EU requirements, Standart

<!-- Honours -->