Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
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| Prime Minister of Bulgaria | |
| In office 24 July 2001 – 17 August 2005 |
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| President | Petar Stoyanov Georgi Parvanov |
| Deputy | Nikolay Vasilev Lydia Shuleva Kostadin Paskalev Plamen Panayotov |
| Preceded by | Ivan Kostov |
| Succeeded by | Sergey Stanishev |
| Leader of the National Movement Simeon the Second party | |
| In office 6 April 2002 – 28 November 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Hristina Hristova |
| Tsar of Bulgaria | |
| Reign | 28 August 1943 – 15 September 1946 |
| Predecessor | Boris III |
| Successor | Monarchy abolished Vasil Kolarov (as Acting President) |
| Regent |
See list
28 August 1943 – 9 September 1944:
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| Prime Ministers |
See list
Bogdan Filov
Petur Gabrovski (Acting) Dobri Bozhilov Ivan Ivanov Bagryanov Konstantin Muraviev Kimon Georgiev |
| Born | 16 June 1937 Vrana Palace, Sofia, Tsardom of Bulgaria |
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| House | Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry |
| Father | Boris III of Bulgaria |
| Mother | Giovanna of Italy |
| Religion | Eastern Orthodox |
| Signature |  |
Simeon Borisov Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was born on June 16, 1937. He is a Bulgarian politician. He was the last Tsar (King) of Bulgaria, reigning as Simeon II from 1943 to 1946. In 1946, the monarchy was ended by a public vote, and Simeon had to leave the country.
After communism fell in Bulgaria, Simeon returned in 1996. He started a political party called the National Movement for Stability and Progress. His party won the 2001 election. Simeon then became the Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 2001 to 2005.
Simeon was only six years old when his father, Boris III of Bulgaria, died in 1943. A group of people, called a regency council, ruled for him. This group included his uncle, Kiril, Prince of Preslav. After his time as prime minister, Simeon's party joined a coalition government in 2005. He retired from politics in 2009.
Simeon is one of the few people still alive who were heads of state during World War II.
Contents
Royal Life and Early Years
Simeon was born to Boris III of Bulgaria and Giovanna of Italy. When he was born, his father sent an officer to get water from the Jordan River for his baptism. Simeon became Tsar on August 28, 1943, after his father passed away. His father had just returned from a meeting with Adolf Hitler.
Since Simeon was only six, his uncle Prince Kiril, Prime Minister Bogdan Filov, and Lt. General Nikola Mihov were chosen to rule as regents. Under his father, Bulgaria joined the Axis powers in World War II. However, Bulgaria still had good relations with the Soviet Union. On September 5, 1944, the Soviet Union declared war on Bulgaria. Three days later, the Soviet army entered the country without a fight.
On September 9, 1944, Prince Kiril and the other regents were removed from power. This happened because of a Soviet-backed coup. The regents and other important people were later executed.
Moving to Exile
The royal family stayed at Vrana Palace near Sofia. Three new regents were appointed, all of them Communists. On September 15, 1946, a public vote was held while the Soviet army was present. This vote was about ending the monarchy and creating a republic. The official results showed that 95.6% of people wanted to end the monarchy. This vote went against the country's constitution at the time.
On September 16, 1946, the royal family had to leave Bulgaria. They first went to Alexandria, Egypt. Simeon's grandfather, Victor Emmanuel III, who was the former king of Italy, also lived there in exile. In 1951, Simeon studied at Victoria College. In July 1951, General Francisco Franco's government in Spain offered the family a safe place to live. In 1954, Simeon took part in a special ship tour. This tour was called the "Cruise of the Kings" and included over 100 royal family members from across Europe.
Education and Career
In Madrid, Spain, Simeon studied at the Lycée Français. On June 16, 1955, when he turned 18, Simeon made a statement to the Bulgarian people. He said he was still the Tsar of Bulgaria. He promised to be a Tsar for all Bulgarians and to follow principles different from the communist government. In 1958, he went to Valley Forge Military Academy and College in the United States. He was known as "Cadet Rylski No. 6883" and became a second lieutenant. From 1959 to 1962, back in Spain, Simeon studied law and business.
After his studies, he became a businessman. For 13 years, he was the head of the Spanish part of Thomson, a French company. He also worked as an adviser in banking, hotels, and electronics.
Family Life
On January 21, 1962, Simeon married Margarita Gómez-Acebo y Cejuela, a Spanish aristocrat. They had five children: four sons (Kardam, Kiril, Kubrat, and Konstantin) and one daughter (Kalina). All of his sons were given names of Bulgarian Tsars, and his daughter has a Bulgarian name.
- Kardam (1962–2015) married Miriam Ungría y López. They had two sons, Boris and Beltran.
- Kiril (born 1964) married María del Rosario Nadal y Fuster de Puigdórfila. They have three children: Mafalda, Olimpia, and Tassilo.
- Kubrat (born 1965) married Carla María de la Soledad Royo-Villanova y Urrestarazu. They have three sons: Mirko, Lukás, and Tirso.
- Konstantin-Assen (born 1967) married María García de la Rasilla y Gortázar. They have twins, Umberto and Sofia.
- Kalina (born 1972) married Antonio José "Kitín" Muñoz y Valcárcel. They have a son, Simeon Hassan Muñoz.
Return to Politics
In 1990, after communism ended, Simeon received a new Bulgarian passport. In 1996, 50 years after the monarchy was abolished, Simeon returned to Bulgaria. Many people welcomed him. At first, he did not make political statements. He had said in a TV interview that he did not want to claim any property in Bulgaria. However, later, he did try to get back some royal properties.
In 2001, Simeon announced he would return to Bulgaria to start a new political party. It was called the National Movement Simeon II (later NMSP). He promised that in 800 days, Bulgarians would see good changes and have a much better life.
Becoming Prime Minister
NMSP won a big victory in the elections on June 17, 2001. They won 120 out of 240 seats in Parliament. Simeon became Prime Minister of Bulgaria on July 24. He formed a government with the Movement for Rights and Freedoms party. He chose many experts and people educated in Western countries for his government.
During his time as prime minister, Bulgaria joined NATO. Bulgaria also joined the U.S.-led group against Iraq. In the 2005 elections, Simeon's party came in second. They joined a large government with the Bulgarian Socialist Party. Simeon was given the unofficial role of Chairman of the Coalition Council. In the 2009 elections, his party did not win any seats. Soon after, on July 6, Simeon resigned as the NMSP leader.
Views on the Monarchy
Simeon has not officially given up his claim to the Bulgarian throne. He used the title "Tsar of the Bulgarians" while he was in exile. Since returning to Bulgaria, he has avoided saying if he wants the monarchy to return. When he became Prime Minister, Simeon promised to support the current republican constitution.
Autobiography
Simeon wrote a book about his life in French. It is called Siméon II de Bulgarie, un destin singulier. The book was released in Bulgaria on October 28, 2014. It was first shown in Paris on October 22, 2014.
Titles and Honors
- June 16, 1937 – August 28, 1943: His Royal Highness The Prince of Turnovo
- August 28, 1943 – September 15, 1946: His Majesty The Tsar of the Bulgarians
- September 15, 1946 – present: His Majesty Tsar Simeon II of the Bulgarians (a courtesy title)
- July 24, 2001 – August 17, 2005: His Excellency Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
In 2015, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church announced that Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha would be called Tsar of Bulgaria in all church services.
Bulgarian Royal Honors
House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Koháry: 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
- House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Koháry: Grand Master of the Royal Order of Bravery
- House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Koháry: Grand Master of the Royal Order of Civil Merit
- House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Koháry: Grand Master of the Royal Order of Military Merit
Other Honors
- Bulgaria: Grand Cross of the Order of Stara Planina
France: Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honour
Italian royal family: Knight of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
Vatican: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Knight Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Jordan: Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance
Spain: Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece
Arms
Arms of the Sovereign of Bulgaria (1943–1946)
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Personal arms of Simeon
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See also
In Spanish: Simeón de Bulgaria para niños
- The Boy Who Was a King, a 2011 Bulgarian documentary.
- House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
