Story Highlights
- Historical event:
- 24 July 2001
- Simeon became the Tsar (Emperor) of Bulgaria as a six-year-old. He ruled as a tsar for three years, after which Bulgaria became a republic under the communist leadership. Only after the fall of communism he was able to return to Bulgaria. Once there, he founded the NMSII political party, which won in the parliamentary elections held in 2001. On this day he was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Bulgaria.
On this day transpired a rare occurrence of a monarch returning at the head of the state in a democratic way after he was deposed.
Simeon, who became the Tsar (Emperor) of Bulgaria as a six-year-old, managed to do just that. He ruled as a tsar for three years, after which Bulgaria became a republic under the communist leadership.
The little 9-year-old tsar then went into exile, together with his family. Firstly, they spent almost five years in the city of Alexandria in Egypt and then they moved to Spain, where Francisco Franco reigned.
It was only after the fall of communism that Simeon was able to return to Bulgaria. Once there, he founded the NMSII political party, which won in the parliamentary elections held in 2001.
On this day, he was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Bulgaria. During his mandate, Bulgaria became a member of NATO and the EU. It is interesting that Simeon comes from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. It is the famous dynasty from which Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, originated.
This dynasty ruled Portugal and Bulgaria, and today rules Belgium and the United Kingdom (Queen Elizabeth II is from the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, although her name is Windsor). In Bulgaria, Simeon’s official surname is Sakskoburggotski.
