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Revision as of 09:59, 17 July 2009 editOhconfucius (talk \| contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers328,947 edits per WP:MOSNUM - strong national ties← Previous edit		Revision as of 14:21, 17 July 2009 edit undoPmanderson (talk \| contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers62,752 edits Undid date warring. The Prince of Bulgaria may have strong ties to Berlin; only his relatives have strong ties to England.Next edit →
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	\| title =Prince of Bulgaria		\| title =Prince of Bulgaria
	\| image =]		\| image =]
	\| reign =29 April 1879 - 7 September 1886		\| reign =], ] - ], ]
	\| coronation =		\| coronation =
	\| othertitles =Prince of Battenberg		\| othertitles =Prince of Battenberg
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	\| date of birth ={{birth date\|1857\|4\|5\|df=y}}		\| date of birth ={{birth date\|1857\|4\|5\|df=y}}
	\| place of birth =Verona, Italy		\| place of birth =Verona, Italy
	\| date of death ={{death date and age~~\|df=yes~~\|1893\|10\|23\|1857\|4\|5}}		\| date of death ={{death date and age\|1893\|10\|23\|1857\|4\|5\|mf=y}}
	\| place of death =Graz, Austria		\| place of death =Graz, Austria
	\| place of burial =]		\| place of burial =]
	\|}}		\|}}
	'''Alexander Joseph of Battenberg''' (5 April 1857 - 23 October 1893), the first prince (]) of modern ], reigning from 29 April 1879 to 7 September 1886.		'''Alexander Joseph of Battenberg''' (], ] - ], ]), the first prince (]) of modern ], reigning from April 29, ] to September 7, ].

	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Alexander was the second son of ] by the latter's ] with ]. The Countess and her descendants gained the title of Princess of ] (derived from an old residence of the ]) and the ] ''Durchlaucht'' ("]") in 1858. Prince Alexander was a nephew of Russia's ], who had married a sister of Prince Alexander of Hesse; his mother, a daughter of Count Moritz von Hauke, had been ] to the ].		Alexander was the second son of ] by the latter's ] with ]. The Countess and her descendants gained the title of Princess of ] (derived from an old residence of the ]) and the ] ''Durchlaucht'' ("]") in 1858. Prince Alexander was a nephew of ]'s ], who had married a sister of Prince Alexander of Hesse; his mother, a daughter of Count Moritz von Hauke, had been ] to the ].

	==Prince of Bulgaria==		==Prince of Bulgaria==
	In his boyhood and early youth Alexander frequently visited ], and he accompanied his uncle, the Tsar, who was much attached to him, during the ] of 1877. When, under the ] (1878), Bulgaria became an autonomous ] under the suzerainty of the ], the Tsar recommended his nephew to the Bulgarians as a candidate for the newly-created throne, and the ] unanimously elected Prince Alexander as Prince of Bulgaria (29 April 1879). At that time he held a commission as a lieutenant in the ]n life-guards at ]. Before proceeding to Bulgaria, Prince Alexander paid visits to the Tsar at ], to the courts of the great powers and to the ]; a Russian warship then conveyed him to ], and after taking the ] to the ] at ] (8 July 1879) he went to ]. The people everywhere ''en route'' greeted him with immense enthusiasm. (For the political history of Prince Alexander's reign, see ].)		In his boyhood and early youth Alexander frequently visited ], and he accompanied his uncle, the Tsar, who was much attached to him, during the ] of 1877. When, under the ] (1878), Bulgaria became an autonomous ] under the suzerainty of the ], the Tsar recommended his nephew to the Bulgarians as a candidate for the newly-created throne, and the ] unanimously elected Prince Alexander as Prince of Bulgaria (April 29, ]). At that time he held a commission as a lieutenant in the ]n life-guards at ]. Before proceeding to Bulgaria, Prince Alexander paid visits to the Tsar at ], to the courts of the great powers and to the ]; a Russian warship then conveyed him to ], and after taking the ] to the ] at ] (July 8, ]) he went to ]. The people everywhere ''en route'' greeted him with immense enthusiasm. (For the political history of Prince Alexander's reign, see ].)

	The new ruling prince had not had any previous training in governing, and a range of problems confronted him. He found himself caught between the official representatives of Russia, who wanted him to behave as a '']'', and the Bulgarian politicians, who actively pursued their own quarrels with a violence that threatened the stability of Bulgaria.		The new ruling prince had not had any previous training in governing, and a range of problems confronted him. He found himself caught between the official representatives of Russia, who wanted him to behave as a '']'', and the Bulgarian politicians, who actively pursued their own quarrels with a violence that threatened the stability of Bulgaria.

	After attempting to govern under these conditions for nearly two years, the prince, with the consent of the Russian tsar, Alexander assumed absolute power, having suspended the Constitution (9 May 1881). A specially convened assembly voted (13 July 1881) for suspension of the ultra-democratic constitution for a period of seven years. The experiment, however, proved unsuccessful; the monarchical coup infuriated Bulgarian Liberal and Radical politicians, and the real ] passed to two Russian generals, ] and ], specially despatched from Saint Petersburg. The prince, after vainly endeavouring to obtain the recall of the generals, restored the constitution with the concurrence of all the Bulgarian political parties (19 September 1883). A serious breach with Russia followed, and the part which the prince subsequently played in encouraging the national aspirations of the Bulgarians widened that breach.		After attempting to govern under these conditions for nearly two years, the prince, with the consent of the Russian tsar, Alexander assumed absolute power, having suspended the Constitution (] ]). A specially convened assembly voted (], ]) for suspension of the ultra-democratic constitution for a period of seven years. The experiment, however, proved unsuccessful; the monarchical coup infuriated Bulgarian Liberal and Radical politicians, and the real ] passed to two Russian generals, ] and ], specially despatched from Saint Petersburg. The prince, after vainly endeavouring to obtain the recall of the generals, restored the constitution with the concurrence of all the Bulgarian political parties (], ]). A serious breach with ] followed, and the part which the prince subsequently played in encouraging the national aspirations of the Bulgarians widened that breach.

	The revolution of ] (18 September 1885), which brought about the union of ] with Bulgaria, took place with Alexander's consent, and he at once assumed the government of the province. In the year which followed, the prince gave evidence of considerable military and diplomatic ability. He rallied the Bulgarian ], now deprived of its Russian officers, to resist the ]n invasion, and after a brilliant victory at ] (19 November) pursued ] into Serbian territory as far as ], which he captured (27 November). Although the intervention of Austria protected ] from the consequences of defeat, Prince Alexander's success sealed the union with Eastern Rumelia, and after long negotiations the ] ] nominated the Prince of Bulgaria as governor-general of that province for five years (5 April 1886).		The revolution of ] (], ]), which brought about the union of ] with Bulgaria, took place with Alexander's consent, and he at once assumed the government of the province. In the year which followed, the prince gave evidence of considerable military and diplomatic ability. He rallied the Bulgarian ], now deprived of its Russian officers, to resist the ]n invasion, and after a brilliant victory at ] (]) pursued ] into Serbian territory as far as ], which he captured (]). Although the intervention of Austria protected ] from the consequences of defeat, Prince Alexander's success sealed the union with Eastern Rumelia, and after long negotiations the ] ] nominated the Prince of Bulgaria as governor-general of that province for five years (] ]).

	==Loss of throne==		==Loss of throne==
	This arrangement, however, cost Alexander much of his popularity in Bulgaria, while discontent prevailed among a number of his officers, who considered themselves slighted in the distribution of rewards at the close of the campaign. A military plot formed, and on the night of 20 August 1886 the conspirators seized the prince in the palace at ] and compelled to sign his abdication; they then hurried him to the ] at Rakhovo, transported him on his yacht to ], and handed him over to the Russian authorities, who allowed him to proceed to ]. However, he soon returned to Bulgaria as a result of the success of the counter-revolution led by ], which overthrew the provisional government set up by the Russian party at Sofia. His position, however, had become untenable, partly as a result of an ill-considered telegram which he addressed to Tsar ] on his return. The attitude of ], who, in conjunction with the Russian and Austrian governments, forbade him to punish the leaders of the military conspiracy, also undermined Alexander's position. He therefore issued a manifesto resigning the throne, and left Bulgaria on 8 September 1886.		This arrangement, however, cost Alexander much of his popularity in Bulgaria, while discontent prevailed among a number of his officers, who considered themselves slighted in the distribution of rewards at the close of the campaign. A military plot formed, and on the night of ] ] the conspirators seized the prince in the palace at ] and compelled to sign his abdication; they then hurried him to the ] at Rakhovo, transported him on his yacht to ], and handed him over to the Russian authorities, who allowed him to proceed to ]. However, he soon returned to Bulgaria as a result of the success of the counter-revolution led by ], which overthrew the provisional government set up by the Russian party at Sofia. His position, however, had become untenable, partly as a result of an ill-considered telegram which he addressed to Tsar ] on his return. The attitude of ], who, in conjunction with the Russian and Austrian governments, forbade him to punish the leaders of the military conspiracy, also undermined Alexander's position. He therefore issued a manifesto resigning the throne, and left Bulgaria on ], ].

	==Last years==		==Last years==
	Alexander now retired into private life. A few years later he married ], an actress, and assumed the style of Count Hartenau (6 February 1889). There were a son and a daughter of this marriage. The last years of his life he spent principally at ], where he held a local command in the Austrian army, and where he died on 23 October 1893. His remains, brought to Sofia, received a public funeral there, and were buried in a ].		Alexander now retired into private life. A few years later he married ], an actress, and assumed the style of Count Hartenau (], ]). There were a son and a daughter of this marriage. The last years of his life he spent principally at ], where he held a local command in the Austrian army, and where he died on ] ]. His remains, brought to Sofia, received a public funeral there, and were buried in a ].

	Prince Alexander possessed much charm and amiability of manner; he was tall, dignified and strikingly handsome. Competent authorities have generally recognised his capabilities as a soldier. As a ruler he committed some errors, but his youth and inexperience and the extreme difficulty of his position account for much. He had some aptitude for diplomacy, and his intuitive insight and perception of character sometimes enabled him to outwit the crafty politicians who surrounded him. His principal fault remained a want of tenacity and resolution; his tendency to unguarded language undoubtedly increased the number of his enemies.		Prince Alexander possessed much charm and amiability of manner; he was tall, dignified and strikingly handsome. Competent authorities have generally recognised his capabilities as a soldier. As a ruler he committed some errors, but his youth and inexperience and the extreme difficulty of his position account for much. He had some aptitude for diplomacy, and his intuitive insight and perception of character sometimes enabled him to outwit the crafty politicians who surrounded him. His principal fault remained a want of tenacity and resolution; his tendency to unguarded language undoubtedly increased the number of his enemies.
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Revision as of 14:21, 17 July 2009

Alexander I
Prince of Bulgaria

Reign	29 April, 1879 - 7 September, 1886
Predecessor	Principality created
Successor	Ferdinand I of Bulgaria
Burial	Battenberg Mausoleum
Wife	Johanna Loisinger
Issue	Count Asen of Hartenau Countess Tsvetana of Hartenau
House	Battenberg
Father	Alexander of Hesse-Darmstadt
Mother	Julia von Hauke

Alexander Joseph of Battenberg (April 5, 1857 - 23 October, 1893), the first prince (knyaz) of modern Bulgaria, reigning from April 29, 1879 to September 7, 1886.

Early life

Alexander was the second son of Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine by the latter's morganatic marriage with Countess Julia von Hauke. The Countess and her descendants gained the title of Princess of Battenberg (derived from an old residence of the Grand Dukes of Hesse) and the style Durchlaucht ("Serene Highness") in 1858. Prince Alexander was a nephew of Russia's Tsar Alexander II, who had married a sister of Prince Alexander of Hesse; his mother, a daughter of Count Moritz von Hauke, had been lady-in-waiting to the Tsaritsa.

Prince of Bulgaria

In his boyhood and early youth Alexander frequently visited Saint Petersburg, and he accompanied his uncle, the Tsar, who was much attached to him, during the Bulgarian campaign of 1877. When, under the Treaty of Berlin (1878), Bulgaria became an autonomous principality under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire, the Tsar recommended his nephew to the Bulgarians as a candidate for the newly-created throne, and the Grand National Assembly unanimously elected Prince Alexander as Prince of Bulgaria (April 29, 1879). At that time he held a commission as a lieutenant in the Prussian life-guards at Potsdam. Before proceeding to Bulgaria, Prince Alexander paid visits to the Tsar at Livadia, to the courts of the great powers and to the sultan; a Russian warship then conveyed him to Varna, and after taking the oath to the new constitution at Turnovo (July 8, 1879) he went to Sofia. The people everywhere en route greeted him with immense enthusiasm. (For the political history of Prince Alexander's reign, see History of Bulgaria.)

The new ruling prince had not had any previous training in governing, and a range of problems confronted him. He found himself caught between the official representatives of Russia, who wanted him to behave as a roi fainéant, and the Bulgarian politicians, who actively pursued their own quarrels with a violence that threatened the stability of Bulgaria.

After attempting to govern under these conditions for nearly two years, the prince, with the consent of the Russian tsar, Alexander assumed absolute power, having suspended the Constitution (May 9 1881). A specially convened assembly voted (July 13, 1881) for suspension of the ultra-democratic constitution for a period of seven years. The experiment, however, proved unsuccessful; the monarchical coup infuriated Bulgarian Liberal and Radical politicians, and the real power passed to two Russian generals, Sobolev and Kaulbars, specially despatched from Saint Petersburg. The prince, after vainly endeavouring to obtain the recall of the generals, restored the constitution with the concurrence of all the Bulgarian political parties (September 19, 1883). A serious breach with Russia followed, and the part which the prince subsequently played in encouraging the national aspirations of the Bulgarians widened that breach.

The revolution of Plovdiv (September 18, 1885), which brought about the union of Eastern Rumelia with Bulgaria, took place with Alexander's consent, and he at once assumed the government of the province. In the year which followed, the prince gave evidence of considerable military and diplomatic ability. He rallied the Bulgarian army, now deprived of its Russian officers, to resist the Serbian invasion, and after a brilliant victory at Slivnitza (November 19) pursued King Milan of Serbia into Serbian territory as far as Pirot, which he captured (November 27). Although the intervention of Austria protected Serbia from the consequences of defeat, Prince Alexander's success sealed the union with Eastern Rumelia, and after long negotiations the sultan Abdul Hamid II nominated the Prince of Bulgaria as governor-general of that province for five years (April 5 1886).

Loss of throne

This arrangement, however, cost Alexander much of his popularity in Bulgaria, while discontent prevailed among a number of his officers, who considered themselves slighted in the distribution of rewards at the close of the campaign. A military plot formed, and on the night of August 20 1886 the conspirators seized the prince in the palace at Sofia and compelled to sign his abdication; they then hurried him to the Danube at Rakhovo, transported him on his yacht to Reni, and handed him over to the Russian authorities, who allowed him to proceed to Lemberg. However, he soon returned to Bulgaria as a result of the success of the counter-revolution led by Stefan Stambolov, which overthrew the provisional government set up by the Russian party at Sofia. His position, however, had become untenable, partly as a result of an ill-considered telegram which he addressed to Tsar Alexander III of Russia on his return. The attitude of Bismarck, who, in conjunction with the Russian and Austrian governments, forbade him to punish the leaders of the military conspiracy, also undermined Alexander's position. He therefore issued a manifesto resigning the throne, and left Bulgaria on September 8, 1886.

Last years

Alexander now retired into private life. A few years later he married Johanna Loisinger, an actress, and assumed the style of Count Hartenau (February 6, 1889). There were a son and a daughter of this marriage. The last years of his life he spent principally at Graz, where he held a local command in the Austrian army, and where he died on October 23 1893. His remains, brought to Sofia, received a public funeral there, and were buried in a mausoleum erected to his memory.

Prince Alexander possessed much charm and amiability of manner; he was tall, dignified and strikingly handsome. Competent authorities have generally recognised his capabilities as a soldier. As a ruler he committed some errors, but his youth and inexperience and the extreme difficulty of his position account for much. He had some aptitude for diplomacy, and his intuitive insight and perception of character sometimes enabled him to outwit the crafty politicians who surrounded him. His principal fault remained a want of tenacity and resolution; his tendency to unguarded language undoubtedly increased the number of his enemies.

See:

Drandar, Le Prince Alexandre de Battenberg en Bulgarie (Paris, 1884)
Koch, Fürst Alexander von Bulgarien (Darmstadt, 1887)
Matveyev, Bulgarien nach dem Berliner Congress (Petersburg, 1887)
Bourchier, "Prince Alexander of Battenberg," in Fortnightly Review, January 1894.

Ancestors

**Alexander's ancestors in three generations**
Alexander, Prince of Bulgaria	Father: Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine	Paternal Grandfather: Louis II, Grand Duke of Hesse	Paternal Great-grandfather: Louis I, Grand Duke of Hesse
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt
		Paternal Grandmother: Wilhelmine of Baden	Paternal Great-grandfather: Margrave Charles Louis of Baden
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Landgravine Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt
	Mother: Julia von Hauke	Maternal Grandfather: John Maurice von Hauke	Maternal Great-grandfather: Fryderyk Karol Hauke
			Maternal Great-grandmother: Maria Salomea Schweppenhäuser
		Maternal Grandmother: Sophie de la Fontaine	Maternal Great-grandfather: Franciszek la Fontaine
			Maternal Great-grandmother: Maria Teresa Kornely

v t e Battenberg/Mountbatten family
Generations are numbered by their descent from Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine and Julia, Princess of Battenberg
1st generation	Marie, Princess of Erbach-Schönberg Louis Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Milford Haven Alexander I, Prince of Bulgaria Prince Henry Prince Francis Joseph
2nd generation	Alice, Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark Louise, Queen of Sweden George Mountbatten, 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma Alexander Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Carisbrooke Victoria Eugenie, Queen of Spain Lord Leopold Mountbatten Prince Maurice
3rd generation	Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh* David Mountbatten, 3rd Marquess of Milford Haven Patricia Knatchbull, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma Lady Pamela Hicks Lady Iris Kemp
4th generation	George Mountbatten, 4th Marquess of Milford Haven Lord Ivar Mountbatten
5th generation	Lady Tatiana Dru Henry Mountbatten, Earl of Medina
*Not Mountbatten or Battenberg by birth. Adopted the surname Mountbatten from his maternal line on abandoning his patrilineal Greek and Danish princely titles.

Notes

External links

Historical photographs of the royal palace in Sofia

References

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

Regnal titles
Alexander of Battenberg House of BattenbergCadet branch of the House of Hesse-DarmstadtBorn: 5 April 1857 Died: 17 November 1893
VacantOttoman ruleTitle last held byConstantine II	Prince of Bulgaria 1879–1886	Succeeded byFerdinand I
Political offices
Preceded byJohn Casimir Ehrnrooth	Prime Minister of Bulgaria 1881–1882	Succeeded byLeonid Sobolev

v t e Bulgarian monarchs
First Empire (680–1018)	Asparuh Tervel Sevar Kormisosh Vineh Telets Sabin Umor Toktu Pagan Telerig Kardam Krum Omurtag Malamir Presian I Boris I Vladimir Simeon I Peter I Boris II Roman Samuel Gavril Radomir Ivan Vladislav
Rebels against the Byzantines	Presian II Petar Delyan Tihomir Alusian Constantine Bodin
Second Empire (1185–1422)	Peter II Ivan Asen I Kaloyan Boril Ivan Asen II Kaliman Asen I Michael Asen I Kaliman Asen II Mitso Asen Rostislav I Constantine I Jacob Svetoslav Michael Asen II Ivaylo Ivan Asen III George Terter I Smilets Ivan II Chaka Theodore Svetoslav George Terter II Michael Asen III Ivan Stephen Ivan Alexander Michael Asen IV Ivan Asen IV Ivan Sratsimir Ivan Shishman Ivan Asen V Constantine II
Rebels against the Ottomans	Fruzhin Ivan Shishman II Rostislav II
Principality (1878–1908) and Kingdom (1908–1946)	Alexander I Ferdinand I Boris III Simeon II

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