Open Collections

[Bookplate for Ferdinand I Czar of Bulgaria]

In black ink, this complex bookplate contains an escutcheon divided quarterly ; the first and fourth quadrants contain a lion, salient and crowned (it is unclear what colour these quadrants would be due to the printing process) ; the second quadrant, argent (silver) contains two pallets, likely sable (black), and a sable chief charged with two crowns, argent, possibly signifying eastern or celestial crowns ; and the third quadrant, argent, contains two manche facing one another, with arms and hands emerging, together holding a crown. At the fess point is an inescutcheon, which bears the coat of arms of Saxony ; barry of ten pieces, or (gold) and sable, with a garter (vert), floral invection on sinister side. The escutcheon is crested by a royal crown framed by a circular halo. The escutcheon is supported by two lions, wearing royal crowns, each also framed by a circular halo. From around the waist of each lion descends a collar which meets at the nombril point below the escutcheon ; from this point hangs the Grand Cross Of The Order Of Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius. At either side of the order is a banner containing the originator's designation. Above the crest and supporters are two sets of fleur-de-lis, two over one, signifying the House of Bourbon ; and an additional banner.

Heraldry

Ferdinand I, Czar of Bulgaria, 1861-1948

Still Image

Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria was born as Prince Ferdinand Maximilian Karl Leopold Maria of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, to Prince August of Saxe-Coburg-Kohary and his wife Clémentine of Orléans, daughter of King Louis Philippe I of the French, in Vienna on February 26, 1861. Ferdinand was proclaimed Prince Regent of autonomous Bulgaria on 7 July 1887. Ferdinand entered a marriage of convenience with Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma, daughter of Roberto I of Parma on April 20, 1893. The marriage produced four children. Maria Louise died on 31 January 1899. Ferdinand remarried on 28 February 1908, to Eleonore Caroline Gasparine Louise, Princess Reuss-Köstritz. Despite Ferdinand's marriages, his bisexuality was apparently well-known throughout European diplomatic circles. Ferdinand became Tsar of Bulgaria upon that country's declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire on 5 October 1908. After the defeat of the Bulgarian army by an attack from the Allied forces in Greece, during the fall of 1918, Tsar Ferdinand abdicated to save the Bulgarian throne in favour of his eldest son who became Tsar Boris III on October 3, 1918. He died in Burglassschloßen on September 10, 1948 in Coburg, Germany. Ferdinand I was also an author, botanist and philatelist. The Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius was created on 18 May 1909, and its date of cessation was 15 September 1946.
References:
1) Information on Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria found at: FirstWorldWar.com, "Who's Who: Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria," <http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/ferdinand_bulgaria.htm> (21 January 2008).
2) Wikipedia, "Ferdinand I of Bulgaria," <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_of_Bulgaria> (21 January 2008).
3) Wikipedia, "Orders, decorations, and medals of Bulgaria," <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orders%2C_decorations%2C_and_medals_of_Bulgaria> (21 January 2008).

RBSC Bookplates

2008

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