Word: stambolov
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Dates: during 1948-1948
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Ferdinand's chance came in 1887. Stefan Stambolov, Bulgaria's anti-Russian, anti-Turkish "Bismarck," looking around for a new prince, settled on Clementine's Ferdinand. Subsequently, a contemporary account records, Ferdinand, a "handsome, smiling, slender youth, perfectly corseted, lips and cheeks bravely rouged, leaving in his wake an exotic perfume, rode gallantly into Sofia amid the cheers of his devoted people." His confidence in his people's devotion was not unbounded; he kept a pistol on his desk when receiving visitors...
Ferdinand got the support of Russia's Nicholas II, after Stambolov had been conveniently hacked to death by an assassin. He promoted himself from prince to czar, later sealed his own regal fate by choosing Wilhelm's side in World War I. In 1918 he stole out of Sofia, leaving his throne to his son Boris...
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