page_title: Alexander of Battenberg
section_title: Loss of throne
hierarchical_section_title: Alexander of Battenberg / Loss of throne
context_page_description: Alexander Joseph GCB, known as Alexander of Battenberg, was the first prince of the Principality of Bulgaria from 1879 until his abdication in 1886. He was elected Prince of autonomous Bulgaria, which officially remained within the Ottoman Empire, by the national assembly in 1879. He dissolved the assembly in 1880 and suspended the Constitution in 1881, considering it too liberal. He restored the Constitution in 1883, leading to open conflict with Russia that made him popular in Bulgaria. Unification with Eastern Rumelia was achieved and recognised by the powers in 1886. He was ousted in a coup by pro-Russian Bulgarian Army officers who forced him to abdicate in September 1886. He later became a general in the Austrian army.
context_section_description: 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. Encouraged by the promise of Tsar Alexander III to keep their Bulgarian rank in the Russian army and receiving common Russian salary these officers formed a military plot, and on the night of 20 August 1886 the conspirators seized the prince in the palace at Sofia and compelled him 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 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 8 September 1886.
  After his abdication from the Bulgarian throne, Alexander I claimed the title Prince of Tarnovo and used it until his death.
caption: Royal Monogram of Prince Alexander of Battenberg