The Ruler of Bulgaria was born 26 February 1861 . When Bulgaria was made a State , Prince Alexander of Battenburg was chosen as its Prince . For seven years he worked hard to increase the welfare of the people ; then , tired of the intrigues against him , he abdicated . Prince Ferdinand , then Lieutenant in the Austrian Army , was selected to take his place , and it is this Prince who has become , by his own proclamation , King of Bulgarians .Ferdinand took the oath as Prince of Bulgaria at Tirnovo , and there independence was annuonced . Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, declared the kingdom independent of the Ottoman Empire on Oct. 5, 1908