It was not until 1915 that King/Tsar Ferdinand's Bulgaria joined in the Great War, on the side of Germany. Loathing of Ferdinand and of Bulgaria was fresh in minds at Sydney Mirror of Australia when 100 years ago this week it published Ernest Hamilton's scathing "FERDINAND OF BULGARIA. THE EVIL GENIUS OF THE BALKANS. AN EFFEMINATE AND PERFUMED GAMBLER.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"The moment I first saw Bulgaria's 'Tsar' I realised that he was indeed the right ruler of the most cunning race of born intriguers In Europe. He was in uniform, and walked with a slight mincing step, made somewhat grotesque by his bulkiness. Behind him he left an almost overpowering odour of some musk perfume."
"He has a heavy face, flabby cheeks, sensual lips, and the eagle nose of the adventurer. Add to this a Byzantine softness, an effeminate foppishness speaking of Persian decadence, a beard that has just a little too much brilliantine, hair that is a trifle over-curled and a uniform that sits a shade too well.
"What, then, explains the mystery of Ferdinand's hold on his Bulgarians? There are a hundred reasons why the Bulgarians should loathe Ferdinand, and not one for liking him.
"[He rules by fear.] Ferdinand's cardinal rule is to keep in touch with everything and everybody. He has a spy system that makes Germany seen a blundering amateur in such things. Long before the Orient express reached the Bulgarian frontier one of Ferdinand's detectives, a pasty-faced little man with tobacco-stained teeth, fastened himself on to me."
