Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria was born on February 11, 1861, in Vienna, Austria. He became the ruling prince of Bulgaria in 1887 and played a significant role in the country's political landscape. Ferdinand was known for his efforts to modernize Bulgaria and strengthen its military, which contributed to its growing influence in the Balkans. Ferdinand's reign saw Bulgaria engage in several conflicts, including the Balkan Wars and World War I. In 1908, he declared Bulgaria's independence from the Ottoman Empire, becoming Tsar Ferdinand I. He abdicated in 1918 after military defeat and went into exile, leaving a complex legacy in Bulgarian history.