John Casimir Ehrnrooth

Who was John Casimir Ehrnrooth?

Johan Casimir Gustavovich Ehrnrooth was a Swedish-speaking Finnish soldier in the service of Imperial Russia, who also acted as Prime Minister of Bulgaria.

Ehrnrooth was born to an affluent noble family in the Seesta mansion in Nastola, Finland. In 1856, he graduated from the Imperial Military Academy in Saint Petersburg and enlisted in the Imperial Russian Army.

Ehrnrooth first came to prominence when he played a leading role in suppressing the resistance of Imam Shamil and the Avars in 1859. At the time a Major in the Russian Army, Ehrnrooth continued to rise through the ranks in campaigns against Polish rebels and fighting to remove the Ottoman Turks from Bulgaria. Following the Independence of Bulgaria Ehrnrooth was chosen by Russia to look after the interests of Alexander of Bulgaria, becoming Minister of War on 17 April 1880. Ehrnrooth became the strongman of the government, and became Prime Minister on 9 May 1881 whilst Alexander finalised his plans to assume full control of the country. Ehrnrooth became the strongest supporter of Alexander during this period, although he was forced to leave Bulgaria when the experiment floundered.