THE Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878 it was part of the intricate national and border relations that developed in the Balkan region throughout the 19th century. Having as protagonists of the conflict the Russian and Turkish-Ottoman Empires, its results later contributed to the outbreak of World War I.
The war was preceded by the rebellions of the Balkan states against the centuries-old Turkish-Ottoman rule in the region. By 1859, Serbia had rebelled against the Turkish-Ottoman Empire, followed by Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina. These last two states revolted in 1875 as a result of the taxes levied by the Ottoman Turks, later joining Serbia. The following year, Bulgaria would also be hit by the insurrection.
But Russia's declaration of war on the Ottoman Turks took place in April 1877, after a strong repression by the Turks against the Romanians. Tsar Alexander II declared war in view of the interests of territorial expansion of the Russian Empire in order to strengthen its imperialist actions. Another point that supported Russian support for the Balkan peoples was related to the nationalism that was developing in Europe in the 19th century. The connection of Serbs and other Balkan peoples with the Russians, through the same Slavic origin, fostered the pretense of strengthening pan-Slavism.
The battles took place mainly in the Danube River region, mainly between Russian and Romanian troops against the forces of the Turkish-Ottoman Empire. The battle that ended the war came with the siege of Pleven, in which the Russians and Romanians managed to cut off the Turks' sources of supply in December 1877.
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In January 1878, the Treaty of Saint Stephen was signed, which ended the war and guaranteed Bulgaria's independence from the Turkish-Ottoman Empire. Serbia, Romania and Montenegro also became independent. Bosnia and Herzegovina would be united, boasting autonomy within the Turkish-Ottoman Empire. Russia managed with the treaty the annexation of other Turkish territories to its Empire.
But Russian influence in the region afflicted the Western imperialist powers. Great Britain, Austria-Hungary and Germany did not welcome the strengthening of Slav nationalism in the country. region, which resulted in the amendment of the Treaty of St. Stephen during the Berlin Conference in June 1878. The main alteration of the Treaty of Berlin, signed at the Conference, was the division of Bulgaria, aiming to maintain a balance of forces in the region, between the Russians and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878 outlined the problems of imperialist division by the European powers and the consequences of the development of nationalisms, which would result in the outbreak of World War I.
* Image Credit: Olga Popova and Shutterstock.com
By Tales Pinto
Graduated in History
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PINTO, Tales of the Saints. "Russian-Turkish War and the Prelude to World War I"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/guerras/guerra-russoturca-preludio-i-guerra-mundial.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.