Russo-Turkish War 1877-78
~written by Josiah Koons
When Alexander II ascended to the throne in Russia, a question accompanied that transition. What was to be done with Turkey, or more commonly known as the Eastern Question? Ever since the Muslims had driven them from their capital of the Byzantium Empire, the Russians especially wanted to take it back and put a cross back up on the Hagia Sophia. It was every Russians dream to return to Constantinople and place the cross back there, and many wars had been fought in an effort to do this very thing. Needless to say, when Alexander II took the throne this task dominated his foreign policy, and even pushed him into war.
In 1875, the Balkans erupted in a fury, and a chain of events
that would eventually lead to war. Bosnia and Herzegovina rose up
and revolted against the high Muslim taxes. The Serbs seeing that
Bosnia and Herzegovina had risen up go in and help the horribly
oppressed Bulgars rise up also. The Turks hoping to put a quick end
to these rebellions come in to make an example of the Bulgars to
everyone else and crush them mercilessly. Then on Russian
instigation, Serbia and Montenegro joined the rebels in the war
against the Ottoman Empire. Russia was unable to directly declare
war on the Ottoman’s because of the
“Three Emperor’s League”, Austria did not want the Russian
so directly involved in the Balkans which was in their backyard.
This being the case Alexander II went to the Austrians to ask their
neutrality if Russia was to interfere with the Balkan Crisis. When
no answer came, Alexander began sending money, supplies, and even
“ex-generals and officers” to help in the organization of the rebels
and war efforts. Austria and especially Britain want to keep the
Russians from gaining a protectorate over Turkey, which they had
just fought over in the Crimean War. They called a Constantinople
Conference, which was a failure. Meanwhile the war raged on, and
even the tenacity of the rebel fighters began to wane. The Turks
began to overwhelm them towards the end of 1876. The Turks had an
army of 400,000 against the combined rebel forces of Bulgaria,
Serbia, and Montenegro numbering 105,000. It is unnecessary to state
the grave outlook the rebels had going into 1877. They had been
driven back and beaten in every major encounter.
Towards the end of 1876 the Russian people began to show great
sympathy for their Slavic brothers being oppressed by the Ottoman
régime. The pressure on Alexander II to intervene on their behalf
was tremendous, however Alexander II would not declare war.
Alexander II feared an Austrian reaction, which would escalate into
a war against a major European power. Another conference was called
and another failure. The only thing that came out of the London
Conference was a strong warning to the Turks to treat the Christians
better.
When the Turks ignored that threat the Austrians gave the green light to
the Russians. The Austrians would remain neutral, as long as when
the war was over they got Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Serbs, Greeks,
and Montenegrins would all gain land, Bulgaria and Romania would
become free nations, and Constantinople would become a free city.
After this was decided Alexander II declared war on the Ottoman’s in
1877. This would be the last in a series of wars known as the
Russo-Turkish Wars. Alexander II deployed 1,200,000 troops against
the Turks, in the campaign in the
Caucasus. However, the never failing corruption of the
Russian Army caused heavy casualties and proved to be very bloody
campaign. Even though Alexander II had began to implement Prussian
style reforms, in the army, they would not be enough to overcome the
lack of education of soldiers. Still the ability of Russian to
accept and deal with heavy sufferings and impediments allowed them
to slowly creep forward, being driven by a burning desire to see
Constantinople retaken. In February of 1878, the Russians at last
though beaten and very bloody had driven the Turks back and saw
Constantinople. The dream of every Russian can finally be realized,
Constantinople will fall.
Then in the midst of this seemingly tremendous victory, steps in the British. They can not allow Constantinople to become a “free city” with that much Russian influence right next to it. It would threaten their newly acquired Suez Canal and their trade route to India. There was no way they would let the Russians to control the Straits and have all that influence in Constantinople. The British openly threatened war on the Russians, if they enter Constantinople. The British moved a large part of their Mediterranean fleet to the Straits to make their threat more real. The Austrians likewise threatened and moved large numbers of troops against the Russian flank. Alexander II seeing that he doesn’t have the resources to fight another war in which the odds would be great, regretfully gives the order not to take Constantinople to the dismay of every Russian. Alexander II understanding that nothing more will be gained through this war called a ceasefire, and dictated a tough peace settlement with the Ottoman’s. The results of the settlement was the Treaty of San Stefano, in which Rumania, Serbia, and Montenegro gain independence and territory. Bulgaria was given land all the way to Macedonia and became a self-dictating state in the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman’s territory was pushed back to barely include Constantinople. Alexander II decided to break the agreement with the Austrians over their receiving Bosnia and Herzegovina. Alexander II decides that Austria didn’t do anything to deserve this land plus they stood in their way of getting Constantinople, therefore he chose to ignore their agreement. Russia’s victory gained her Armenia, the destruction of all Ottoman forces on the Danube River, the opening of the Straits to all nations, and huge reparations from the Ottoman Empire that were so big that it would leave room for an excuse of Russian interference in the future.
The Treaty of San Stefano has some major opposition coming against it from many different countries, the chief ones being Britain and Austria. A big Bulgaria meant that the Austrians would be blocked from the Aegean Sea and Constantinople, and the British were very anxious against so much Russian influence over the Straits and the Suez Canal. The Austrians and British declared that they would not recognize the treaty, and would negotiate a new treaty for the Russians. At the Congress of Berlin, Alexander II is furious, but his hands are tied. Alexander II desire was to oppose but, he would have to go to war, which was not an option. Alexander II remorsefully accepted the new treaty. Otto von Bismarck set up the new treaty, which was highlighted by breaking Bulgaria into three pieces and given back to the Ottoman’s, Rumania, Serbia, and Montenegro all gained independence but far less land. Some land was taken from Romania to create a wedge between Russia and Romania, and Austria was given special commercial arrangements in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This officially ended the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78.
Sources:
1. Encarta Encyclopedia
2. Encyclopedia.com
3. Grolier's Encyclopedia