The failure of the European powers to enforce the agreements of earlier conferences led Russia to declare war on the Ottoman Empire in 1877, claiming it was acting to liberate the Bulgarian people from Turkish rule. This conflict, known as the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, drew the attention of England, which supported Turkey. England was especially concerned with the control of the Balkan Straits, key waterways connecting the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of San Stefano in 1878. This treaty was very favorable to Bulgaria and strengthened Russian influence in the Balkans. It proposed a large Bulgarian state, uniting most Bulgarians under one administration. However, the treaty alarmed other European powers, particularly Austria-Hungary and England, who feared a strong Russian presence in the region Bulgarian Church Independence.
To resolve these concerns, the Berlin Congress was called. The congress revised the Treaty of San Stefano and divided Bulgaria into three parts:
Bulgaria proper – a principality under nominal Ottoman control.
Eastern Rumelia – an autonomous province with a governor appointed by the Turks.
Macedonia and Thrace – left fully under Ottoman rule.
This division angered the Bulgarian people, who felt their national unity and independence had been denied.
The Balkan Wars
The early 20th century saw Bulgaria seeking to unite its territories. In 1912, Bulgaria joined Greece and Serbia in the First Balkan War to drive the Turks out of the Balkans. The alliance was militarily successful, and the Ottoman Empire lost significant territory.
However, disputes over the spoils of war led to the Second Balkan War in 1913. Bulgaria fought against Greece and Serbia, while Romania attacked from the north, and the Turks returned in force. Facing multiple enemies at once, Bulgaria was defeated. The Treaty of Bucharest (1913) forced Bulgaria to cede territories to Romania, Serbia, and Greece, leaving the country bitter and dissatisfied Private Tours Istanbul.
World War I and Its Consequences
When World War I began in 1914, Bulgaria was courted by both sides because of its strategic location in the Balkans. In 1915, Bulgaria joined the Central Powers (Germany and Austro-Hungary), partly due to fear of Russian ambitions in the Balkans. Despite internal opposition, the government believed this alignment would help regain lost lands.
The war ended in 1918 with the defeat of Germany and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Bulgaria suffered territorial losses to Romania, Serbia, and Greece, and was deprived of access to the Aegean Sea. The 1919 peace treaty also allowed Greece to expel Bulgarians from Thrace and Macedonia.
After the war, Bulgaria felt unjustly treated and politically isolated. The country came under the reign of King Boris III, who faced the challenge of restoring national stability amid the loss of territory and widespread discontent.
