Treaty of Budapest
of a higher order which preoccupy them. Their Majesties are
determined to prevent anyone from succeeding in separating
them in the field of the principles which they regard as alone
capable of assuring, and, if necessary, of imposing the mainte-
nance of the peace of Europe against all subversions, from
whatsoever quarter they may come.
- In case an aggression coming from a third Power should
threaten to compromise the peace of Europe, Their Majesties
mutually engage to come to a preliminary understanding
between themselves, without seeking or contracting new
alliances, in order to agree as to the line of conduct to be fol-
lowed in common. - If, as a result of this understanding, a military action
should become necessary, it would be governed by a special
convention to be concluded between Their Majesties. - If one of the High Contracting Parties, wishing to recover
its independence of action, should desire to denounce the pres-
ent Agreement, it must do so two years in advance, in order to
give the other Party time to make whatever arrangements may
be suitable.
Schönbrunn, 1873.
Francis Joseph.
Alexander.
Accession of the Emperor of Germany.
[The whole text of the Agreement preceding.]His Majesty the Emperor of Germany, having taken cognizance
of the above understanding, drawn up and signed at Schön-
brunn by Their Majesties the Emperor of Austria and King of
Hungary and the Emperor of All the Russias, and finding the
contents in conformity with the thought which has presided
over the understanding signed at St. Petersburg between Their
Majesties the Emperor William and the Emperor Alexander,
accedes in every respect to the stipulations which are set forth
therein.
Their Majesties the Emperor and King Francis Joseph and
the Emperor and King William, in approving and in signing this
Act of Accession, will bring it to the knowledge of His Majesty
the Emperor Alexander.
Schönbrunn, October 22, 1873.
Francis Joseph.
William.
3.1190 Treaty of Budapest
Alliance Members:Austria-Hungary and Russia
Signed On:January 15, 1877, in the city of Budapest (Hungary). In
force until March 3, 1878, when Russia signed the Treaty of San Ste-
fano.
Alliance Type:Neutrality Pact (Type II)
Source:Key Treaties for the Great Powers, 1814–1914,vol. 2, p. 511–515.
SUMMARY
Despite being party with Prussia to the trilateral Convention of
Schönbrunn, Russia and Austria concluded an agreement in 1877
offering further guarantees of each state’s share of the current status
quo, with Bosnia and Herzegovina remaining under Austrian control
and Russia having the right to reoccupy its pre-1856 borders. More
important, Russia won Austrian neutrality in the event of Russian
expansion into the regions of crumbling Ottoman authority in return
for a promise not to create a large pan-Slavic state that might upset the
Austrian position.
With reassurance of Austrian neutrality and Austria’s standing offer of
mediation, Russia attacked Turkey in 1877, eventually generating a
peace settlement that Prussia’s Otto von Bismarck would use to carve
up many remnants of the Ottoman Empire, effectively sacrificing the
Turks in favor of preserving a favorable European status quo. The new
arrangement established following the brief war also signaled the end
of the Austro-Russian neutrality pact.Alliance Text
His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, etc., and Apostolic King of
Hungary, and His Majesty the Emperor of Russia, considering
that in the pending diplomatic negotiations disagreements
might arise of a nature to bring about a rupture between Russia
and the Ottoman Empire, have decided, in conformity with the
close friendship which binds them, and with the urgency of
obviating the possibility of a collision between the interests of
their respective States, to reach an understanding in contempla-
tion of that eventuality.
For this purpose Their said Majesties have appointed as
Their Plenipotentiaries: His Majesty the Emperor of Austria,
King of Bohemia, etc., and Apostolic King of Hungary, the Sieur
Julius Count Andrássy of Csik-Szent-Ki ́raIy and Kraszna-
Horka, Grand Cross of His Order of St. Stephen, Chevalier of
the Imperial Russian Order of St. Andrew, Grandee of Spain,
etc., etc., His Privy Councillor, General in His Armies, His Min-
ister of the Household and of Foreign Affairs; and His Majesty
the Emperor of All the Russias, His Privy Councillor the Sieur
Eugene Novikow, His Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipo-
tentiary to His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of
Bohemia, etc., and Apostolic King of Hungary, Chevalier of the
Russian Orders of St. Alexander Nevsky, of the White Eagle, of
St. Vladimir of the Second Class, of St. Anne of the First Class,
and of St. Stanislas of the First Class; of the Austro-Hungarian
Orders of St. Stephen, of Leopold, and of the Iron Crown of the
First Class; and of several other foreign Orders:
Who, after having exchanged their full powers, found in
good and due form, have agreed upon the following Articles:
ARTICLE I. The High Contracting Parties, considering that
the Christian and Mohammedan populations in Bosnia and in
Herzegovina are too much intermingled for it to be permissible
to expect from a mere autonomous organization a real amelio-
ration of their lot, are agreed with one another to ask for these
provinces in the conference of Constantinople only an
autonomous regime not too greatly exceeding the measure fixed
by the despatch of December 30, 1875, and the guaranties of theMay 25June 6