372 Chapter 3
355 Bulgaria/640 Turkey
MID#1274
Dispute Number: 1274
Date(s): October 17, 1908 to April 19, 1909
Participants: 640 Turkey/355 Bulgaria
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side A (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: When the Austrian and Russian foreign ministers discussed the matter
of Bosnia’s annexation in Buchlau Castle, both sides understood that an Austrian
annexation of Bosnia would lead to Bulgaria’s separation from the Ottoman Empire
(see MID#30). This is precisely what happened the day after Austria announced the
annexation of Bosnia. It became a diplomatic issue in Europe because Bulgarian
independence violated the terms of the Treaty of Berlin. The Ottoman Empire reacted
with more anger to the Bulgarian issue than the Bosnian issue, since the Ottoman
Empire had no feasible means of establishing a presence in Bosnia. However, reac-
tion from the powers to the Bulgarian issue focused on trying to settle the issue short
of war. Britain and France tried to pressure Constantinople into negotiations while
Russia equivocally eventually pressured Turkey to seek settlement as well. Bulgarian
independence was recognized in a treaty signed April 19, 1909. For their problems,
Turkey was compensated with nearly 125 million francs.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from October 5, 1908.
MID#1250
Dispute Number: 1250
Date(s): September 3, 1912 to April 19, 1913
Participants: 345 Yugoslavia, 350 Greece, 355 Bulgaria/640 Turkey
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (Imposed)
Fatalities: >999 deaths
Narrative: The First Balkan War (in 1912 and 1913) was fought by the Ottoman
Empire against the allied forces of Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria. Once an international
force that threatened to conquer all of Europe, the Ottoman Empire of the 19th century
and onward was unable to prevent independence movements within its confines and
was unable to prevent European states—notably, the Russian Empire—from ripping
away territory from its borders. The issue was only getting worse in the beginning of
the 20th century. Italy was making demands on Libya (see MID#114, which immedi-
ately preceded this dispute), and the European territories the Turks lost (Greece, Serbia,
and Bulgaria) were now stronger and less restrained by European powers. These states
were now pursuing their own aggressive policy toward the Ottoman Empire.
After conclusion of the Italian-Turkish War, the Balkan League declared war on
the Ottoman Empire. Their aims were to take away then-Turkish territories remaining
in the Balkan Peninsula—the areas of Thrace, Macedonia, and Eastern Rumelia. The
Ottoman Empire, the Sick Man of Europe, was routed. Exhausted from the conflict
with Italy, the quick turnaround and strategic disadvantage ended the war quickly.