The Congress of Berlin concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Berlin, which restructured the political landscape of the Balkans. This international meeting of European powers was convened to address the aftermath of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) and to balance the interests of the Great Powers in the region.
The Congress of Berlin was chaired by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck and included representatives from Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire. The primary objectives were to stabilize the Balkans, curb Russian expansion, and maintain the balance of power in Europe.
Key Decisions and Territorial Changes
1. Bulgaria: The large Bulgarian state proposed by the Treaty of San Stefano was divided. Northern Bulgaria became an autonomous principality under Ottoman suzerainty, while Southern Bulgaria (Eastern Rumelia) remained under direct Ottoman control but with administrative autonomy.
2. Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania: These states gained full independence from the Ottoman Empire.
3. Bosnia and Herzegovina: Austria-Hungary was given the right to occupy and administer these territories, though they remained nominally under Ottoman sovereignty.
4. Cyprus: Great Britain was granted administrative control of Cyprus in exchange for supporting the Ottoman Empire against potential Russian aggression.
After Effects
The Treaty of Berlin reshaped the political boundaries in the Balkans, but it also sowed the seeds of future conflicts. The dissatisfaction among the Balkan states and the ambitions of the Great Powers contributed to ongoing instability in the region, eventually leading to the Balkan Wars and World War I.
Sources
“Congress of Berlin.” *Encyclopaedia Britannica*, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/event/Congress-of-Berlin-1878.
Sondhaus, Lawrence. *The Congress of Berlin and Its Consequences*. Routledge, 2020.
Crampton, R. J. *The Balkans Since the Second World War*. Longman, 2002.
“Treaty of Berlin (1878).” *History Today*, www.historytoday.com/archive/months-past/treaty-berlin-1878.