| |
| 1876, May 13 |
| |
| The Berlin memorandum, drawn up by Andrássy, Gorchakov, and Bismarck after a conference at Berlin. It reflected Andrássy's aversion to any policy of annexations (suggested by Bismarck and Gorchakov) and was an expansion of the Andrássy note. It called for a two months' armistice, resettlement of the insurgents, concentration of the Ottoman troops in a few localities, retention of arms by the insurgents, and supervision of reforms by the consuls of the powers. The memorandum was accepted by France and Italy, but was rejected by Britain, partly for technical reasons, but chiefly because of Disraeli's resentment of the failure to consult Britain in the drafting of the program. | 1 |
| |
| May–Sept |
| |
| Insurrection in Bulgaria (See 1876, April–Aug), suppressed with great severity by Ottoman irregular troops (Bulgarian horrors); thousands slaughtered. | 2 |
| |
| June 30 |
| |
| Serbia declared war on the Ottoman Empire, trusting in Russia for support and hoping for the eventual acquisition of the insurgent provinces. | 3 |
| |
| July 2 |
| |
| Montenegro joined Serbia in the war. | 4 |
| |
| July–Aug |
| |
| The Serbs, commanded by the Russian general Chernaiev, were defeated in a series of engagements. Serbia invaded. | 5 |
| |
| July 8 |
| |
| Meeting at Reichstadt of Andrássy and Gorchakov. Reichstadt Agreement: the two powers insisted on the status quo ante bellum in the event of the defeat of Serbia and Montenegro, and on the reforms for Bosnia and Herzegovina laid down in the Berlin memorandum. In the event of Serbian-Montenegrin victory, these two powers were to be given parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the larger part of these provinces to be awarded to Austria. Russia was to obtain Bessarabia (lost in 1856). In the event of Ottoman collapse, Bulgaria and Rumelia were to be autonomous states or independent principalities; Greece was to acquire some territory; Constantinople was to be a free city. | 6 |
| |
| Sept. 1 |
| |
| Complete defeat of the Serbs at Alexinatz. They appealed to the powers for mediation. The Ottomans rejected proposals for an armistice, except on very hard terms. Great excitement in Russia and demand for war. Efforts were made by the Russians to secure assurance of German support in the event of war developing between Russia and Austria. Bismarck's reply: Germany would intervene only to prevent either Russia or Austria being mortally wounded or seriously weakened by the other. | 7 |
| |
| Sept. 6 |
| |
| Gladstone's pamphlet: The Bulgarian Horrors and the Question of the East. Tremendous agitation in Britain against Ottoman misrule. This greatly hampered the government in a policy of supporting the Ottomans against Russia. | 8 |
| |
| Oct. 31 |
| |
| The Ottomans agreed to a six-week armistice, as a result of a Russian ultimatum to check the continued successes of the Ottomans. | 9 |
| |
| Nov |
| |
| Russian preparations for war against the Ottoman Empire. Bellicose attitude of Disraeli, determined to frustrate the Russian designs. | 10 |
| |
| Dec. 12 |
| |
| First meeting of the Constantinople conference (See Dec. 23–1877, Jan. 20), convoked at the instance of Britain. Negotiations took place between Lord Salisbury, the British plenipotentiary, and Count Nicholas Ignatiev, the Russian ambassador. Agreement: Serbia was to lose no territory; Montenegro was to secure parts of Herzegovina and Albania conquered from the Ottomans; Bulgaria (i.e., the regions under the Bulgarian exarchate, extending over most of Macedonia) was to be divided into eastern and western provinces; Bosnia and Herzegovina were to be united as a province, and this, as well as the two Bulgarias, was to have a governor-general appointed by the powers with approval of the Ottoman government, and a provincial assembly; reforms were to be supervised by the powers. | 11 |
| |
| |
