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| 1884, Feb. 26 |
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| British agreement with Portugal, recognizing the latter's rights to territory at the mouth of the Congo. France and Germany together protested so vigorously that the British abandoned the treaty (June 26). | 1 |
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| 1884, Nov. 15–1885, Feb. 26 |
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| The Berlin conference on African affairs (See 1883, Feb), arranged by Bismarck and Ferry. Fourteen nations, including the United States, agreed to work for the suppression of slavery and the slave trade and declared complete liberty of commerce in the basin of the Congo and its affluents and on the adjacent coasts. Freedom of navigation on the Congo and Niger and their affluents was also declared. The Congo basin was declared neutral. The principle of effective occupation to establish a claim on the coasts was set up. At the same time the various powers recognized the Congo Free State (See 1885, April), which had developed under Leopold of Belgium from the International Association for the Exploration and Civilization of Central Africa (1876), and later the International Association of the Congo (1878), financed by Leopold and exploiting the discoveries of Henry M. Stanley. | 2 |
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| 1885, April |
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| Acute Anglo-Russian crisis, resulting from an attack by Russian troops on the Afghan forces at Penjdeh (March 30). The question was adjusted by compromise (June 18, 1886). | 3 |
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| Sept. 18 |
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| Revolution in Eastern Rumelia, initiating another period of tension in the Balkans. The movement was directed at union with Bulgaria (See 1885, Sept. 18). | 4 |
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| Nov. 13 |
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| Serbia declared war on Bulgaria, after it had become clear that an ambassadorial conference at Constantinople would not rescind the union of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia. | 5 |
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| Nov. 17 |
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| Complete defeat of the Serbians in the Battle of Slivnitza. | 6 |
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| Nov. 27 |
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| Serb defeat at Pirot. Bulgarian invasion. This was stopped only through Austrian intervention to save Serbia (Khevenhüller mission). | 7 |
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