The Congress of Berlin: Britain, Russia, and the Fate of the Ottoman Empire

The Great Eastern Crisis (1875-1878) was one of the last major actions of the Concert of Europe. Revolts in the Balkans threatened to destroy the Ottoman Empire; an opportunity for Russia, a terrifying prospect for Britain and Austria-Hungary. Over 3 years these empires maneuvered diplomatically to ensure an outcome to their liking.
This culminated in the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878), which saw the Russians defeat the Ottoman Empire, and threaten the establishment of their hegemony over the Balkans.
The result was the Congress of Berlin, where the European powers met to decide the fate of the Ottoman Empire, and prevent a European conflict.
This video aims to be a short documentary on the Congress of Berlin (though it also serves as one for the Great Easter Crisis to an extent).
Sources:
The Struggle For Mastery in Europe, AJP Taylor (Still my favourite history of the Eastern Crisis, and has been heavily relied upon for the script in this video).
Modern British Foreign Policy: The Twentieth Century, Paul Hayes (An excellent short analysis of the British position during the Crisis).
Splendid Isolation?, John Charmley (A much more in depth study on British Foreign Policy. A great read and definitely recommended for further research).
#history #britishempire #bismarck

[@OldBritannia]

This video was supposed to be focused around the Anglo-Russian rivalry, and its influence upon the Congress of Berlin. It has instead turned into something of a mini-documentary on the Great Eastern Crisis. The Anglo-Russian rivalry is still something I want to cover, though I think it would be better saved for a video on the Great Game. The video has also turned out slightly longer than I imagined. Any feedback on how you found it would be appreciated. Personally, I think it's probably too long for the type of videos I produce; diplomacy that is this intense and complicated is usually best served in small doses (not to mention staring at maps for 20 minutes can become slightly nauseating). Hopefully it is still watchable though.

[@hjphjg]

Chinese garrison

[@Mixcoatl]

I love your videos, but even I struggled a bit with this one. I'll watch it again later to let it sink it more. Still very much enjoyed it though.

[@whymustithinkofaname]

I thought the video was excellent - it would be a shame to leave out important detail purely for the sake of making the video shorter. I found it to be a very interesting an eminently followable summary.

[@OldBritannia]

@@Mixcoatl Thanks for the feedback! I know, believe me trying to write the script was a challenge. It's definitely a really complex video with multiple spinning wheels. Probably not really a good introduction to the topic. In future I'm going to try and stay away from this type of topic, which become quite convoluted in video format.

[@OldBritannia]

@@whymustithinkofaname Ah that's a relief. So long as there is some coherence to it lol. When you've worked on something for 3 weeks you lose the plot a little bit.

[@WanukeX]

4:05 - For Any Canadians watching who are thinking “Does that Ignatyev have a connection to former Canadian Leader of the Opposition Michael Ignatieff?”. Yes, that’s his Great Grandfather. Nikolay Ignatyev’s son Pavel Ignatieff fled to Canada after the bolshevik revolution.

[@accessthemainframe4475]

Ignatieff certainly is a better historian than he is a politician.

[@WanukeX]

@@accessthemainframe4475 that’s for sure.

[@gucci1131]

Oh damn thats pretty cool

[@LordBeauchamp1994]

There was almost a Count (Earl) for Prime Minister in Canada!!???

[@GoofusPlays]

That's crazy. Small world

[@nord_anon4406]

You make the most excellent videos on 19th century European geopolitics I've ever seen. Well done!

[@crusader2112]

I second this statement.

[@Tethloach1]

yep

[@somehistorynerd]

I third this statement

[@outerspace7391]

Exactly out of my mouth

[@johnshelton1141]

The mistake they

[@Jim-fi4dc]

Its really funny how today Turks bash us Greeks about our dependance to the West while they were clearly saved by them more than once from being literally crushed by Russia.

[@marinbotev5134]

GB throughout the history delivered a complex balancing act to keep their influence in Greece and Turkey.

[@mrbritannia3833]

We also saved/created your country multiple times, thank us later.

[@marinbotev5134]

@@mrbritannia3833, thank you. At that time GB was in process of taking over control of the Arabian peninsula, Levant and Egypt from the Ottoman Empire and competing with the Russian empire which as well was growing by annexing Ottoman occupied countries. Bulgaria was seen as a new Russian control state and danger to the British empire. GB opposed San Stefano borders of Bulgaria. The result was a small Principality of Bulgaria and smaller East Rumelia. One could conclude that as a Superpower GB Empire did not vote friendly "yes" to form new Bulgarian state.

[@KaiserFranzJosefI]

This video is a bit Eurocentric which typically portray the Ottomans as helpless children entirely dependent on Europe. This video labels the Ottomans as crooked despots while ignoring the Ottoman Constitutional era

[@byzantinehoney3384]

This video would melt a Turkish nationalists Brain, Turks post 1700s existed as a buffer state for the English

[@ilFrancotti]

A well made analysis and my appreciation for turning political talks, usually rather boring, into an interesting step by step evolution of the European thinking of itself. The ending was unexpectedly touching.

[@codysodyssey3818]

This is quickly becoming one of my favourite channels on KZbin. Your descriptions of Lord Salisbury is quickly making him one of my favourite historical figures

[@olefante380]

I really enjoyed this video, which was very in-depth about a part of the Victorian Era which often is just ignored. The only real criticism/contribution I could give is that one of the major reasons for the tensity of whether Bulgaria could get Macedonia or not, was the fact that if they had Macedonia, Russia would be able to totally circumvent the fact that the British & Ottomans had blocked them off from the Dardanelles. It was a huge defeat that they were unable to give Bulgaria Macedonia, as it effectively meant they were once again trapped in the Black Sea. Great video, I learned a lot! I really like your map aesthetic as well.

[@steel4o]

A somewhat unknown event, which I would personally appreciate be covered, would be the Bulgarian summer of 1915. How Bulgaria literally had 1 foot in the Allied camp (with Greece and Romania patiently observing) and the allied diplomacy squandered it, as Serbia refused to split Macedonia with Bulgaria (as per the 1st balkan war agreement they had) and no one dared push them as everything was going great. The Russian offensive into Austria-Hungary, the Gallipoli landings, Serbia's recapturing Belgrade, the Germans held off at Verdun. Just 1 domino left to finish everything off and it never fell.

[@LZin-uk5nh]

No, it has to do with the fact that allies didnt really have anything to offer them whereas the Central Powers gave Bulgaria everything it asked for. All of Macedonia, Thrace, Dobruja and Nis.

[@steel4o]

@@LZin-uk5nh Not actually true. You have to look at the big picture during the summer of 1915. Greece and Romania were neutral, neither Germany nor the allies could offer territory from there. Thus, it left he Bulgarians with only 2 fronts of demands - Eastern Thrace and Vardar Macedonia. The allies of course offered the Eastern Thrace territory, but refused to push Serbia (their ally in the war), to surrender the Bulgarian requested territory which amounts everything south of the line Ohrid - Veles - Kriva Palanka (1st Balkan war line of division). At that time (summer of 1915 still) Germany and its allies were losing badly, but the tides were turning. The allies ceased their efforts entirely by the end of the summer, while Germany resolved the Eastern Thrace question and offered up to the Bulgarians, anything they could reach. And the rest is history...

[@LZin-uk5nh]

@Nikola S. cuz the Bulgars were such divine angels who showed mercy and compassion... Yeah right

[@fil1375]

@@steel4o if I remember correct in 1915 the central Powers were smashing the Entente (Gorlice-Tarnow offensive and Gallipoli's failure) one of the main reason Bulgaria joined them

[@alexzero3736]

You are absolutely right. Bulgaria having biggest army in Balkans played a big role in WW1. With Bulgaria on Entente side, or even neutral - war would shorter and much more favorable for Entente (less casualties..Russia stays as republic and more)

[@Dave_Lad]

Instant like whilst the adverts play , happy to watch them for such a good channel !!

[@SamAronow]

Thank you so much for this! It's exactly what I needed to help outline my next script, which prominently includes this very crisis.

[@OldBritannia]

Glad it was helpful! I'll look out for the video.

[@SamAronow]

@@OldBritannia Is there another way to reach you? You definitely qualify for membership in the YTHG and I'd like to sponsor you.

[@stupidalex2158]

Good stuff man, one of the only videos i dont feel like skipping through

[@ciaranquinlan8710]

Keep these coming, can see the channel subscription climbing very quickly

[@trashedhead]

Great video as always -- love the art style as well!

[@darkbrightnorth]

These videos are great for how they go into the politics and geopolitics of the times and how they affect history. That’s something often ignored in favour of making history non partisan and more understandable. Great work!

[@loge7358]

Much Better video than last time. You are improving!

[@The_Deztro]

Yet another amazing video well done lad 👍

[@dagomyre4417]

Another amazing video from you, I absolutely love your content please keep it up.

[@gregmattson2238]

the more I watch these videos about power politics, the more I appreciate the game of diplomacy. that game just nails both the spirit and the substance of european dynamics in the 18th and 19th century - and the early part of the 20th century. BTW awesome research on this part of history, part which I was really not familiar with. I have to admit, my head started spinning with all of the parries and counter-parries going on here, and if anything it reminded me of a bunch of jackals fighting over a carcass that was beginning to spoil.

[@markusz4447]

your content quality is amazing. If you were to upload more frequently I could see your channel grow exponentially. The 19th century after Napoleon seems a little under-covered by the big history channels so there might be a Niche

[@StoicHistorian]

Another great video, you make great thumbnails my guy

[@GeorgeHammondMusic]

Amazing video as always!

[@micahistory]

great video, I loved this as always

[@thebalkanhistorian.3205]

Hey! Surprised at the early upload! Haven’t been able to watch the entire video but I know it will be good.

[@internetenjoyer1044]

another fascinating video. cant beleive i slept on this period of history. our politicians should study it, it's so applicable

[@KevinJonasx11]

absolute banger as always, Mr Old Britannia

[@shaquille.oatmeal.9623]

A video about napoleon iii or the second french empire would be great,really nice video!

[@paulbrockschmidt6405]

This channel is criminally underated

[@Steveghvff]

These videos keep getting better

[@PontifexFrankimus]

I love all your videos. Keep it going!

[@fondertunn]

Let me point that the Congress of Berlin was the turning point for Russian-German relations. New unified Germany around Prussia was considered as friendly state in Russia. Bismark used to be Prussian ambassador in Saint-Petersburg, and in past Prussia was left by Napoleon as independent state per personal request of tzar Alexander I , and it was Russian neutrality that offered Prussia an opportunity to avoid war on 2 fronts when Prussia fough with Austria and France for influence within Germany. So it was the idea in Russia that finally there is European power that Russia could trust and rely on. Thus, while Russia was ready that England, despite all cruelty and terror slavic people bore during uprising against Osman Empire, will turn to support Turkey (as 1.Russia is always wrong, 2.Any crime against Russia should be justified), Prussian (now German Empire, that should be gratefull towards Russia) turn to "fair business" and support division of Bulgarian people into 3 parts "to avoid creating too much Russian influence" was considered by people in Russia as betrayal. That was the point when Russian Empire started to search for new allies and found them in France. And that was the separation that led to Antante vs Central powers in WWI.

[@burningventus8210]

This is probably the most complicated yet most important piece of history to understand all of the following decades.

[@duck4834]

Fantastic video.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

I thoroughly enjoyed learning about this!

[@zaharigarkov9383]

Yet, no one ever asked what the Balkan nations reborn in that period wanted or how they saw their fate…

[@marinbotev5134]

Unfortunately, only European Superpowers had the voice and the vote. The question is if that has changed today?

[@Hybridtheory2007]

incredible video

[@Zurelin]

Very good video!

[@cardinal8964]

amazing stuff. which software do you use?

[@ComedyJakob]

I enjoy your channel! Question; how do you make your profile images? Do you draw these figures or photoshop or what? They're nice to look at

[@OldBritannia]

Haha, unfortunately I am a long way off having that artistic talent. I just use an App called 'ToonApp' I think, which I'll then touch up in photoshop if it doesn't quite capture the image.

[@ComedyJakob]

@@OldBritannia Ah, cool! I do a lot of alternate history stuff on reddit and I like to pizazz it up a bit with neat graphics. I'll give that a shot 😁

[@georgios_5342]

An interesting story! You could have covered the position of Greece in this. Stuck between a pro Russian and a pro British faction, Greece was at a precarious position of having to find an anti-turkish ally while at the same time not being able to risk an intervention through sea by the British, as had been experienced during the Crimean War. Nevertheless, Greece supported rebellions in Epirus, Olympus and Pieria regions from 1877 until 1881. In the end, the Congress of Berlin awarded the Thessalia and Arts regions to Greece.

[@marinbotev5134]

Great Powers occupied Constantinopole from 13 Nov 1918 until 06 Oct 1923. One would expect that Constantinopolle should have been returned to Greece.

[@CG-yq2xy]

The acquisition of Thessaly is actually a bit more complex than what is given in the Greek history books. On the surface, it just seemed that it was given in a "just for the heck of it" spirit. However when one reads both the treaty and the back channel talks, they see a different picture. Prior to the transfer of power, the Greeks lead an unsuccessful war against the Ottomans, with said Ottoman delegation demanding restitution from the defeated in Berlin. In tandem, reading the treaty, Greece was obligated to pay the chiftliks, or Ottoman plantation owners, compensation for the lost properties that said transfer of sovereignty (some of which went directly to the Sublime Porte). In other words, said clauses and vague references that came with the treaty were just masking the fact that Greece paid for its annexation of Thessaly, just in a roundabout way. Naturally, this payout required debt that both the British and French banks were more than eager to loan out. Said debt caused another economic crisis and even bankruptcy cycle in Greece, making it more beholden to British (and of course French) interests, which helped the said British moderate any pro-Russian sentiments within the Greek government.

[@marinbotev5134]

Lucky for Greece to convince European Superpowers to sell back lands and second time lucky Greece managed to pay those off.

[@georgios_5342]

@@marinbotev5134 what do you mean?

[@georgios_5342]

@@CG-yq2xy the debt crisis in the times of Charilaos Trikoupis wasn't caused by the annexation of Thessaly, but rather by the attempted infrastructure programmes, especially the railroad. Also, the army reforms and upgrades cost a lot. The overtaxation only got worse after the 1897 War and the reparations Greece had to pay. The Greek political system collapsed and the Goudi Coup took place shortly after. The Greek politicians were ousted, the military took over and invited Eleftherios Venizelos from Greece, who established a new democratic government with the aim of pursuing the Megali Idea.

[@nolanbrewer898]

You know its a really good educational video when it explains something so well that you can't understand it because you are used to gross oversimplifications in other videos. Also, algorithm.

[@OldBritannia]

Haha, not exactly sure if you can say I explained it that well if you can't understand it! But yes I agree, oversimplification is perhaps needed sometimes, but for topics like this you lose a lot of the small details that make the period so interesting... at least to me.

[@Zanator1]

More 1800s foreign policy/internal political negotiation stuff please! Much more interesting than general history!

[@NessieAndrew]

Fantastic analysis of geopolitics.

[@spaghettiking7312]

Never have I been more satisfied in my life to hear the words, "Big Bulgaria" uttered.

[@immenseangloid4168]

Your content is really interesting and enjoyable. Considering that you have covered much concerning 19th centuary diplomatic politics, often mentioning the three important prime ministers in the latter half of the centuary, I would very much like to see Disreali and Gladstobe covered in depth. There isn't really much good on them on YT, and I would be interested on your take, given that you (i believe) prefer Salisbury, it would also be excellent to see a kind of comparision. Of course, you expertice is in diplomatic history, but their foreign policies could still be interesting in isolation.

[@OldBritannia]

I'm thinking about doing a more analysis heavy series called something like 'The Foreign Policy Of:', which will look at the diplomacy of figures like Disraeli, Salisbury, Canning, Metternich, Bismarck etc. as a whole, and include comparisons of the nature you suggest. And yes lol, my videos do definitely reflect my affection Salisbury.

[@mrbritannia3833]

@@OldBritannia Sounds like a good idea.

[@LightAnkou]

I just leave this comment fir the algorithm since I love your content

[@rrrr-xj6ll]

Great video By the way

[@alidokadri]

This is such a treat

[@thebootywarrior3]

This channel rocks

[@randomperson6988]

I’ve never been more thrilled to learn about mid 19th century European politics

[@thunderbird1921]

What makes this even crazier is when you read about how the Russian Empire and the United States actually had fantastic relations in the 19th Century. Before 1917, they were almost IDEAL allies: Neither was really in each other's influence sphere, but not TOO far away for realistic collaboration, they had some common adversaries over the years (Britain, Germany, and to an extent China), and neither wanted to see the power balance thrown out. Honestly, if Alexander II had succeeded in making the Russian Empire a constitutional monarchy, there's a fairly good chance that a Russo-American special relationship would form, instead of with the British. The Bolshevik Revolution ruined everything. How different history could have gone is nothing short of incredible.

[@user-ef5lh2bn3l]

Hey! Great video! But could you maybe invest in a better mic?

[@OldBritannia]

Haha, I have! I know what you mean though, audio quality is something I've neglected a bit because I find it tedious and complicated. I really just need to sit down for a few hours and work out how to use Adobe audition properly.

[@yudufa7046]

This era is so interesting and confusing at the same time

[@njalsen]

This is good stuff

[@jackoofman2560]

Great stuff

[@michaeldelisieux]

History looks like a story that repeats itself over and over again.

[@Prydwen3]

And thus an origin of WW1. Was it not the incorporation of the Orthodox Serbs of Bosnia into the Catholic Austria-Hungary empire, causing boiling resentment, that led to Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination? As Bismark predicted in 1888 when he said ''One day the great European war will come out of some dam foolish thing in the Balkans''.

[@thanhhoangnguyen4754]

You just have to look at the two Balkan War for this. Beside after the victory of the 2 Balkan War of their people. What do you the minority living in the Austria Hungary felt like. The Serb definitely want to reunited with the Serb in Serbia. Not to mention the Romanian in the Transylvania. It literally showing Turks are gone and the Austrian is next on the menu. Nothing gonna stop them from reunify with their people. Bismarck was right all along. Yet people blaming Wilhelm II for defending Austria. Like the GB defending the Ottoman.

[@colinbarthelemy726]

Great work sir, enjoyed the Napoleon/French documentary. Wish had found this channel sooner

[@IliyanStoychev]

In Bulgaria, Disraeli is remembered as a great enemy of our people, while Gladstone is honoured with street and school names - in school we were taught that he stood up for Bulgaria, as did the British people, while the Disraeli Government was actively protecting the Turks and ignoring the Genocide they commited during and after the April Uprising.

[@OldBritannia]

That’s fascinating. Yes, despite this being Disraeli’s triumph in a realpolitik sense, morally he comes off in a very bad way in this period. There is a particularly shocking quote I (perhaps wrongly) left out, where he argued ‘Salisbury seems… not to be aware that his principle object in being sent to Constantinople is to keep the Russians out of Constantinople, not to create an ideal existence for Turkish Christian’s’. Definitely a sorry state of affairs.

[@greatwolf5372]

Disraeli due to his background supported the massacre of Christian Bulgarians.

[@fusionreactor7179]

“Genocide” >literally like 100 people died

[@MrErdem95]

We will never forget the genocide did by b*lgarians on Turks.

[@BulgarianFan]

@@fusionreactor7179 Genocide might be an exaggeration but at least 15 000 people died during the bulgarian uprising, so maybe you should look things up before commenting.

[@tombombadil9123]

speaking of gratitude, German and especially Austrian elites showed a staggering amount of ingratitude towards their Russian counterparts considering that it was the intervention of the Russian army that saved them all from succumbing to Revolution of 1848

[@adamwarlock1]

Yeah Franz Joseph managed to be simultaneously ungrateful to the Russians for saving his empire, to the Ottomans for keeping the Balkans out of Russian hands, and to the German Empire for being the last ones to treat him like a great power. Amazing he could rule for 68 years and yet not provide much continuity.

[@rayzas4885]

​@adamwarlock1 Longest reigning and by far the absolute worst habsburg emperor. He lost all of the Italian lands, saw the destruction of austrian influence in southern Germany, and was utterly incompetent when he allowed the subjugated Hungarians reign over half of his empire. Austria went from a great power to a power in desperate need of reforms because of him

[@chrisoddy8744]

Wasn't just in 1848 - Russian armies also helped them in 1813/14 massively

[@CMitchell808]

Empires typically don’t eternally bend the knee to other empires.

[@gumdeo]

Austro-Hungarian ingratitude met its just reward later.

[@bewilderedbrit8928]

Whats the music at the beginning called?

[@nemanjasimic4423]

Excellent video as always - except for the fact that it omitted that the Congress of Berlin gave birth to the full independence of three modern day nations: Serbia, Montenegro and Romania. These shenaningas among the Great Powers had their own consequences on Serbian position - as they felt betrayed by the Russians, the Obrenović dynasty turned toward Vienna. And these events set the stage for many interesting in the 1910s (First and Second Balkan War, Collapse of Ottoman rule in Europe, Sarajevo Assassination, WW1...).

[@zoomer_zveno]

I'm Bulgarian and this is deep

[@marinbotev5134]

Sad indeed as seems that Bulgaria was sold by the GB and seen only as an access to the Mediterranean by the Russians.

[@byzantinehoney3384]

How do most Bulgarians feel that today they are anti Russian when they only got independence excuse of Russia ?

[@marinbotev5134]

@@byzantinehoney3384 since 1878 Russians love to meddle in Bulgarian politics, and sadly is still very successful as Bulgarians allow that to happen. Since the end of WWII and occupying BG, Russians are successful in running misinformation campaigns, one could say as successful as their Brexit and USA 2016 Presidential election campaigns.

[@nocookies2014]

Your channel really showed me that the 19th century is clearly the diplomatically most interesting time in history

[@nickthesoldier7260]

Romania also participated in the war. Even if she was created in 1859 by Alexandru Ioan Cuza by uniting the two romanian lands (Moldova and Wallachia) Romania was still under Ottoman rule(she couldn't build international relations and affairs , not even with the permision ot Ottoman Empire like to Muntenegro, Serbia and Albania). Russian Empire went to war with the Ottoman Empire in 1877. And because Russian Empire should have crossed Romania to reach the Balkans at Sevastopol was made a russian-romanian convention wich permited russian soldiers (738.000 personnel and 500 artiliery guns) to cross romanian border without to matter in the romanian internal and external affairs(wich after the covention Romania sent to the Ottoman Empire declaration of independence wich escalated the tesnion between Romania and The Ottoman Empire) . Without declaring war, the ottoman soldiers shot some bullets thus forcing Romania to officially declare war on the Ottoman Empire. Romania requested permision from Russia to join but Russia declined , all until the russian army of 738k soldiers stopped at a fortress(can't remember the name) , then Nicholas the first himself requested Carol I , King of Romania to help take down the fortress. So 80k romanian soldier equiped with 200 artiliery guns and also with some tens of heavy macchine guns (heavy at the trues sense) helped the russian take down the fortress(the fortress is somewhere in today Bulgaria) and continued marching. Muntenegro, Serbia and Albania also joined the fight against the ottomans thus forcing the ottoman Empire to sign a peace treaty(like you said San Stefano). The treaty contained that Russia takes Ismail (wich was under russian administration and ocupation from 1812 to 1857 when Russia lost the Crimeean war of 1854-1857 and lost Ismail , the only acces to the Prut and Danube river that has great economic advantage,became part of Romania from 1859 to 1878, and Russian without romanians decided at Berlin to take Ismail, in turn Romania got Dobrogea, and interesting enough romanian diplomats came by themselfs to Berlin for talks but Bismarck himself told them that Romania will be heard but no listened to yet, wich Romania accepted). Russia also took turkish city Kars. Muntenegro, Serbia and Albania also gained their independence. And The British Empire gained the Cyprus island. Other europeans countries(new ones) seeing the weakneas of the Ottoman Empire, would profit from it later like Austro-Hungary annexing Bosnia and Hertzegovina 1908, Italy in 1911 gaining Lybia, the first Balcanic war. And the Congress of Berlin also severed the ties between Germany and Russia (Bismarck wanted an alliance with Russia before the french would do this bcs of 1871, but Bismarck seemed concerned about Russian expansionists interests in the Balcans in 1878). Thus making a step closer to ww1.

[@tommyk3464]

The legend strikes again

[@tombombadil9123]

good work. too often these days people tend to forget that it was no picknic to be a Crostian in the Ottoman Empire. the so called 'primacy of the foreign policy' in historical research only contributed. but it is very important to note that the Balkan uprisings that triggered this particular crisis in the Eastern Question did not come out of thin air.

[@thanhhoangnguyen4754]

Which everyone know perfectly well how it end up years later. The two Balkan war was result for this. And the 3rd Balkan War transform into the World War. Because letting the the Balkan People seems have taken it effect. Now everyone want land claiming it back to the Medival time. And the sense of nationalism rises in every ethnic minority there. The Ottoman Empire , the Turk may have been kicked out. That mean the Austrian Hungry is next. And ohhh boy it did. 2 Balkan War set a stage for 3rd war which turn into the World War. For what for the Balkan. Bismarck was right all along. The Balkan it a ticking time bomb. neither give them right or autonomy will save it because they want it all.

[@chrisdziedzic2544]

Big fan of A.J.P. Taylor's work

[@user-ci9gy2do1z]

The games of the Great powers sentenced our people to great strife in the name of our freedom and unification. We, Bulgarians, bled time and again for the right to live under our own rule. I find it extremely cynical to call this political maneuvering a game, because it set the lives and deaths of millions on the Balkan peninsula and today we still feel its wrongs.

[@Sceptonic]

Unfortunately it all was just a geopolitical game at the end of day.

[@benismann]

not only bulgarians but balkans in general + russia (somewhat)

[@andrei19238]

watching from uganda

[@williamtoner8674]

What a channel this is

[@SrbKuc]

Pretty good. But you fail to mention that the uprisings in Hercegovina and Bosnia were by Serbs and not 'Slavs' or 'Balkan rebels'. No Muslims (todays Bosniaks) were part of the uprisings, the uprisings were inpart a fight by Orthodox Serbs against rich local Muslims Slav (Serb converts to Islam) landowners who were supported by Istanbul. There were some Catholic Serbs from Hercegovina, Dubrovnik and Dalmatia (Krivosije, Uskoci) who also participated. It wasnt about pan-Slavism it was about the restorement of the Serbian state which was destroyed by the Ottoman Empire. Serbia and Montenegro were two Orthodox Serb states who were supported by Orthodox Russia. I guess you can say that there was a pan-Slavist element which connects Serbia and Montenegro with Russia -- but in essence the uprisings were first and foremost a fight for freedom for the Serbs, supported by Russia. The Hercegovina Uprising infact was fought mostly in modern day Montenegro. All of Montengro from Cetinje up to Pljevlja and the modern border of Bosnia-Herceogvina is historically 'Hercegovina'. We call this area 'stara (old) Hercegovina', as opposed to Western and Eastern Hercegovina which is in modern day Bosnia-Hercegovina. One result of the succesful 'Hercegovina Uprising' was stara Hercegovina uniting with stara Montenegro and the Highland Tribes into what is today modern 'Montenegro' at the Berlin Congress. The plan was to then to unite with Serbia (who would take Bosnia and Rascia/Sandzak) into a Serb state (not 'slav') but the large powers were against a united Orthodox Serb state with Russian support. Austria annexed Bosnia and what was left of Hercegovina (which had a majority Serb Orthodox population) and the Ottomans were given the Sandzak (majority Muslim/Bosniak) of Novi Pazar which was deliberately created to halt Serbia and Montenegro unite. These geopolitical issues are the genesis for World War One ie. Serbs in 'Bosnia' fighting for freedom against the Austrian opppressor just like they fought for freedom again the Ottoman Empire during the 1870s. Either way your video was very very good. But you cant call a uniquely Serb uprising a 'Slav' uprising. It is like labelling the Warsaw Uprising as 'slav uprising' instead of a 'Polish uprising'. Does that make sense? Slavs are a population of 400 million. Czechs had nothing to do with the uprising. Neither did Slovaks. Or Poles. Or Ruthenians. Or Croats. Not even all of the 'slav' ethnic groups living in Bosna and Hercegovina were involved in the uprising. It was a small group of a few millions Orthodox Serbs. It is our fight. It is our history. No Bosniaks or Croats or Maceodnians or 'ethnic- Montenegrins' or Slovenians today celebrate it -- while for Serbs it is seen as the rebirth of our modern state. Serbs. SERBS SERBS SERBS SERBS SERBS

[@TotilaTheGoth]

It's like Kings and Generals calling an uprising of Banat Serbs, an uprising of "Orthodox Slavs". Btw, Russia supported Austrian occupation of Bosnia, albeit secretly.

[@benismann]

were by Serbs and not 'Slavs' What ok wait i got it i think u can still call it slav uprising in the context of the ottoman empire tho

[@SrbKuc]

@@benismann no you cant because the only Slavs involved in the uprising were Serbs. Its like calling the Vietcong an 'Asian' army, or the Comanches who fought against the US an 'Indian army/Native American Tribe'. The people have a name and the reason for their uprising was to protect their right to hold that name. Would it be fair to call the Bosnian-Serb army from 1992-1995 a 'slav' army? Or the Croat army from that period a 'slav' army? Or the Bosniak? They were all slavs remember. Of course you could call them all 'slavs', and technically you wouldnt be wrong -- but it would be factually incorrect. The Serbs in the 90s fought for Serbia, the Croats for Croatia, and the Bosniak Muslims for a muslim Bosnia. Just like the Serbs in the 1870s fought for Serbdom, the Poles during Polish Uprising fought for Poland, the Czechoslovaks during the Prague Spring fought for Czechs and Slovaks, and the Russians fought for Russia during the Great Patriotic War.

[@SrbKuc]

@@TotilaTheGoth Kings and Generals is a NATO channel now. Its a shame because it used to be great.

[@greywolf7577]

@@SrbKuc Why do you care? If a nation is fighting against NATO, they probably aren't the good guys. The entire point of NATO is to defend democracies against Communism and Fascism. If someone is against NATO, you have to question their morals.

[@jackbharucha1475]

I wonder if any British pubs have whipped out the old song, in light of recent events. There had to be at least one video on the internet.

[@daddy_1453]

Every time I hear more about Salisbury and Bismark from your videos, the more I appreciate these genius leaders.

[@marinbotev5134]

Genius or an oppressive leaders? GB and Germany are supposed to be a Christian countries. Leaders had no moral issues submitting christians to an ottoman rule and slavery for their own territorial gains. Go figure...

[@fondertunn]

I should say, that despite what the video points, there definitely was practical reason for this war for Russian Empire: denonsation of Treaty of Paris and regaining back Black Sea fleet and naval bases. Odessa was the only warm sea port and played great role in economy, so securing path through the straits was crucial. And it was not only by the means of creating friendly slavic states - Osman and Russian Empires tried to settle each other relations on mutually profitable agreements several times. Trade was profitable for each state, and both Empires tried to keep normal relations if possible. For example, when during Koliyivschyna rebellion in Poland (that also spread to Russian right-coast Ukraine) rebels crossed Turkish border in pursuit to kill polish forces, Russia has to take Turkish ambassador there and execute rebels in his presence (just it has no help and rebels attacks on Golta and Dubossary were the occasion for Turkey declared war against Russia in 1768). Russia and Turkey fought together during anti-French coalition. Also, when Egyptian ruler revolted againts Istanbul it were Russian troops that were sent to Istanbul to block the way of Egyptian army (there is a monument to that near Bosphorus bridge till that day - for Treaty of Hünkâr İskelesi 1833). Just other Great powers' influence on Osman Empire was greater than Russias own to secure interests. And that anti-Russian influence was the reason (in more or less scale) for all Russian-Turkish wars.

[@Zanator1]

Salisbury Therapist to Austria: Big Bulgaria doesn't exist. It can't hurt you. Big Bulgaria: 👁👄👁

[@marinbotev5134]

It is clear that Great Britain was afraid of competition, so it opposed Great Bulgaria. That is the pattern during 1876, Balkan War, 1st WW and 2nd WW.

[@Zanator1]

@@marinbotev5134 Normally I'd just laugh at this funny joke but your name is slavic so I have to make sure, are you joking?

[@bigger_mibber6029]

@@Zanator1 Brittain didn't want a great Bulgaria. Non of the great powers wanted it. Where is the joke?

[@demondelaplace5161]

Good old Lord Robert “Speech 100” Salisbury.

[@rafanadir6958]

Do a video on the last two decades of the XIX century.

[@WanukeX]

14:09 - that kids is called foreshadowing.

[@nirfz]

Even if it's just a very short mention in the video, but i think it is an important but often overlooked detail: the austrian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina i mean. Most history videos mention the occupation but make it look like they just wanted some territory and invaded it to the shock of every other country in europe. Most fail to mention that nobody was shocked, but that it was one outcome of the congress of Berlin, and the other powers were not just aware but had agreed to that.

[@marinbotev5134]

I would recommend "The Long Road to War" on Netflix. An original Netflix documentary produced with input from historians from Austria, Hungary and Austria.

[@forthrightgambitia1032]

17:21, didn't Austria also get the right to occupy the Sanjak of Novi Pazar via this agreement also? You mention it later but I think it was agreed here. Derby was of course specifically chosen by Disraeli to be useless because Disraeli largely wanted to run foreign policy himself although Derby wasn't so happy to play along - I think I read once he is probably the only foreign secretary who negotiated with a foreign ambassador (that of Russia) to specific stymie his own Prime Minister's foreign policy. Disraeli of course had a history of using the Derbys this way, under the weak minority governments of Derby's father Disraeli first became a political figure of the top level largely by usurping the Prime Ministers prominence as Chancellor of the Exchequer. The senior Derby appreciated his popularity and appeal but never really trusted him or the direction and manner by which he took the loose Tory coalition into a unified Conservative Party. One of the ironies of history of course was that the more romantic wing of the Tory party, of one nation aristocraticism etc. was generally led by unrepentent arrivistes and social climbers like Disraeli, Chamberlain and so on. They were generally hostile to the new middle class and sought the future of the conservative party in a broad patriotic imperialist base. The real blue blooded aristocrats like Derby and Salisbury were generally more moderate in wanting to create a new organicist balance of power for this new class and hostile to what they saw as the wild schemes of One Nation reformers. They saw the growing middle classes as essentially inclined to be sympathetic to Conservatism as long as the economic status quo wasn't shocked too badly and if they could be enticed into the old structure with some kind of recognition this would destroy the appeal of Liberal radicalism and provide more of a buffer from openly working class socialism. Indeed Salisbury wanted to introduce gradually life peerages in order to tie them more with the old aristocratic order in a mutually beneficial way. Maybe because, in reality, much of the traditional Tory aristocracy was privately doing quite well from their often impressively judicious investments in the industrial revolution.

[@kalaupun]

Great stuff which however raises the question of what was France doing during this time

[@botatobias2539]

The Great Powers would only recognise Romania's independence if we gave citizenship to the Jews. But they made the rookie mistake of not specifying the pace at which we should do that. We chose our own pace, so by the 1910s we had given citizenship to

[@elemperadordemexico]

Based

[@stvk99]

hmm... I wonder who really was behind such ultimatum...

[@byzantinehoney3384]

@@stvk99maybe the Jewish British Prime minister ??

[@rayzas4885]

No fucking way you're proud of that

[@stephenheath8465]

The Zionist Movement was picking steam around this time in the UK@@byzantinehoney3384

[@danyellhall6582]

i love this man

[@georgios_5342]

10:06 would he really? I thought that Germany had economic entanglements in the Ottoman Empire, and the Ottomans were influenced by Germany, especially in the period leading up to the Great War.

[@OldBritannia]

Bismarck thought a controlled partition would stop the infighting between Russia and Austria that kept threatening to destroy his alliance. But yes you’re absolutely right, German investments became a large factor around this time, and caused a reverse in policy once Bismarck fell.

[@gumdeo]

Even a genius like Bismarck couldn't satisfy both Austrians and Russians.

[@shronkler1994]

this guy makes anything interesting honestly

[@fritoss3437]

💪💪

[@vasilileung2204]

The maps giving me headaches

[@Sceptonic]

Rip big bulgaria

[@rrrr-xj6ll]

Hi I am Bulgarian I was told that the deal between Russia and Austria for no big Balkan country was specifically about Serbia and the western Balkans not about Bulgaria and the eastern Balkans is this correct or not

[@delwynandrews6514]

@old britannia you could say the end part of this was when the bomb and fuse was lit for the great war / world war 1

[@geoffreycharles6330]

I wonder if Britain's behaviour towards the idea of a large country on the Balkans would have been different, if Bulgaria was not Slavic or if she were at least protestant.

[@benismann]

prob no

[@rafanadir6958]

@@benismann why?

[@greywolf7577]

If Bulgaria wasn't Slavic, then Russia would have had less interest in freeing it.

[@krishnanunnimadathil8142]

The Austro-Hungarian FM was prescient that the nationalist impulse of the Balkans would fall on his empire’s table, were the Turks to fail. It adds a beautiful continuum of reason to the background of the First World War a few decades later.

[@link6248icp]

14:15 is a deja vu

[@Rynewulf]

*sigh* guess I better install Victoria 2 again

[@akhanshasahdeo3994]

so there is no ancient ukraine?

[@greywolf7577]

There is an ancient Ukraine. It was called Kievan Rus. It was a large and powerful nation.

[@byzantinehoney3384]

@@greywolf7577You could argue that that is Russian

[@greywolf7577]

@@byzantinehoney3384 Various territories broke off from Kievan Rus after it was invaded by the Mongols. One of those territories grew into Russia. But the original country of Kievan Rus was based in Ukraine. Russia is just the bastard child of Ukraine.

[@TheSunderingSea]

@@greywolf7577 The Rurikid Dynasties first capital was Novgorod, in Russia. The vast majority of Rus lands were in modern Russia and Belarus. And the medieval Rus state broke up in the 11th century, not the 13th. The Dynasty that led Moscow until the 1600's was a branch of the Rurikid Dynasty. Keep fucking coping, it's all you've got.

[@therearenoshortcuts9868]

lol.......... this was how the 1914 July crisis was 'supposed' to play out... if europe had capable diplomats like they did 30 years prior...

[@TheRealLife12345HL]

my country Romania become independent at this congress because has fighting with the russians against the turks.

[@thanhhoangnguyen4754]

After that you guy put on a real bad experience which even for Disresal to dislike you very much. The Jew in Romania was not particularly happy in Romania. Which only show how there will be a problem in the future which it did. I support for the Balkan people independence. But every one demanding for more land. I can only see what Bismarck saw. The Balkan is a powder keg. Which make me believe. After the Turk are gone you will definitely set your eye for Russia Moldavia or Transylvania of Austria Hungary. Just like the Serb for Bosina . Or Greek for Macedonia or the Albania. Truly a ticking time bomb like Bismarck said.

[@torso99]

some countrys are just located inbetween other countrys intrest

[@bcvetkov8534]

British public opinion at the point mentioned here. 13:40 really irritates me. Atrocities are okay so long as the Russians don't gain too much.

[@alexzero3736]

That moment when Bismarck failed in foreign policy alienating Russia for years to come.