Berlin Congress and Ottoman Empire (1878)

Relations between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, who founded a politicalunion in the 16th century, were sometimes peaceful and sometimes in conflict untilthe former?s wish to descend to the Mediterranean in the 19th century. Russia wasdisturbed by the Treaty of Paris made by the European countries in order to protectthe integrity of territories of the Ottoman Empire in 1856. It succeeded in changingsome of the articles about the Black Sea in the Treaty with the help of diplomacy atthe conference of London on 17th January 1871.After the defeat in the Crimea, Russia began to prepare for war with the aimof taking revenge against the Ottoman Empire. To ease the transit through theBalkans, Russia, who wanted to preoccupy the Ottoman Empire with rebellions thatbroke out in this area, tried to spread Pan-Slavism in the Balkans. The OttomanEmpire upset Russia?s plan by oppressing the rebellions, which, along with areliance on the neutrality of the European countries, led to Russia declaring war withthe Ottoman Empire.Because Russia had been preparing for war with the Ottoman Empire for along time, it had prepared an army that had modern weapons and was powerful interms of the number of soldiers in comparison with the Ottoman Empire. Althoughthe Ottoman Empire, which became powerless against Russia, had detained theRussian army on the eastern and western fronts where the war was taking place, theOttoman Empire was eventually defeated.After the war, the cease-fire in Adrianople, and later, the treaty of SanStefano between Russia and the Ottoman Empire were signed. However, this treatywas not accepted by Europe as it did not fit with the benefits of Great Powers. As aresult the Treaty of Berlin, which was to replace San Stefano, was concluded at theend of the Berlin Congress, at which it became obvious that the Ottoman Empirewas no longer supported in Europe.This thesis consists of three sections apart from the beginning and finalsections. In the first part, the period before the war in 93, the process of the BerlinCongress, the relationship between the Ottoman Empire and European countries aredealt with. In the second part, the Berlin Congress and the decisions that were takenat this congress are examined. The third part the effects of the Berlin Congress onthe Ottoman Empire are discussed.Key Words: The Ottoman Empire, Russia, the Treaty of San Stefano, GreatPowers, the Berlin Congress.