Balkan States

• Greece was the first Balkan State to gain its independence, following the Greek War of Independence in the years 1821-23
• The Treaty of Berlin recognised Serbia, Montenegro and Romania as independent
• Bulgaria was growing in wealth, population and in turn military strength

  ▪ Bulgarian foreign policy towards Ottoman rule was becoming more aggressive and militaristic in response to its lengthy struggles against Ottoman rule
• Greece was also becoming wealthier and bigger in population, as a result they began to build their navy and in 1897 they entered the Greco-Turkish War which they lost

  ▪ Pro-Greek British government ensured Greece lost no territory to their old rulers
• Macedonia, under Ottoman rule, was home to Turks, Jews, Greeks, Bulgarians and Serbs
• In August 1903 the uprising of Macedonians, known as the Ilinden uprising, was brutally crushed by the Hamidian regime
• In November, after the Ilinden uprising, Russia and Austria-Hungry created the Murzsteg agreement under which foreign officers were sent to Macedonia to keep the peace – this highlighted the Sultans lack of international strength.
• Bulgaria proclaims full independence from Ottoman Empire on 5th October 1908.
• The Sultan aimed to maintain the loyalty of the Muslims of the region while seeking to "divide and rule" the Christian population in Macedonia.