ABSTRACT

The Ottoman State lost the Bulgarian territory, at the end of the RussoTurkish war of 1877-1878. The population of the territory at least half was Muslim Turk. The Treaty of San Stefano which represented the great part of the desires of the Bulgarian nationalists was not accepted by the great states. Because Russia maintained superiority in the region, other European states, England in particular, facilitated the implementation of a new treaty in Berlin, and the Treaty of Berlin not only an autonomous Bulgarian Principality with restricted borders was established but also in the south of the Balkan range mountains, an Eastern Rumeli province under the rule of the Ottoman State was constructed. The chieftainship of Bulgaria and the Prince of Bulgaria acted as an officially independent country since their establishment, and as a result of the pressure of European countries, the Ottoman State had to accept this situation. Especially during the Bulgarian-Serbian War which broke out with the annexation of the East Rumelian province by Bulgaria in 1885, the Ottomans were unable to intervene. It damaged the Ottoman State's prestige. Furthermore, especially since 1888, during the sovereign of Prince Ferdinand with many European countries - Germany, France, Italy and England in particular, negotiations about tariffs were made. Although these negotiations did not provide Sofia with a significant economical profit, it resulted in the chieftainship of Bulgaria's being treated as an entirely independent and recognized country.