Russia, Britain and the Establishment of the Province of Eastern Rumelia
Russia, Britain and the Establishment of the Province of Eastern Rumelia

Summary/Abstract: The Treaty of San Stefano signed immediately after Ottoman-Russian war 1877- 1878 creating “Great Bulgaria” and thus endangered the “Balance of Power” in Europe disturbed by the Great Eastern Crisis 1875-1878 arose in the Balkan Peninsula. The Treaty was considered as one-sided attempt to solve the Eastern Question by Britain and Austro-Hungary. So they insisted a revision of the Treaty. Thus the Great Power met in Berlin with the aim to be re-established the order in the Balkans providing each of the Great Powers with proportioned influence in the region. At the Congress of Berlin the large Bulgarian state was divided into three parts and thus was created the province of Eastern Rumelia remaining the authority of the Sultan. The establishment of autonomous province was decided during а bilateral negotiations between Britain and Russian at the time of the diplomatic preparation of the Congress. The growing rivalry between the two Great Powers regarding the Ottoman Empire’s territories in the second half of the 19 century required compromises and Eastern Rumelia was one of them. The aim of this paper is to examine the struggle between Russia and Britain during the organization of the province of Eastern Rumelia at the Balkans. The research focus on the British and Russian policy executed during the time of elaboration of Organic Law and organization of the administrative institutions of the province. The article has an aim to present the British and Russian notions about the functions which Eastern Rumelia had to fulfill in the future Balkan policy of these two Great Powers in their rivalry for dominance of the Balkans.

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