The Young Turks’ Revolution of 1908, the further
dismemberment of the Empire and the Balkan
Wars (1912-1913)
 In the Balkan Wars, the Balkan League (Bulgaria,
Montenegro, Greece and Serbia) coalitioned against the
Sublime Porte in order to conquer the Macedonian
territories of the Ottoman Empire.
 The independent kingdom of Serbia had gained
substantial territory during the Russo-Ottoman War of
1877-78, while Greece had annexed Thessaly region in
1881.
 Bulgaria was still an autonomous principality of the
Empire since 1878 and had absorbed the province of
Eastern Rumelia in 1885.
 All these three small monarchies as well as tiny
Montenegro were aiming to annex the neighbouring
Ottoman provinces in Macedonia, home of large
Bulgarian, Serbian, Albanian and Greek speaking
communities as well as a large Muslim population and a
considerable Jewish community.
 Christian ethnicities’ nationalist armed bands
“komitadji”s were very active in the Ottoman
Macedonian provinces using also terror tactics against
the Ottoman administration, civilians, and, each other.
 At that time, the elite young staff officers of the
Ottoman army were used to be assigned to the 3.
Ottoman Army based in Macedonia fighting the
komitadjis, far from the oppressive regime of
Abdulhamid II (istibdat rejimi).
 Most of these young and activists Ottoman officers have
later got involved in the Young Turks’ committees of
Salonica and Monastir.
 In July 1908, with great concerns about the faith of the
Empire and foreign interventions, Enver and Niyazi
Beys, two Young Turk officers stationned in Macedonia,
revolted with their troops against the Sultan’s authority
with the wish of the re-proclamation of the Constitution
of 1876.
 Anxious about the army’s overall loyalty, Abdulhamid
II agreed to restore the suspended Ottoman constitution.
Attention
Although the bloodless revolution opened an era of
progress and reforms, it was also perceived as a sign of
internal weakness by the neighbouring states.
 Austria-Hungary used the opportunity of the resulting
Ottoman political uncertainty to annex the formal
Ottoman province of Bosnia-Herzegovina, effectively
controlled by the Dual Monarchy since 1878.
 Bulgaria declared itself a fully independent kingdom in
October 1908.
 Greeks of Crete proclaimed unification with Greece
although it did not effectively take place until the end of
the Balkan Wars.
 Frustrated by Austro-Hungarian annexation of BosniaHerzegovina with a large ethnic Serbian community,
Serbia had even a greater desire to annex Macedonia in
the first suitable occasion.
 Initially under the encouragement of Russian diplomacy,
a series of agreements were concluded between the
Balkanic states:
- Between Serbia and Bulgaria in March 1912
- Between Greece and Bulgaria in May 1912
- Montenegro also concluded agreements with Serbia
and Bulgaria in October 1912.
With the Ottoman Empire struggling against Italy,
trying to protect Tripolitania, its last African territory,
conditions for the start of the First Balkan War by the
Balkanic Powers were ready.
The First Balkan War
(October 8, 1912 - May 30, 1913)
 Montenegro started the first Balkan war by declaring
war against the Ottoman Empire on October 8, 1912.
 The Greek army occupied Salonica, Albanians declared
independence.
 Epirus, Macedonia and Thrace were lost to the
Bulgarian, Serbian and Greek armies after crushing
defeats of the Ottoman armies in all fronts.
 Remaining Ottoman forces were pressed to maintain the
defense of Istanbul at Çatalca.
 An armistice was signed between Bulgaria (representing
also Serbia and Montenegro) and the Ottoman Empire
on December 3, 1912.
 Greece continued the war aiming to capture the stillresisting Ioannina (Yanya), while it still participated in
the London Peace Conference.
 The Treaty of London ended the First Balkan War on
May 30, 1913, but disputes over the partition of the
conquered territory remained unresolved.
 As a result, the Second Balkan War immediately
followed.
The Second Balkan War
(June 19 –July 31, 1913)
 The Second Balkan War broke out because of territorial
disputes in Thrace and Macedonia between Bulgaria,
Greece and Serbia immediately following the First
Balkan War, as well as the Albanian independence
issue, and Bulgaro-Romanian disputes over the region of
Dobrudja.
 By the Treaty of London, Austria-Hungary and Italy
strongly supported the creation of an independent
Albania.
 Serbia sought in return compensation from the
Macedonian territories that had been overrun by
Bulgaria.
 Bulgaria also aimed to annex the Greek-occupied city of
Salonica.
 The former allies of the anti-Ottoman coalition all made
counter claims, and Romania, which had remained
neutral during the first war, also joined claims.
 As a result the war resumed with Bulgarian forces
attacking Greece and Serbia.
 The Ottoman Empire now totally led by the “Union and
Progress” cabinet started an offensive to recover Edirne
and Romania attacked Bulgaria from the north.
 Defeated by Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, the Ottoman
Empire and Romania in the Second Balkan War,
Bulgaria signed an Armistice on July 31, 1913.
 At the Treaty of Bucharest in August 1913, the final
territorial adjustments in the Balkans were made, a fact
paving the way for the WW I.