Greece to roman road

In February 1885, Banning reported to Constantine via telegram that the Congo Railway Company's fundraising problem had finally been resolved.

The royal family invested 1 million francs, and the Bruscourt family invested 500,000 pounds in the initial investment and received corresponding shares.

The Belgians received a share of 15 million francs of the 25 million francs, with the remainder going to private British and German parties.

The reason why the Belgians get such a large share is because Belgium is relatively inferior in strength compared to Britain, France and Germany. As the major shareholders of the Congolese Railway Company, the Belgians are more convenient for the Congolese government to exert influence in management, rather than often Facing pressure from major powers.

At the same time, a Kivu gold mining company was established to take charge of the gold mines discovered during previous explorations. The shares were distributed among the shareholders who invested in the railway this time.

The Congolese government uses the ownership of gold mines as a bargaining chip, and the Greek parent company holds 30% of the shares of the gold mining company.

In any case, Congo's railway construction is finally on track.

In September, the Greek ambassador to Bulgaria sent back news that there was unrest in Eastern Rumelia, Turkey. The locals occupied the Ottoman Governor's Palace and demanded merger with Bulgaria.

On September 18, 1885, the Grand Duke of Bulgaria announced the annexation of East Rumelia Province, and went to Plovdiv, the capital of East Rumelia, the next day, and was enthusiastically welcomed by the Bulgarian people there;

Most of the inhabitants of Eastern Rumelia are Bulgarians.

The situation across the Balkans suddenly heated up.

Prior to this, Bulgaria's territory was only Mosia in the north of the Balkan Mountains and south of the lower Danube River, covering an area of ​​approximately 40,000 square kilometers.

Eastern Rumelia is a piece of land south of the Balkan Mountains, covering an area of ​​about 30,000 square kilometers. (This is the southern part of present-day Bulgaria)

This is undoubtedly a challenge for Bulgaria to the international structure.

The situation throughout the Balkans is complicated. The decline of the original host, Ottoman Turkey, has led to the contraction of its sphere of influence.

The territory of the Ottoman Turkey in the Balkan Peninsula is coveted by all countries.

Especially Russia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In the Balkans, the rivalry between big powers, religious conflicts, and the rise of nationalism are all mixed together, affecting the whole body.

Constantine, who smelled the news, immediately rushed back to Athens. His intuition told him that political trouble in Athens was about to arise.

This was not unfounded by Constantine.

After the Russo-Turkish War of 1878, victorious Russia forced the Ottoman Turks to sign the Treaty of Santo Stefano, declaring the establishment of a Bulgarian protectorate in the Balkans.

The Bulgarian territory in the treaty includes Mosia, Eastern Rumelia, and all of Macedonia, covering an area of ​​160,000 square kilometers.

This included almost all of the European part of Ottoman Türkiye.

This naturally aroused opposition from neighboring countries, including Austria-Hungary, Serbia, Greece, and the United Kingdom.

This is an obvious truth. Russia defeated the Ottoman Turks, allowing Bulgaria to become independent from the Ottoman Turks. Both countries are Slavs (Bulgarian and Russian are very similar. Both countries believe in Orthodox Christianity and even have the same religion. , can communicate without barriers).

Naturally, the Russians believe that Bulgaria should be grateful to themselves and look at the new Bulgaria with a parental mentality.

On April 17, 1879, Tsar Alexander II appointed his 22-year-old nephew Alexander von Battenberg as the first Grand Duke of the Bulgarian Protectorate.

For Alexander I of Bulgaria.

Von Battenberg's father was the Duke of Hesse in Germany. Before coming to Bulgaria, he was a lieutenant in the German army and joined the Russian army in the Russo-Turkish War in 1877;

Most of the ministers of the new Principality of Bulgaria are Russians, and all officers of the Bulgarian Army above the company level are Russians. Bulgarian soldiers can only be promoted to captain at most;

This is not to mention how annoying it is in the eyes of other countries: This is not Bulgaria’s independence, this is clearly Russia’s annexation of Bulgaria!

Under pressure from various countries, the Treaty of Saint-Snovoit was abrogated and re-signed at the Berlin Conference.

Dad gave in, and Bulgaria’s territory naturally shrank significantly.

The independent Bulgarian territory is only Mosia.

Macedonia and the province of Eastern Rumelia remained under the Ottoman rule.

However, this decision ignored the wishes of the local people, which led to the East Rumelia People's Uprising.

The Russians hoped that von Battenberg would perform the role of "son emperor" well; however, what the Russians did not expect was that von Battenberg soon showed his nationalist side and was unwilling to become a puppet of the Russians. Nor does it want Bulgaria to become Russia's plaything.

On March 13, 1881, Alexander II was assassinated in St. Petersburg; Alexander III succeeded to the throne; the new Russian tsar had no emotional connection with Battenberg;

At the funeral of Alexander II, Alexander III and Battenberg reached the first compromise: 12 ministers for the country, 8 appointed by Russia, and Battenberg had the right to appoint 4;

The Russians, who regarded themselves as liberators, acted in a superior manner and crudely interfered in Bulgarian politics, which naturally aroused the resentment of the Bulgarians.

Since then, the relationship between the Bulgarian Grand Duke and the Russian Tsar became increasingly bad.

On March 3, 1883, the Bulgarian Prime Minister Major General Sobolev and the Minister of War Major General von Kolba "suggested" to Battenberg that their status should be: Sobolev as the Russian Governor-General in Bulgaria, and Kolba as the Russian Governor-General in Bulgaria. Si served as regent;

This was a blatant Russian attempt to take control of Bulgaria.

The original relationship between brotherly countries has been cast into a shadow.

This has also led to the current attitude of the Russians who are opposed to Bulgaria's announcement of the annexation of Eastern Rumelia.

Bulgaria's annexation of Eastern Rumelia violated the agreement of the Three Emperors' Alliance of Germany, Austria and Russia: any territorial changes in the Balkans must be implemented with the unanimous consent of the three countries.

On September 24, Bulgaria announced general mobilization, mainly targeting the Ottomans.

The Ottoman authorities did not know whether Bulgaria's behavior was supported by other major powers, so they were hesitant.

There is no doubt that the Bulgarians' behavior of taking back their land at the risk of war will have a strong psychological implication on the Greeks.

Constantine could imagine how excited the Greeks were now after receiving the news:

Since the Bulgarians can ignore the agreement between the great powers and obtain territory from the Ottomans, why can't Greece?

Isn’t this the moment when Greece regains its territory and liberates its people?

Constantine was worried that the Greek government would be hijacked by the fanatical atmosphere of the people and insist on going its own way regardless of the wishes of the international community, mainly the major powers.

For Greece now, it is impossible for Greece to achieve anything without the permission of the great powers.

The determination of all countries to maintain the situation in the Balkans will not waver.

In their eyes, disobedient children will be punished.