Romanian Eagle

When the Turkish bourgeois revolution was in full swing, Austro-Hungary was not the only country in his mind. Turkey's neighbor Bulgaria also intends to use this Turkish bourgeois revolution to realize its plan.

After the defeat of Turkey after the last Russo-Turkish war in 1877-1878, the Bulgarian Principality was established in the northern part of the Balkan Mountains. Romania and Serbia were also established at this time. In 1885, North and South Bulgaria merged to achieve unification.

Relations between Bulgaria and Russia during this period were very complicated. At that time, Russia's Balkan policy was formulated by Count Ignatiev. Ignatiev's plan was to gradually turn Bulgaria into a Russian stronghold in the Balkans by supporting Bulgaria, which is almost the same as Russia. It can connect Serbia and Czechoslovakia, threaten the core area of ​​the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and retreat can quickly oppress Constantinople and cut the throat of Ottoman Turkey.

It can be said that the core of Russia's foreign policy during this period has been adjusted to fully support Bulgaria. When Bulgaria and Romania were at odds over the ownership of the Dobroga region, Russia even stood by Bulgaria and thus would also believe in the Orthodox Church. Romania pushed to the camp of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

But Bulgaria did not reciprocate Russia's enthusiasm. In the eyes of Bulgarians, although the Russian big brother did make great sacrifices for the liberation of Bulgaria, after independence Bulgaria was everywhere, and Russian advisers and garrisoned troops who interfered in the internal affairs of the country from time to time. Only made Bulgarians uncomfortable.

The most ironic thing is that the Russian experts who helped Bulgaria formulate a new constitution are all Westerners who are quite unhappy in Russia. What these experts designed for Bulgaria was a highly modern constitutional monarchy that was simply not possible in Russia. The Bulgarians who had this regime, in turn, had an ideological sense of superiority over Russia, which was still under absolute dictatorship.

To make matters worse, Alexander, the German-born king chosen by the Russians for Bulgaria, did not become the puppet the Russians imagined. Alexander quickly mastered the Bulgarian language and converted to Orthodoxy. And gradually gained the support of the Bulgarian political elite and became the spiritual sustenance of Bulgarian nationalists.

King Alexander's home country, Germany, also took advantage of this natural connection to divide and connect Bulgaria's political elites, enabling an anti-Russian alliance between German politicians and Bulgarian nationalists linked by King Alexander. In the face of Bulgaria's increasingly centrifugal tendency, Russia's approach can be described as simple and rude. While increasing political control and military pressure, it instigated a coup d'etat by the Bulgarian pro-Russian military corps to overthrow King Alexander.

This brutal and rude practice aroused great indignation from the Bulgarian government and opposition. In the end, the coup in 1886 ended in failure. Bulgaria expelled all Russian advisers and garrison troops and fell to the German and Austrian side. The Balkan front, which Russia has worked so hard to build since the Crimean War, vanished, and the strait, which was already close at hand, was suddenly out of reach.

Izvolsky, who was in charge of Balkan affairs after 1886, began to actively exert his personal influence to reshape Russia's position in the Balkans. In addition, the Bulgarians had too much involvement in Russia, and they were gradually influenced back. In 1908, Bulgaria was still biased towards Russia.

"The bourgeois revolution in Turkey is our opportunity now. Bulgaria does not need a nominal suzerain. And many of our ethnic groups in Turkey are being bullied and oppressed by them. This is something we cannot bear." Bulgarian Foreign Minister Stephen Uros said of himself the voice of the heart.

Stephen Uros is a big Bulgarian supporter, and most people in Bulgaria now have this kind of plot.

'Greater Bulgaria' is a Bulgarian nationalist ideology aimed at restoring the largest territory in Bulgaria's history.

It includes the plains between the Danube and the Balkan Mountains, North and South Dobroga, Sofia, Pirot, Fragne, North Thrace, parts of East Thrace, and Macedonia.

"There is just an opportunity to take advantage of." Prime Minister Alexander Malinov said to the foreign minister.

What the prime minister said was that on August 2, the Turkish foreign minister held a luncheon at his home and did not invite the Bulgarian diplomatic representative in Constantinople. Considered insulted by the self-respecting diplomat, the situation was reported back to Bulgaria. This makes Prime Minister Alexander Malinov a treasure, and this is a perfect opportunity.

While the important ministers were discussing, the Bulgarian Archduke Ferdinand I was not idle either. He made a secret visit to Austria-Hungary in Vienna. Uprisings in southwestern Macedonia and eastern Thrace failed due to the "Macedonian-Adrianople Supreme Council" ("Supreme Council") supported in 1903. Let Archduke Ferdinand feel that he needs the support of other powers in order to incorporate the above-mentioned places into his own territory.

The Grand Duke set his sights on Austria-Hungary, hoping to get the support of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. If it can get the support of one of the two most influential powers in the Balkans (and Russia will not object), then Archduke Ferdinand's dream will have a good chance of becoming a reality.

On August 2, 1903, the "Supreme Council" launched an uprising in southwestern Macedonia and eastern Thrace. A combined insurgent army of Bulgarians, Wallachians and Greeks captured some cities, but they were attacked. The desperate resistance of Turkey and Albania was soon suppressed by Turkey's "Bashi-Bazok" again.

This time, the Turkish government was determined to wipe out the Bulgarian inhabitants in Thrace and Adrianople, too close to the imperial capital. Hundreds of Bulgarian villages were looted and burned, more than 5,000 people were killed, more than 70,000 were displaced, and more than 30,000 fled to the Bulgarian mainland.

The troublesome thing is that in addition to the rebel army and Turkish armed forces of the "internal revolutionary organization", the surrounding neighboring countries also sent armed personnel to take advantage of the chaos. These troops killed alien Christians as much as the Turks.

The Serbian "Chetnik" ("irregulars") attacked the Bulgarian "Comitadji" ("volunteers"), who in turn were vendetta; "Andartes" hunted down Albanians and Turks everywhere, while the Turkish authorities sow discord among Christians.

The chaos in Macedonia gave Russia and Austria an excuse to interfere. In 1903, they put forward a series of administrative, financial and security reform demands to the Sultan's court, requiring Turkey to turn Macedonia into an independent autonomous province, divided into five districts, managed by foreign powers. The district of Skopje belongs to Austria, the district of Thessaloniki to Russia, the district of Séré to France, the district of Drama to the United Kingdom, and the district of Bitola to Italy.

The Turkish authorities were shocked by the foreign powers' demands for Macedonian autonomy, which was the reason for the early uprising of the Young Turks.

The events in Turkey shocked the Bulgarian government and Archduke Ferdinand. They originally wanted to annex Macedonia through the uprising of the "internal revolutionary organization", and Turkey's implementation of constitutional reforms will undoubtedly make Bulgaria lose this opportunity. After the young Turkey coup, Bulgaria found that not only could the fruit of Macedonia not fall naturally after it was fully ripe, but it had to pick it up quickly.

Bulgaria, on the one hand, made tense preparations for war, and on the other hand, decided to take advantage of the chaotic situation in which the Turkish Sultan was abolished to declare independence and completely get rid of its vassal relations with Turkey. But independence would mean tearing up the Berlin Treaty, which would be dangerous for Bulgaria. Coincidentally, Austria would return Bosnia and Herzegovina to Turkey after the 30-year occupation period expired (i.e. 1908) under the terms of the Berlin Treaty, and it didn't want to do that either, so the two countries came together and decided the pace Unanimously tear up the Berlin Treaty.

This is also the reason why the Archduke Ferdinand secretly visited Vienna. Now the news from the country has made the Archduke speed up the coordination with Austria-Hungary. The next day, Archduke Ferdinand had a secret discussion with Alois, Prime Minister of Austria-Hungary.

"We all need mutual support, and I hope we can coordinate the time together to catch the Turks off guard," Ferdinand said straight to the point.

"I agree with this very much. Even if the strength is strong, it needs the smallest price." Seeing that Archduke Ferdinand is relatively straightforward, Prime Minister Alois also said it very directly.

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister is very correct. Coordinating the two sides can reduce a lot of unnecessary troubles. Why not do it in our favor." Archduke Ferdinand also agreed and said that after a good conversation, the two sides reached an agreement. Bulgaria became independent first, and Austria-Hungary announced the merger of Bosnia and Herzegovina two days later. Allows both parties to reduce external pressure.

After the agreement was reached, Archduke Ferdenand returned to Sofia and told the Prime Minister and a group of people about it. This encouraged the Bulgarian government to discuss preparations for independence.

On September 22 in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, Archduke Ferdenand officially announced at the National Assembly that Bulgaria was independent from the Ottoman Empire. On the same day he officially declared Bulgaria a kingdom, and he would become the new king of the kingdom.

After announcing the independence to the people, Archduke Ferdenand found Prime Minister Alexander Malinov and told him an idea of ​​his own. "I want to crown myself 'tsar', which is my tribute to the early rulers of Bulgaria."

After listening, the Prime Minister thought for a while and said. "This decision is a good idea, as long as we explain to Russia, I believe they will not refute us for a title."

Hearing the Prime Minister's analysis, Archduke Ferdenand said with satisfaction, "According to the agreement with Austria-Hungary, we will declare independence on October 5th. I want to send a message to the Church of the Forty Martyrs in Tarnovo for the sake of The independent martyrs made the announcement."

"This is a wise decision, which can make the people of the kingdom burst out with fervent patriotism." Prime Minister Alexander Malinov admired the king's decision. This will make the nation love their king even more, and for King Ferdinand, being loved will secure his place in Bulgaria.

In St. Petersburg, Nicholas II looked at the telegram, which was brought to him by Chancellor Stolypin. On it was written that Bulgaria would become an independent kingdom, and that it hoped that the king would be crowned tsar.

"We should congratulate us on the news sent by Bulgaria. Now the relationship with Bulgaria must be strengthened. After all, if we do not agree, Austria-Hungary will not miss this opportunity." Seeing Nicholas II watching the telegram silently, Stolypin quickly explained the impact on Russia.

After all, the title of tsar is now known to be unique to Russia. Suddenly, there is a tsar in name, which can make Nicholas II happy. Soon Russia sent a telegram congratulating Bulgaria on independence to Sofia, which also understood King Ferdinand's coronation as a 'tsar'.

On October 5th, in the Church of St. Forty Martyrs in Tarnovo, King Ferdinand was officially crowned as 'tsar' and proclaimed the Bulgarian Declaration of Independence.