Lyla Lindsey
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by a Bosnian Serb student in 1914 triggered a chain of events that led to World War I. This assassination resulted in a diplomatic crisis, with Austria-Hungary issuing an ultimatum to Serbia, which Serbia only partially accepted. This led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia, bringing Russia, Serbia's patron, into the conflict. Russia mobilized its army in support of Serbia, leading to Germany declaring war on Russia. The conflict then escalated, with Germany invading Belgium and Britain declaring war on Germany. The entry of these nations into the war was influenced by their alliances and imperial ambitions, as well as nationalism and military confidence. Russia's large army was ill-equipped and poorly led, and its economy suffered heavily during the war, leading to the February Revolution. Serbia was invaded and occupied by the Central Powers, but was eventually liberated near the war's end. Austria-Hungary played a passive diplomatic role in the war, dominated by Germany, and suffered heavy losses, particularly against Russia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Serbian refugees in Russia after the Ottoman invasion in the 14th century | Lazar the Serb, Pachomius the Serb, Elena Glinskaya (mother of Russian emperor Ivan the Terrible) |
| Serbian settlement in Russia's military frontier region of New Serbia and Slavo-Serbia | Initiated by Austrian Colonel Ivan Horvat in the 1750s |
| Serbian client state | Secret convention between Serbia and Austria-Hungary in June 1881 |
| Serbian aspirations | Creating a South Slavic state (Yugoslavism) |
| Serbian-Austrian conflicts | 1901 massacres of Serbs in Kosovo, Serbian-Bulgarian War (1885), Annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary (1908), Bosnian Crisis (1908-1909), Serbian-Albanian conflicts |
| Serbian-Russian relations | Russia supported Serbia in the economic Pig War (1906-1908), Russia re-oriented Serbia towards itself under the regime of prime minister Nikola Pašić and Peter I |
| Serbian-Austrian relations | Austria-Hungary supported the Albanians in the Kosovo conflict, Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908 |
| Serbian-Russian conflicts | Russia did not interfere in the Bosnian Crisis |
| Serbian-Austrian tensions | Serbian aspirations for a South Slavic state threatened the existence of the Austro-Hungarian empire |
| Serbian-Russian similarities | Common culture, Pan-Slavism |
| Serbian-Austrian differences | Austria-Hungary opposed the creation of a South Slavic state |
| Serbian-Russian relations during World War I | Russia supported Serbia during World War I, Russia ordered a secret partial mobilization of its armed forces to support Serbia |
| Serbian-Austrian relations during World War I | Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia during the July Crisis |
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What You'll Learn
Russia's defence of Serbia
Russia and Serbia have shared strong bilateral foreign relations for centuries. Both countries are predominantly Slavic and Eastern Orthodox Christian and thus share a notable cultural heritage. The countries first established official diplomatic relations in 1816 as the Russian Empire and the Principality of Serbia.
In the 14th century, Serbian refugees found refuge in Russia following the Ottoman invasion of Serbia. In the 1750s, a vast number of Orthodox Serbs, mostly from territories controlled by the Habsburg monarchy, settled in Russia's military frontier region of New Serbia. After the Ottoman Empire allied with Napoleon in 1806 and was attacked by Russia and Britain, Konstantin Rodofinikin proposed that Serbia become a protectorate of the Russian Empire. In 1812, the First Serbian Uprising was suppressed, and Serbia was put under Russian protection.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, tensions between Serbia and Austria-Hungary grew, and Russia became increasingly disgruntled with Bulgaria, where rulers pursued policies that Russia opposed. In 1889, Prince Nikola I of Montenegro was awarded the Russian Empire's highest decoration by Alexander III. In 1906, Russia supported Serbia in the economic Pig War with Austria-Hungary. In 1908, Austria-Hungary annexed the former Ottoman province of Bosnia and Herzegovina, leading to the formation of the Russian-backed Balkan League, which aimed to prevent further Austrian expansion. In 1912, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece seized most of the remaining Ottoman territories in Europe, setting the stage for renewed attempts to achieve national goals.
In May 1914, Serbian politics were polarized between two factions, one headed by Prime Minister Nikola Pašić and the other by Colonel Dragutin Dimitrijević. Due to Dimitrijević's intrigues, Peter I dismissed Pašić's government, but the Russian Minister in Belgrade intervened to have Pašić's government restored. Following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, by Bosnian Serbs in June 1914, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia during the July Crisis, expecting it to be rejected and thus leading to war. Austria-Hungary considered Serbia deserving of punishment for the assassination. Russia ordered a secret partial mobilization of its armed forces, increasing Serbia's willingness to defy the threat of an Austro-Hungarian attack. On July 30, 1914, Tsar Nicholas II ordered the mobilization of Russian forces to deter Austria-Hungary from invading Serbia. This mobilization was seen as a critical decision in the July Crisis, leading to Germany's declaration of war on Russia on August 1, 1914.
In recent years, Serbia has considered allowing a Russian Defense Ministry presence in the country, which could strain its relations with the West. Serbia's military mainly uses ex-Soviet weapons technology and has procured MiG-29 fighter jets, Mi-35 helicopter gunships, T-72 tanks, and armored personnel carriers from Russia. The agreement would give Russian officials the right to visit Serbian divisions that use Russian weapons and military equipment, with prior notice and consent.
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Austria-Hungary's ultimatum to Serbia
On 28 June 1914, Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated by a young Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Nearly one month later, on 23 July 1914, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia. The ultimatum was delivered by Baron Giesl von Gieslingen, the ambassador of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to Serbia, to the Serbian foreign ministry.
The ultimatum was designed to be rejected, with harsh demands that included:
- A condemnation of propaganda against Austria-Hungary
- The dissolution of certain societies
- The suppression of publications inciting hatred towards the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
- The dismissal of certain Serbian officials at Austria-Hungary's discretion
- The participation of Austrian officials in investigations on Serbian soil
- The prosecution of those involved in the assassination
Serbia was given 48 hours to respond to the ultimatum. On 25 July, Serbia accepted most of the demands, but crucially refused to allow Austrian officials to participate in investigations on Serbian territory, citing the infringement of its state sovereignty. This response effectively ended the possibility of a diplomatic solution.
While Serbia appealed to Russia for support, Germany worked to contain the fallout of the ultimatum and ensure British neutrality. Russia, in turn, ordered a secret partial mobilisation of its armed forces, increasing the likelihood of a broader conflict. The ultimatum and its aftermath thus escalated tensions and contributed to the outbreak of World War I.
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Russia's expansionist aspirations
Historically, Russia has sought to establish itself as the protector of the Orthodox Balkan Slavs, including the Serbs, who found refuge in Russia after the Ottoman invasion of Serbia in the 14th century. This led to conflicts with Austria-Hungary, which sought to integrate Serbia into its sphere of influence and prevent the emergence of a large Slavic state in the region. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Serbia, backed by Russia, clashed with Austria-Hungary over territories in the Balkans, particularly Bosnia and Herzegovina, which Austria-Hungary annexed in 1908. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Bosnian Serb in 1914 further escalated tensions, leading to the July Crisis and ultimately contributing to the outbreak of World War I.
In more recent times, Russia has continued to play a leading role in the Balkans, leveraging ethnic and religious fault lines to undermine the region's integration with the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has, however, led some Balkan governments to distance themselves from Moscow, and the EU has imposed import restrictions on Russian oil. While Russia's influence in the Balkans may be waning, the region remains a strategic priority for Russia in its aspirations to project power on the world stage and assert itself as a key player in European and international affairs.
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Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary in 1908 was a significant event that had important implications for the region and beyond. It marked a shift in the balance of power in the Balkans and set in motion a series of events that would contribute to the outbreak of World War I.
The roots of the annexation can be traced back to the mid-1870s when violent rebellions against Ottoman rule in the Balkans were met with repressive responses from the Ottoman Empire. This led to the intervention of other powers, including Russia and Austria-Hungary, which sought to advance their own interests in the region. In the Budapest Conventions of 1877, Russia and Austria-Hungary agreed that the latter would have control over Bosnia-Herzegovina in exchange for its neutrality in the pending war with the Ottoman Empire. This agreement was further solidified in the Treaty of Berlin of 1878, which gave Austria-Hungary the right to occupy and administer Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the provinces officially remained under the sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire.
However, over time, tensions between Serbia and Austria-Hungary grew. Serbia aspired to create a South Slavic state, which conflicted with Austria-Hungary's efforts to maintain its multi-national empire. Additionally, Serbia's close ethnic and geographic ties with Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as its pan-Slavic ambitions, fueled its interest in the region. In 1903, the pro-Russian Karađorđević dynasty came to power in Serbia, further shifting the country's orientation towards Russia.
In the lead-up to the annexation, Austria-Hungary's foreign minister, Alois Aehrenthal, formulated a plan to solidify his country's position towards Serbia through the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He found an opportunity in a proposal by the Russian Foreign Minister, Alexander Izvolsky, who suggested the annexation in exchange for better access to the Turkish Straits for Russian naval vessels. On October 6, 1908, Austria-Hungary announced its annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, sparking outrage in Serbia and among pan-Slavic nationalists throughout Europe.
The annexation had far-reaching consequences. It permanently damaged relations between Austria-Hungary and its neighbors, especially Serbia, Italy, and Russia. It also contributed to the formation of the Balkan League, backed by Russia, which aimed to prevent further Austrian expansion. The crisis over the annexation eventually ended with the amendment of the Treaty of Berlin in April 1909, reflecting the fait accompli of the annexation. However, the tensions and rivalries in the region persisted, setting the stage for the outbreak of World War I, in which the complex web of alliances and rivalries played a significant role.
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Russia's partial mobilisation
However, Russia's partial mobilisation also alarmed German leaders, who had not anticipated the prospect of fighting Russia before France. In response to the discovery of Russia's partial mobilisation, Germany announced a state of pre-mobilisation and demanded that Russia demobilise within twelve hours. When Russia did not comply, Germany declared war on 1 August 1914, with Austria-Hungary following suit on 6 August.
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Frequently asked questions
Serbia was the primary Russian ally in the region. It was also the catalyst of World War I, as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb, led to a series of events that started the war.
Austria-Hungary was one of the Central Powers in World War I. It was the first to declare war on Serbia on 28 July 1914, which escalated into World War I.
Russia was an ally of Serbia and entered the war to defend Serbia. It was also a patron of Serbia and had the largest army in the world at the time. Russia also had ambitions to expand its empire southward and to capture Constantinople.
Serbia suffered a huge number of casualties, both military and civilian, during the war. Original Serb sources claim that Serbia lost more than 1,200,000 inhabitants during the war, which represented more than 29% of its overall population and 60% of its male population.
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