Leslie Massey
The annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary in 1908 was a significant event that disrupted the fragile balance of power in the Balkans and enraged Serbia and pan-Slavic nationalists across Europe. While the provinces were formerly under the sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary had been administering them since 1878, when the great powers of Europe granted them the right to occupy these territories. The annexation was a unilateral action that sparked protests from all the Great Powers and Austria-Hungary's Balkan neighbours, particularly Serbia, which shared geographic and ethnic ties with Bosnia and Herzegovina. This event, known as the Bosnian Crisis, damaged relations between Austria-Hungary and its neighbours, especially Serbia, Italy, and Russia, and had long-term consequences in the region.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Conquest | 1878 (temporary occupation), officially annexed in 1908 |
| Treaty | Treaty of San Stefano, Treaty of Berlin, Three Emperors' League treaty |
| Annexation Announcement Date | 5 October 1908 |
| Annexation Announcement Date (Dual Monarchy) | 6 October 1908 |
| Annexation Announcement Date (Rescript) | 7 October 1908 |
| Occupying Forces | 18th Division of 9,000 men under General Stjepan Jovanović, VI, VII, XX, and XVIII infantry divisions, rear army |
| Total Strength | 82,113 troops, 13,313 horses, 112 cannons |
| Losses | 946 dead, 2,722 missing, 3,980 wounded (total of 5,200) |
| Resistance | Muslims and Orthodox Serbs |
| Religious Divisions | Muslims, Catholics, Orthodox Christians |
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What You'll Learn
The Budapest Conventions of 1877
In the Budapest Conventions, Russia agreed to the annexation of Bessarabia and gains in the Caucasus, while Austria-Hungary would gain Bosnia. Both powers also agreed not to create a large Slavic state in the Balkans (such as Greater Bulgaria or Greater Serbia), which would create problems with the Slavic nations within the monarchy. Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire in April 1877, and after initial setbacks, drove them back to within a few miles of Constantinople.
The war concluded with the 1878 Treaty of San Stefano, which imposed joint Russian-Austrian occupation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Sanjak of Novi Pazar. However, the terms of this treaty were quite different from the Budapest Conventions, leading to Austro-Hungarian insistence on a revision at the Congress of Berlin later that year. The Treaty of Berlin allowed for sole Austrian occupation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, but the issue was not fully resolved until the Three Emperors' League treaty of 1881, where Germany and Russia endorsed Austria's right to annex Bosnia-Herzegovina.
It is important to note that the Budapest Conventions were not formally written down or signed, leading to differing interpretations by the Austro-Hungarian and Russian parties. This lack of a clear record contributed to controversies over the extent of the agreed Austro-Hungarian annexation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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The Treaty of San Stefano
The treaty was provisional, requiring the endorsement of the European powers who formed the Concert of Europe. It was considered by some to be too favourable to Russia, potentially leaving the Ottoman Empire too weak. These concerns were addressed at the Congress of Berlin later in 1878, which led to the Treaty of Berlin, overturning the Treaty of San Stefano.
The treaty disappointed Austria-Hungary as it failed to expand its influence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It also faced opposition from the British Foreign Secretary, Robert Cecil, who objected to its favourable position towards Russia. The treaty's implications led to the formation of the League of Prizren and transformed Bulgarian nationalism, uniting the previously disunited movement.
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The Treaty of Berlin
One of the most notable results of the treaty was the official recognition of the newly independent states of Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro, which had already been acting independently for decades. Additionally, Russia regained access to the Black Sea region, which had previously been demilitarized under the Paris Peace Treaty of 1856.
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The Three Emperors' League treaty of 1881
The treaty was negotiated by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who took charge of German foreign policy from 1870 to 1890. Bismarck's goal was to maintain peace in Europe by balancing the powers of the three empires. He feared that a combination of Austria-Hungary, France, and Russia would threaten Germany. Therefore, he aimed to ally with two of these three powers. The first League of the Three Emperors existed from 1873 to 1878, and the second one was established in 1881.
The 1881 treaty provided that no territorial changes should occur in the Balkans without prior agreement. It also granted Austria-Hungary the right to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina when it wished. This right was also stated in the Treaty of Berlin (1878), which gave Austria-Hungary special rights in the Ottoman Empire's provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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The Bosnian Crisis
The immediate cause of the crisis was the decision by Austria-Hungary, in October 1908, to formally annex the territories of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which it had occupied for three decades. This unilateral action provoked strong international condemnation, particularly from the Kingdom of Serbia and the Russian Empire, both of which had their own interests and ambitions in the Balkan region. Serbia had long sought access to the Adriatic Sea, and the annexation effectively blocked its expansionist ambitions. Russia, a long-time ally of Serbia, was concerned about the expansion of Austro-Hungarian influence in the Balkans and the potential threat this posed to its dominance in the region.
International reaction to the annexation was mixed. Germany, a close ally of Austria-Hungary, offered its full support, seeing the move as a way to strengthen the Central Powers. This support was formalized in the German-Austrian pact of 1909, which further isolated Serbia and Russia diplomatically. Meanwhile, Britain and France, although stopping short of actively opposing the annexation, were concerned about the potential for an arms race and an escalation of tensions in the Balkans. This concern led to the signing of the Entente Cordiale between the two countries in 1904, which sought to improve relations and find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
The crisis ultimately contributed to a significant realignment of European powers, with the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary on one side and the Triple Entente of Russia, France, and Britain on the other. This division would become a key factor in the outbreak of World War I, as the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in Sarajevo, Bosnia, in 1914, provided the spark that ignited the complex network of alliances and rivalries that had developed during the preceding decades. The Bosnian Crisis thus played a crucial role in shaping the diplomatic landscape of early 20th-century Europe and setting the stage for the catastrophic conflict to come.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria-Hungary first occupied Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878, after the Congress of Berlin granted them the right to occupy and administer the provinces.
The Austro-Hungarian campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878 resulted in the occupation of the provinces by Austria-Hungary. The campaign lasted from 29 July to 20 October 1878 and faced resistance from local populations, including Muslims and Orthodox Serbs.
The annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary in 1908, known as the Bosnian Crisis, upset the fragile balance of power in the Balkans. It enraged Serbia and pan-Slavic nationalists, damaging relations between Austria-Hungary and its neighbours, particularly Serbia, Italy, and Russia.
