Great Eastern Crisis

Quick Facts: Who was Great Eastern Crisis?

Subject:

Great Eastern Crisis

Known for:

A series of uprisings against Ottoman rule in Southeastern Europe, culminating in international intervention.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Great Eastern Crisis of 1875–1878 began in the Ottoman Empire's administrative territories in the Balkan Peninsula in 1875, with the outbreak of several uprisings and wars that resulted in the intervention of international powers, and was ended with the Treaty of Berlin in July 1878. The war is referred to differently in various languages of the peoples involved in it due to differing sociocultural backgrounds. In Serbo-Croatian and Turkish, the war is likewise referred to as Velika istočna kriza ("Great Eastern Crisis") and Şark Buhranı ("Eastern Crisis") respectively. However, the occasionally used Turkish name Ramazan Kararnamesi ("Decree of Ramadan") refers specifically to the sovereign default declared on 30 October 1875 in historiography while 93 Harbi ("War of 93") refers to the Russo-Turkish War (the year 1293 of the Islamic Rumi calendar corresponding to the year 1877 on the Gregorian calendar). The state of Ottoman administration in the Balkans continued to deteriorate throughout the 19th century, with the Sublime Porte occasionally losing control over whole provinces.

Career & Major Achievements

Reforms imposed by the European Great Powers did little to improve the conditions of the Christian population, while at the same time managing to dissatisfy a sizable portion of the Muslim population. The Ottoman province of Bosnia suffered at least two waves of rebellion by the local Muslim population, the most recent in 1850. The Austro-Hungarian Empire consolidated after the turmoil of the first half of the century and sought to reinvigorate its longstanding policy of expansion at the expense of the Ottoman Empire. Meanwhile, the nominally autonomous, de facto independent principalities of Serbia and Montenegro also sought to expand into regions inhabited by their compatriots. Nationalist and irredentist sentiments were strong and were encouraged by Russia and its agents.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

On 24 August 1854, during the Crimean War, the Ottoman Empire took its first foreign loans. The empire entered into subsequent loans, partly to finance the construction of railways and telegraph lines, and partly to finance deficits between revenues and the lavish expenditures of the imperial court, such as the construction of new palaces on the Bosphorus strait in Constantinople. Some financial commentators have noted that the terms of these loans were exceptionally favourable to the British and French banks (owned by the Rothschild family) which facilitated them, whereas others have noted that the terms reflected the imperial administration's willingness to constantly refinance its debts. A large amount of money was also spent for building new ships for the Ottoman Navy during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz (r. In 1875, the Ottoman Navy had 21 battleships and 173 warships of other types, which formed the third largest naval fleet in the world after those of the British and French navies.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1850: 1850 Milestone — The Ottoman province of Bosnia suffered at least two waves of rebellion by the local Muslim population, the most recent in 1850.
2. 1854: 1854 Milestone — On 24 August 1854, during the Crimean War, the Ottoman Empire took its first foreign loans.
3. 1875: 1875 Milestone — The Great Eastern Crisis of 1875–1878 began in the Ottoman Empire's administrative territories in the Balkan Peninsula in 1875, with the outbreak of several uprisings and wars that resulted in the intervention of international powers, and was ended with the Treaty of Berlin in July 1878.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Great Eastern Crisis

True or False: “The Great Eastern Crisis was solely caused by the internal mismanagement of the Ottoman court.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While internal issues were critical, external pressures from European powers and nationalist sentiments significantly fueled the crisis.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Albert I of Belgium — Historical peer (Born in 1875) (1875): King of the Belgians, known as the Knight King for his role in WWI.
• Albert Schweitzer — Historical peer (Born in 1875) (1875): German polymath renowned for theology, music, and 'Reverence for Life'
• Ahn Chang Ho — Historical peer (Born in 1878) (1878): Pioneering Korean independence activist and leader of the Korean-American community.
• Alfred Döblin — Historical peer (Born in 1878) (1878): Pioneering German modernist novelist, essayist, and doctor, famed for Berlin Alexanderplatz.
• Philip V of France — Historical peer (Born in 1293) (1293): King of France and Navarre, known for domestic reforms and claiming the regency.
• Philip VI of France — Historical peer (Born in 1293) (1293): First Valois King of France; reigned during the tumultuous Hundred Years' War.
• Adolphe Thiers — Historical peer (Died in 1877) (1877): Influential French statesman, historian, and President of the Third Republic.
• Aga Khan III — Historical peer (Born in 1877) (1877): 48th Imam of the Nizari Isma'ili community and founder of the All-India Muslim League.
• Adalbert Gyrowetz — Historical peer (Died in 1850) (1850): Czech-Austrian composer known for symphonies and string quartets.
• Adam Oehlenschläger — Historical peer (Died in 1850) (1850): Pioneering Danish Romantic poet and playwright who shaped national literature.

Frequently Asked Questions about Great Eastern Crisis