Second Balkan War

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Second Balkan War

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The Second Balkan War (1913) was a conflict over Macedonia among former allies.

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Origins & Early Life

The Second Balkan War (29 June – 10 August 1913) was a conflict fought between the Tsardom of Bulgaria and its former Balkan League allies, Serbia, Montenegro and Greece, who were later joined by Romania and the Ottoman Empire. The war began when Bulgaria, unhappy with the division of territory in Macedonia after the First Balkan War, launched attacks on Serbian and Greek forces, who repelled the offensive and pushed into Bulgarian territory. With most of Bulgaria's army committed in the south, Romania intervened from the north. The Ottoman Empire also took advantage of the situation to recover territories lost the previous year. As Bulgaria suffered military setbacks on multiple fronts and Romanian forces advanced towards its capital, Sofia, it requested an armistice.

Career & Major Achievements

The war ended with the Treaty of Bucharest, which compelled Bulgaria to cede significant territory: Southern Dobruja to Romania, parts of Macedonia to Serbia and Greece, and Adrianople (Edirne) to the Ottoman Empire under the separate Treaty of Constantinople. The war altered the political balance in the Balkans and intensified regional tensions. Serbia expanded its territory and influence, heightening its rivalry with Austria-Hungary. Bulgaria, weakened by defeat and territorial losses, would later align with the Central Powers in the First World War. During the First Balkan War, which began in October 1912, the Balkan League (Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro and Greece) succeeded in driving out the Ottoman Empire from its European provinces (Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Sandžak and Thrace), leaving the Ottomans with only East Thrace.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Treaty of London, signed on 30 May 1913, which ended the war, acknowledged the Balkan states' gains west of the Enos–Midia line, drawn from Midia (Kıyıköy) on the Black Sea coast to Enos (Enez) on the Aegean Sea coast, on an uti possidetis basis, and created an independent Albania. However, the relations between the victorious Balkan allies quickly soured over the division of the land, specifically in Macedonia. During the pre-war negotiations that resulted in the Balkan League's establishment, a secret agreement on 13 March 1912 was signed by Serbia and Bulgaria, which determined their future boundaries, effectively sharing northern Macedonia. In case of a post-war disagreement, the area to the north of the Kriva Palanka–Ohrid line (with both cities going to Bulgaria) had been designated as a "disputed zone" under Russian arbitration, with the area to the south of this line assigned to Bulgaria. During the war, the Serbian army succeeded in capturing lands in Macedonia, which were promised to Bulgaria according to the March 1912 treaty, and started to harass the Bulgarian population in the region.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1912: 1912 Milestone — During the First Balkan War, which began in October 1912, the Balkan League (Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro and Greece) succeeded in driving out the Ottoman Empire from its European provinces (Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Sandžak and Thrace), leaving the Ottomans with only East Thrace.
2. 1913: 1913 Milestone — The Second Balkan War (29 June – 10 August 1913) was a conflict fought between the Tsardom of Bulgaria and its former Balkan League allies, Serbia, Montenegro and Greece, who were later joined by Romania and the Ottoman Empire.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Second Balkan War

True or False: “The Treaty of London, which ended the First Balkan War, established an independent Albania immediately.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While the treaty acknowledged gains and created an independent Albania, the text implies this was part of a broader settlement following the war's conclusion.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abraham González (governor) — Historical peer (Died in 1913) (1913): Governor of Chihuahua and key Maderista leader during the Mexican Revolution.
• Ahmad Tajuddin — Historical peer (Born in 1913) (1913): The 27th Sultan of Brunei, advocating for political autonomy.
• A. E. van Vogt — Historical peer (Born in 1912) (1912): Influential Canadian-American science fiction writer known for bizarre narratives.
• Abubakar Tafawa Balewa — Historical peer (Born in 1912) (1912): First and only Prime Minister of Nigeria, a dominant figure in the nation's independence.

Frequently Asked Questions about Second Balkan War