Treaty of San Stefano

Quick Facts: Who was Treaty of San Stefano?

Subject:

Treaty of San Stefano

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The 1878 treaty ending the Russo-Turkish War, establishing autonomous Bulgaria.

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Origins & Early Life

The 1878 Treaty of San Stefano (Russian: Сан-Стефанский мир; Peace of San-Stefano, Сан-Стефанский мирный договор; Peace treaty of San-Stefano, Turkish: Ayastefanos Muahedesi or Ayastefanos Antlaşması) was a treaty between the Russian and Ottoman empires at the conclusion of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. It was signed at San Stefano, then a village west of Constantinople (present-day Istanbul), on 3 March [O.S. 19 February] 1878 by Count Nicholas Pavlovich Ignatiev and Aleksandr Nelidov on behalf of the Russian Empire and by Foreign Minister Saffet Pasha and Ambassador to Germany Sadullah Pasha on behalf of the Ottoman Empire.

Career & Major Achievements

According to the official Russian position, by signing the treaty, Russia had never intended anything more than a temporary rough draft, so as to enable a final settlement with the other Great Powers. The treaty provided for the establishment of an autonomous Principality of Bulgaria following almost 500 years of Ottoman rule in the Bulgarian lands.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Bulgarians celebrate the day the treaty was signed, 3 March [O.S. 19 February] 1878, as Liberation Day.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1878: 1878 Milestone — The 1878 Treaty of San Stefano (Russian: Сан-Стефанский мир; Peace of San-Stefano, Сан-Стефанский мирный договор; Peace treaty of San-Stefano, Turkish: Ayastefanos Muahedesi or Ayastefanos Antlaşması) was a treaty between the Russian and Ottoman empires at the conclusion of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Treaty of San Stefano

True or False: “The Treaty of San Stefano immediately granted full, sovereign independence to all Balkan nations, including Greece and Serbia, without any subsequent international revision.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The treaty primarily established an autonomous Principality of Bulgaria and did not grant full sovereignty to all Balkan nations; furthermore, its terms were significantly revised by the Great Powers at the Congress of Berlin.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• 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.
• 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.

Frequently Asked Questions about Treaty of San Stefano