X-Nico

3 unusual facts about Congress of Berlin


Congress of Berlin

The Congress of Berlin returned territories to the Ottoman Empire that the previous treaty had given to the Principality of Bulgaria, most notably Macedonia, thus setting up a strong revanchist demand in Bulgaria that in 1912 led to the First Balkan War.

On 4 June, before the Congress opened on 13 June, Prime Minister Lord Beaconsfield had already concluded a secret alliance with the Ottomans against Russia, whereby Britain was allowed to occupy the strategically placed island of Cyprus.

Montenegro obtained Nikšić, Podgorica, Bar, and Plav-Gusinje The Turkish government, or Porte, agreed to obey the specifications contained in the Organic Law of 1868, and to guarantee the civil rights of non-Muslim subjects.


Baca Kurti Gjokaj

When Prince Nicholas I of Montenegro and his army stepped foot on the Albanian land (which had been given to him by the Congress of Berlin) Baca Kurti heard gunshots from an extreme point in Malësia, and he and other men of Malësia organized a resistance against the Principality of Montenegro.

He rebelled against the unjustified decision of the Congress of Berlin to hand over the northern Albanian regions of Hoti, Gruda, Ulcinj, Trieshi, Plav-Gusinje etc. to Montenegro.

Partition of Albania

The Congress of Berlin ceded to Montenegro the cities of Bar and Podgorica and areas around the mountain villages of Gusinje and Plav, which Albanian leaders considered Albanian territory,and viewed this as a partition of Albanian-inhabited territories.


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