Congress of Berlin
Reich Chancellery, Wilhelmstrasse, Berlin, Germany
What happened
Leaders of the great powers met under Otto von Bismarck, including Britain's Benjamin Disraeli, Russia's Prince Gorchakov and Austria-Hungary's Count Andrássy. The other powers would not accept the big Bulgaria created at San Stefano. At Bismarck's Chancellery in Berlin they redrew the map of the Balkans. Romania, Serbia and Montenegro became fully independent, Bulgaria was made smaller, Austria-Hungary was allowed to run Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Britain took Cyprus.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It prevented a war between the great powers. But it left many Balkan peoples unhappy and deepened rivalries.
What came next
Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia in 1908. The Balkan Wars of 1912–1913 and then World War I followed.
Did you know?
Bulgaria itself was not allowed to take part in the talks that decided its future.
Timeline
- 3 March 1878Treaty of San Stefano.
- 13 June 1878The Congress of Berlin opens.
- 13 July 1878The Treaty of Berlin is signed.
- 1908Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia.