Treaty of San Stefano
Yeşilköy (San Stefano), Istanbul, Turkey
What happened
Count Nikolay Ignatiev for Russia and Saffet Pasha and Sadullah Pasha for the Ottoman Empire signed the treaty. Russia had defeated the Ottomans and its army had reached the edge of Constantinople. At the village of San Stefano, the Ottomans agreed to create a large self-governing Bulgaria. Serbia, Montenegro and Romania also gained land or independence.
Why it matters
Why it matters: Bulgarians celebrate 3 March, the day it was signed, as Liberation Day. It marked the end of almost 500 years of Ottoman rule there.
What came next
Other powers were alarmed by the large Bulgaria, so the treaty was never carried out. It was replaced a few months later by the Treaty of Berlin.
Did you know?
Russia later said the treaty had only ever been 'a temporary rough draft'.
Timeline
- 3 March 1878The Treaty of San Stefano is signed.
- 13 July 1878The Treaty of Berlin replaces it.