Constantinople Conference

The Conference of Constantinople Opel was a conference of representatives of the major European powers, the Opel in Constantinople (now Istanbul), was held on 12 December 1876 to January 20, 1877, the capital of the Ottoman Empire at the insistence of Great Britain.

Expiration

At the conference a plan for greater autonomy for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria should be worked out within the Ottoman Empire, which should prevent a possible war between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. At the conference, the boundaries of a Bulgarian political structure were also the first time in the modern era described which, although geared towards the expansion of the sphere of influence of the Bulgarian Exarchate, but should be less expansively. This meridional Bulgaria should be divided into two autonomous ( formally continue the Ottoman Sultan Subordinate ) provinces where Austria - Hungary and the Russian Empire should help each organize the political administration.

Eastern Bulgaria should be Russian zone of influence

However, the ambassador met did not find any solution. The aimed primarily at strengthening foreign influence reform proposals were rejected by the Ottoman notables with regard to the internal reforms already initiated by the Ottoman constitution also introduced in December 1876. The conference also failed to the contrasting positions of Russia and Great Britain on the one hand and Austria - Hungary and Germany on the other.

Shortly afterwards, the Russian - Ottoman war broke out, which ended with the Treaty of San Stefano. The end of the Balkan crisis in the summer of 1878 finally brought the Berlin Congress.

Representative

  • France: Comte Jean -Baptiste Alexandre de Damaze Chaudordy
  • Austria - Hungary: Count Franz von Zichy, Ambassador in Constantinople Opel
  • Russia: Count Nikolai Pavlovich Ignatiev, Ambassador in Constantinople Opel
  • Italy: Conde de Corti. Ambassador in Constantinople Opel.
  • Great Britain: Robert Gascoyne - Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, Secretary of State for India and Henry Elliot, the British ambassador in Constantinople Opel
  • German Empire: Baron Karl von Werther
  • Turkey: Grand Vizier Midhat Pasha, Saffet Pasha ( later grand vizier ) and Edhem Pasha.

Map

  • Bulgaria within the borders after the Treaties of Constantinople Opel, San - Stephano, Berlin, London, Bucharest and Neuilly. Map in scale 1:1600000.
Robert William Seton-Watson
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