Background:
In December 1876 and January 1877, the Great Powers (UK, Russia, France, A-H, Germany and Italy) held the Constantinople Conference as an attempt to create political reforms in Ottoman Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian people were to enjoy substantial autonomy in two new Ottoman Provinces, the Western with its capital in Sofia, the Eastern with its capital in Tarnovo.
Sultan Abdul Hamid II refused to accept the ultimative proposal and the 1877-1878 Russo-Turkish War started.
Russia won and dictated a peace (the Treaty of San Stefano) that created a Bulgarian superstate under Russian control.
At the 1878 Congress of Berlin, Russia was forced to back down. OTL a much smaller Bulgaria was created, with an autonomous province of Eastern Rumelia as second Bulgarian polity.
But WI the Congress was determined to go back to the results of the Constantinople conference? Here are the borders (from Bulgarian wikipedia):
I assume that to honor the Russiabn military successes and sacrifices, Russia would receive controlling influence in the Eastern Province. The same time, for obvious geographical reasons, Austria-Hungary would receive controlling influence over the new province of Bosnia.
Western Bulgaria will remain under controlling influence of the Ottoman sultan.
What now? Serbia is neatly contained, and that will result in future unrest. If the OTL history of Bulgaria is a guide, than Russia will fumble its influence *and* the Bulgarian desire for reunification will be satisfied soon-ish. This will result is a Greater Bulgaria outside Russian control.
Meanwhile, once the Ottomans lose their remaining European possessions, the western border of Bulgaria really suggests a future Albania that includes the Kosovo.
Any comments or further ideas?
In December 1876 and January 1877, the Great Powers (UK, Russia, France, A-H, Germany and Italy) held the Constantinople Conference as an attempt to create political reforms in Ottoman Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian people were to enjoy substantial autonomy in two new Ottoman Provinces, the Western with its capital in Sofia, the Eastern with its capital in Tarnovo.
Sultan Abdul Hamid II refused to accept the ultimative proposal and the 1877-1878 Russo-Turkish War started.
Russia won and dictated a peace (the Treaty of San Stefano) that created a Bulgarian superstate under Russian control.
At the 1878 Congress of Berlin, Russia was forced to back down. OTL a much smaller Bulgaria was created, with an autonomous province of Eastern Rumelia as second Bulgarian polity.
But WI the Congress was determined to go back to the results of the Constantinople conference? Here are the borders (from Bulgarian wikipedia):
I assume that to honor the Russiabn military successes and sacrifices, Russia would receive controlling influence in the Eastern Province. The same time, for obvious geographical reasons, Austria-Hungary would receive controlling influence over the new province of Bosnia.
Western Bulgaria will remain under controlling influence of the Ottoman sultan.
What now? Serbia is neatly contained, and that will result in future unrest. If the OTL history of Bulgaria is a guide, than Russia will fumble its influence *and* the Bulgarian desire for reunification will be satisfied soon-ish. This will result is a Greater Bulgaria outside Russian control.
Meanwhile, once the Ottomans lose their remaining European possessions, the western border of Bulgaria really suggests a future Albania that includes the Kosovo.
Any comments or further ideas?