Montenegrin–Ottoman War (1876–78)

Montenegrin–Ottoman War of 1876–1878
Part of Great Eastern Crisis (1875–78)
The Wounded Montenegrin, painted a few years after the end of the Montenegrin–Ottoman War, is one of the most well-known works of Paja Jovanović.
Date 18 June 1876 – 19 February 1878 Location Montenegro and Herzegovina (Ottoman Empire) Result Montenegrin victory; Treaty of San Stefano; Treaty of Berlin Territorial changes Montenegro gains the towns of Nikšić, Kolašin, Spuž, Podgorica, Žabljak, Bar, as well as access to the sea. Montenegro's territory increases from 4,405 km² to 9,475 km² De facto independence of Montenegro
Belligerents
Montenegro	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Prince Nicholas I Marko Miljanov Popović Luka Filipov Bajo Bošković Peko Pavlović Ilija Plamenac	Ahmed Muhtar Pasha Osman Pasha Selim Pasha
Casualties and losses
Around 4000-7000	Around 15000-60000

The Montenegrin–Ottoman War (Montenegrin: Црногорско-турски рат/Crnogorsko-turski rat, "Montenegrin-Turkish War"), also known in Montenegro as "Great War" (Velji rat), was fought between the Principality of Montenegro and the Ottoman Empire between 1876 and 1878. The war ended with Montenegrin victory. Six major and 27 smaller battles were fought, among which was the crucial Battle of Vučji Do.

A rebellion in nearby Herzegovina sparked a series of rebellions and uprisings against the Ottomans in Europe. Montenegro and Serbia agreed to declare a war on Turkey on 18 June 1876. The Montenegrins allied themselves with Herzegovians. One battle that was crucial to Montenegro's victory in the war was the Battle of Vučji Do. In 1877, Montenegrins fought heavy battles along the borders of Herzegovina and Albania. Prince Nicholas took the initiative and counterattacked the Turkish forces that were coming from the north, south and west. He conquered Nikšić (24 September 1877), Bar (10 January 1878), Ulcinj (20 January 1878), Grmožur (26 January 1878) and Vranjina and Lesendro (30 January 1878)

The war ended when the Ottomans signed a truce with the Montenegrins at Edirne on 13 January 1878. The advancement of Russian forces toward Turkey forced Turkey to sign a peace treaty on 3 March 1878, recognising the independence of Montenegro, as well as Romania and Serbia, and also increased Montenegro's territory from 4,405 km² to 9,475 km². Montenegro also gained the towns of Nikšić, Kolašin, Spuž, Podgorica, Žabljak, Bar, as well as access to the sea.

Background

In October 1874, an influential Ottoman statesman, Jusuf-beg Krnjić, was murdered in Podgorica, which at the time was an Ottoman town near the border with Montenegro. He had most likely been killed by a close relative of Marko Miljanov, a Montenegrin general. In revenge, the Turks retaliated against the local population and merchants. This event is known as the "Podgorica slaughter" (Podgorički pokolj). It resulted in bad relations between Montenegro and the Ottoman Empire, which further deteriorated with the outbreak of the uprising in Herzegovina (1875). Montenegro provided the rebels with military and financial aid and represented their interests to the Porte. Montenegro requested that part of Herzegovina be handed over to the Montenegrins, but the Porte declined. Because of this, Montenegro declared war on 18 June 1876, immediately followed by its foremost ally, the Principality of Serbia.

1876

In the beginning of the war, when Miljanov arrived at Kuči, at the Ottoman frontier, the Kuči revolted and attacked the Turks.^[1] The Pasha filled Medun and other small forts, Fundina, Koći, Zatrijebač and Orahovo with soldiers.^[1]

The Piperi and Kuči tribes together attacked Koći, killing a small part, while they found Turks in tower houses whom they wanted to destroy with wooden cannons.^[2] An epic poem about the war tells how Abdi Pasha the Cherkessian with 20,000 soldiers of the sanjak of Scutari was sent by the sultan to attack the Kuči and Piperi.^[3] The poem tells how part of the army advanced on Koći and then fought in Zatrijebač and Fundina.^[3]

Battles

• Battle of Vučji Do (18 July 1876)
• Battle of Fundina (2 August 1876)
• Battle of Medun
• Battle of Trijebač
• Battle of Spuž
• Battle of Doljani

Aftermath

Plav and Gusinje

• Battle of Velika (1879)
• Battle of Novšiće (4 December 1879)
• Battle of Murino (1880)
• Battle of Velika (1880)

See also

• Montenegrin–Ottoman War (1852–53)
• Serbian–Ottoman War (1876–78)

References

Sources

• Владимир Ћоровић. "Пут на Берлински Конгрес". Историја Срба. 
• Спиридон Гопчевић, „Црногорско-турски рат 1876. до 1878. године". Београд 1963
• William James Stillman (1997). Hercegovački ustanak i Crnogorsko-turski rat: 1876-1878. Službeni list SRJ. ISBN 978-86-355-0370-7. 

Great Eastern Crisis (1875–78)
Wars and conflicts	Serb Herzegovina Uprising (1875–77) Montenegrin–Turkish War (1876–78) Serbian–Turkish War (1876–78) Kumanovo Uprising Bulgarian April Uprising Razlovtsi insurrection Kresna–Razlog Uprising Russo-Turkish War (1877–78) Romanian War of Independence Austro-Hungarian campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878 Greek Macedonian Revolution of 1878 Epirus Revolt of 1878 Cretan Revolt (1878)
International agreements	Berlin Memorandum Reichstadt Agreement Constantinople Conference Budapest Convention of 1877 Treaty of San Stefano Cyprus Convention Congress of Berlin and Treaty of Berlin (1878)
See also	Bulgarian Exarchate Deligrad Event Niš Committee First Constitutional Era (Ottoman Empire) Opalchentsi Topola Rebellion Armenian Question Provisional Russian Administration in Bulgaria British Cyprus League of Prizren Battles for Plav and Gusinje Pact of Halepa Dual Alliance (1879) Brsjak Revolt Austro–Serbian Alliance of 1881 French conquest of Tunisia Convention of Constantinople (1881) British Occupation of Egypt Marche slave Anna Karenina