Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78
The Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 had its origins in the Russian goal of gaining access to the Mediterranean Sea and dominating Constantinople (Istanbul) and the adjacent Turkish Straits. However, due to bad experience during the Crimean War, Russian diplomacy advertised the war as an effort of liberating the Slav peoples of the Balkan Peninsula of south-eastern Europe from the Turkish-ruled Ottoman Empire.An anti-Ottoman uprising occurred in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the summer of 1875. The main reason for this revolt was the heavy tax burden imposed by financially defunct Ottoman administration. Despite some relaxation of taxes, the uprising continued well over the end of 1875 and eventually triggered the Bulgarian April uprising of 1876. Tension in Bosnia and Russian support encouraged the principalities of Serbia and Montenegro's declaration of war against their nominal Ottoman overlord early in July 1876. The war raised imperial appetite of superpowers Russia and Austria, who made secret agreement in July 1876 on partitioning the Balkan peninsular depending on the outcome.
In August 1876 Serb forces were defeated by the Turkish army, which was the worst-case scenario for Russians and Austrians as they couldn't claim any Ottoman possessions. However the atrocities committed against the civilian Slav population during the war and during the Bulgarian April uprising had a wide-spread response throughout Europe. As a result the Constantinople Conference was held in December 1876 in Constantinople (Istanbul). At this conference, at which Turkey was not represented, superpowers discussed the boundaries of one or more future autonomous Bulgarian provinces within the Ottoman Empire.
The Conference was interrupted by the Turkish foreign minister, who informed the delegates that Turkey had approved a new constitution, which guaranteed rights and freedoms of all ethnic minorities and Bulgarians would enjoy equal rights with all Ottoman citizens. Despite that, Russia remained hostile towards the Ottoman Empire, speculating that the constitution was only a partial solution. Through diplomatic negotiations Russians ensured the inaction of Austria in future military operations. The remaining superpowers were paralyzed by strong civil support for the idea of Bulgarian independence, by their disbelief in the capabilities of the Russian army, and by other internal problems.
Russia declared war on Turkey on 24 April 1877.
The ensuing campaign ended in resounding victory for the Russian army with a strong ethnically Finnish contingent and supported by a Romanian corps and volunteer brigades from the local Bulgarian population. Among the highlights of the campaign were the siege (July-December 1877) and subsequent surrender of the Turkish troops at Pleven and the battles at the Stara Planina mountain passes waged, especially at Shipka, to prevent reinforcements from reaching Pleven.
In February 1878 the Russian army had almost reached Istanbul, but scared the city might fall, the British sent a fleet of ships. Under negotiating "help" from that fleet and the fact that the Russians had suffered such enormous losses (by some estimates about 200,000 men) Russia settled for the Treaty of San Stefano (March 3), which was later (July 13) succeeded by the Treaty of Berlin, 1878. On their return home; in his gratitude at the Finnish battallion which punched above its weight, the Tsar elevated the battallion to the name Old Guard Battallion, which they still hold.