The events in the Balkans were in a way proxy events for their supporters, Russia and Austria-Hungary, and effectively dissolved (1887) the fragile alliance between Germany, Austria and Russia known as the
League of Three Emperors (
Dreikaiserabkommen) 1873–1878, which had been revived on June 18, 1881. The League provided for mutual aid in the event of an attack on a member and benign neutrality in the event of one of them being involved in a conflict outside the League. Its terms also provided for consultation on any proposed Balkan operations, which offered Germany the neutrality of Russia, in the event of a further war against France, and Russia the neutrality of Germany and Austria-Hungary, in the event of war against Britain or the Ottomans. The protocol was secret and was renewed in 1884. It stated in part: „
4. Die drei Mächte werden sich der etwaigen Vereinigung Bulgariens und Ostrumeliens in den Gebietsgrenzen, die durch den Berliner Vertrag angewiesen sind, nicht widersetzen, wenn diese Frage sich durch die Macht der Dinge erheben sollte.“ (4. The three powers will not oppose the eventual unification of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia within the limits set by the
Treaty of Berlin, should this eventuality occur by force of circumstances.) When that eventually occurred, the situation was more complicated.
Prince Alexander of Battenberg had been elected in 1879 as Prince of Bulgaria at the request of his uncle, Russian Tsar Alexander II. Prince Alexander found himself obliged to support the nationalist movement for
re-unification despite the advice of the Russian ministers and advisers but with the apparent support of British Prime Minister
Gladstone, who opposed Russia's position. Russia then withdrew its ministers and advisers from Bulgaria. Another complication was the role of
King Milan of Serbia, an ally of Austria, another opponent of Russia in the Balkans. Milan sought territorial compensation from Bulgaria. When he did not receive it, he declared
war in 1885. Defeated, Serbia saw Bulgarian troops reach
Belgrade before Austria intervened. The
Treaty of Bucharest in March 1886 essentially restored the status quo. The Great Powers and the
Porte finally accepted the Unification of Bulgaria in the 1886
Tophane Agreement. Russia, however, was not satisfied and Russian Tsar
Alexander III refused to recognise Prince Alexander as ruler of the newly-enlarged Bulgaria. Subsequently, a Russian-backed coup, involving a group pro-Russian officers, forced Prince Alexander to abdicate on 9 August 1886. He was then exiled to Russia. In a countercoup, Prince Alexander I returned to the Bulgarian throne, and Russia then broke off diplomatic relations with Bulgaria. The Great Powers, which were in a constant fear of war between them, continued with a series of complicated agreements and alliances, many of which were secret, as deterrents to one another's actions, largely at the behest of
Bismarck. These included the
Triple Alliance, which replaced the Dual Alliance in 1882 by including Italy; two
Mediterranean Agreements (
Mittelmeerentente) in 1887 and the
Reinsurance Treaty (1887). Finally, the publication of the terms of the 1879 treaty persuaded Russia that further action was not in its interests and so it withdrew from involvement in Bulgaria, and the fear of war dissipated. Bismarck's strategy was arcane but largely successful in averting war during his time in office (1871–1890). Unfortunately, his arrangements were heavily dependent on himself and so failed to provide long-term solutions. == Chronology of the Bulgarian Crisis ==