In 1876, the followers of the liberal movement " Young Turks " leaded
by the valija Mitat-pasha, forced the sultan Abdul Azis to abdicate.
He was replaced by Murat IV, who on the other hand was replaced by Abdul
Ahmed II (1876-1909). In 1877, Russia, together with Serbia and Monte
Negro, announced a war against Turkey. A two-house Assembly was conducted
in Turkey in 1877. Only 7, of total 32 senators, were not Moslems, among
whom, one was Serb from Prishtina and one was Macedonian from Struga
(Georgi Chakarov). Russia and Turkey made a pact for peace in San Stefano
on March 3,1878, with which independent countries were proclaimed. Serbia,
Monte Negro and Romania were territorially expended, Bosnia and Herzegovina
was subjected to reforms and an Organski constitution was conducted
for Crete and Thesalia. This pact for peace proposed establishment of
a new vassal autonomous Bulgarian state with its own army and Government.
The new Bulgaria, in the way determined in the San Stefano peace pact,
besides the territories of the present day Bulgaria, included the District
of Vranje, Shar Planina, Korab, Crn Drim, up to the mountain Gramos
with the Lake of Ohrid and the Lake of Prespa and Korcha. England and
Austro-Hungary were against that, because with such a division the Russian
influence would spread on the Balkan and the Kingdom of Greece and the
principality of Serbia were hurt. As a result of that, they came to
an open conflict about the territorial division of Macedonia. A radical
revision of the San Stefano peace was made at the Berlin Congress held
from June 13 to July 13, l878. Serbia, Monte Negro and Romania were
proclaimed as fully independent countries and Austro-Hungary occupied
Bosnia and Herzegovina. An autonomous vassal principality of Bulgaria
was formed from Danube to Stara Planina and on the south Eastern Romelia
was formed. The art.23 of the Berlin peace pact proposed reforms in
Macedonia and the other countries that were left under the Turkish jurisdiction.
The Kresnen Uprising commenced
on October 17, l878 with the attack of 400 uprisers on the Turkish garnison
in the v.of Kresna.
The Russian kozak, ataman Adam Kalmikov was the leader and Dimitar
Pop Georgiev was chosen to be the chief of the Headquarters. The adeological
leader was the mitropolitan of Ohrid, Natanail, born in the v.of Kuchevishte,
in the district of Skopje. After the first successes and the conquering
of 35 villages along the r.Struma in the melnichka kaza, a cleavage
appeared among the leaders of the Uprising. Husein beg from Petrich
with 8.000 soldiers and bashibozuk routed the center of the Uprising
and disbanded the bands.
