Montenegrin-Ottoman War (1876-78)
| Montenegrin–Ottoman War of 1876–1878 | |||||||||
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| 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. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Montenegro
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 Ottoman Empire
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Prince Nicholas I Marko Miljanov Popović Luka Filipov Bajo Bošković Peko Pavlović Ilija Plamenac |
Ahmed Muhtar Pasha Osman Pasha Selim Pasha |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Around ~6,000 | Around 40,000 | ||||||||
The Montenegrin–Ottoman War (Montenegrin: Црногорско-турски рат/Crnogorsko-turski rat, "Montenegrin-Turkish War"), also known in Montenegro as "Great War" (Velji rat/Вељи рат), 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.
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