After the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1978 ended with a Russian victory, the Treaty of San Stefano was signed by Russia and the Ottoman Empire on 3 March 1878.
Under this, a large Bulgarian vassal state was agreed with its lands encompassing nearly all ethnic Bulgarians in the Balkans.
However, the United Kingdom and Austria-Hungary were against the establishment of such a large Russian controlled state in the Balkans, fearing it would shift the balance of power in the Mediterranean.
The great powers signed the Treaty of Berlin, superseding the Treaty of San Stefano, which never went into effect. This created a much smaller principality, alongside an autonomous Eastern Rumelia within the Ottoman Empire.
In 1990 the date was announced as the Bulgarian national holiday, although the claim that it marked the beginning of the Third Bulgarian State, is highly debatable.The fact is that March 3 is officially Bulgaria's national holiday, but what actually is celebrated on this date?
Political analysis by Plamen Asenov
