June 19, 1875: The Herzegovinian Revolution, the spark that ignites the Russo-Turkish War

The Herzegovinian Revolution erupted with support from autonomous entities like Serbia and Montenegro. This movement among the Slavic population of the Ottoman province of Herzegovina (part of the Vilayet of Bosnia) was a pivotal part of the broader awakening among Balkan peoples during the 19th century.

While previous centuries had seen sporadic revolutions, the 19th century witnessed the rise of nationalism and the aspiration for autonomous nationhood, inspired by Enlightenment ideals and the French Revolution.

In the Balkans, the Greek Revolution of 1821 marked the first significant success in weakening the Ottoman Empire. Encouraged by the Greek example, Serbs, Bulgarians, Romanians, and Montenegrins embarked on their own struggles for independence, sometimes with foreign support, notably from Russia.