October 8, 1912: Greece and allies launch First Balkan War against the Ottoman Empire

The Balkan League, consisting of Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro, declared the First Balkan War against the Ottoman Empire on October 8, 1912, beginning their successful campaign to drive the Ottoman Turks out of most of Europe.

The First Balkan War was a major triumph for Greece, as, after several failed attempts, it finally liberated Macedonia, Epirus, and various Aegean Islands from the Turks.

This was achieved 80 years after the establishment of the small Kingdom of Greece, which was formed without including many historical Greek lands and without millions of Greeks who remained under Ottoman occupation.

The war was a comprehensive and unmitigated disaster for the Ottomans, who lost 83% of their European territories and 69% of their European population.

As a result of the war, the League captured and partitioned almost all of the Ottoman Empire's remaining territories in Europe.

Ensuing events after the First Balkan War also led to the creation of an independent Albania, which angered the Serbs.

Bulgaria, meanwhile, was dissatisfied with the division of the spoils in Macedonia and attacked its former allies, Serbia and Greece, on 16 June 1913, which provoked the start of the Second Balkan War.

READ MORE: Popular YouTube channel pays homage to Greek ship that terrorized Ottoman Navy.