The region of Bosnia-Herzegovina was under the Ottoman empire for 400 years, but instead of getting independence, another empire came in and captured them. Obviously, the people of Bosnia were enraged at this. They wanted freedom. People in the neighboring country Serbia were also infuriated at seeing this happen. The Serbians didn’t only have a geographical connection with the Bosnians they even had an ethnic connection. Actually, all the Eastern European countries have the ethnicity of Slavs. Many people living in these countries feel this connection.
In fact, if you look at the bottom of the map, the people in these countries call themselves South Slavs. Many people in these countries even demanded a South Slavic Nation. Serbia complained that the Austro Hungary empire wasn’t merely invading Bosnia, rather, they were invading the South Slavs.
Before capturing the country, the foreign minister of Austria-Hungary, had already spoken with the Russian foreign minister, asking Russia to refrain from objecting to it as they were giving them prior intimation of their capture. And Russia agreed to them. Because Russia wanted something in return. Look at this map, this is the Black Sea, and the Sea of Marmar is in the South.
The Strait of Bosphorus joins the two. And dividing Istanbul into 2. This part belonged to the Ottoman empire. And Russia wanted to have this. So Russia told the Austro-Hungarian empire that Russia would annex the region. And so they shouldn’t oppose them. And Russia wouldn’t say anything either when they capture Bosnia. A good deal.
