Dealing with the Aftermath of the Serbo-Turkish Wars of 1876 and 1877–1878. The Costs of the Border Politics of the Principality of Serbia

Abstract

Abstract The article addresses the financial costs and economic consequences of the Serbo-Turkish War of 1876–1878 for the Serbian state based on documents from the files of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of National Economy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Principality (Kingdom) of Serbia. The author analyses sums spent on the war with Turkey, compensations paid for war losses and requisitions, the costs of supporting the refugees, and also compensations for Muslim land owners expropriated as a result of Serbia’s incorporation of the territories of the Sandžak of Niš and part of the Sandžak of Pirot (existed in 1877–1878). The idea of building the Serbian nation state was realized first of all through territorial expansion, which became the political priority of the state. It generated enormous expenditures, which ruined the public finances of Serbia and resulted in the country’s economic and social stagnation.