Herzegovina Uprising ( 1875 – 78 ) The Herzegovina Uprising of 1875 – 1878 ( , ) was an uprising led by Serbs against the Ottoman Empire , firstly in Herzegovina ( hence its name ) and then in Bosnia . It is the most significant of the rebellions against Ottoman rule in Herzegovina . The uprising was precipitated by the harsh treatment under the bey s and aghas of the Ottoman province of Bosnia . The reforms announced by the Turkish Sultan Abdülmecid I , involving new rights for Christian subjects , a new basis for army conscription , and an end to the much - hated system of tax - farming , were either resisted or ignored by the powerful Bosnian landowners . They frequently resorted to more repressive measures against their Christian subjects . The tax burden on Christian peasants constantly increased . Over 200 , 000 Christian fugitives was a result of Turkish and Bosnian Muslim atrocities in 1877 . The rebels were aided with weapons and volunteers of Montenegro and Serbia which led to the Serb - Turkish War and Great Eastern Crisis . A result of the uprisings and wars was the Berlin Congress in 1878 , which gave Montenegro and Serbia independence and territorial expansion , while Austro - Hungary occupied Bosnia and Herzegovina for 30 years , while being " de jure " Ottoman territory . Background . Herzegovina rebellions 1852 – 1862 . Ottoman general Omar Pasha decided in March 1852 to disarm the Herzegovinians of their weapons , this sparked an outrage in the region in which local clan chief Luka Vukalović was holding . The refusal of giving up arms resulted in minor fights between Herzegovinians and Turks , which in turn resulted in an uprising , which Vukalović would lead . The uprising began in winter 1852 / 53 , when Grahovo , Banjani and Drobnjaci refused to pay the Turks a debt . As the actions against Montenegro by the Ottomans began , the East Herzegovinian clans fought alongside Montenegrins . Although there weren ' t major actions in the period of 1853 – 57 , there wasn ’ t peace . Austria evidently interfered in the actions of Vukalović , as it would help Montenegro , and the French consulates followed the uprising . The uprising was boosted in December 1857 , after Knez Danilo started backing the rebels , bitter at the Porte because of its statements in the Paris Congress in 1856 . After the Battle of Grahovac on May 1 , 1858 , when Montenegrin and Herzegovinian rebels defeated the Turks , Knez Danilo titled Vukalović the " voivode " of Zubac , Kruševica , Dračevica and Sutorina , giving him some autonomy . The Porte agreed on appeasement , it carried out a border with Montenegro , thus recognizing the independence of Montenegro . As the great part of East Herzegovina , except Grahovo , part of Banjani , Drobnjaci , Župa and Nikšič Rudina was left under Ottoman rule , Vukalović continued the uprising . This strongly echoed in Bosnia , in particular the revolts in Bosanska Krajina and Posavina in 1858 . Afraid that the uprising would spill over in its territory , Austria increased its tackling of Vukalović , helping in different ways even the Turks . Vukalović in his requests didn ' t only deal with economical problems of Herzegovina , but marking the fight for national liberaiton , seeking for Herzegovina to join Montenegro . This character of uprising sparked the interest of the great powers of Europe , whom consulate representatives worked on giving Vukalović to the Ottoman government . Vukalović continued fighting against the Turks , and after the violent death of Knez Danilo in 1860 , inspired by the unification of Italy which was led by Garibaldi . Since 1861 , Omer - paša tried in many ways to end the uprising , unsuccessfully . But when Montenegro , after a defeat to the Turk in August 1862 , promised that it wouldn ' t help the rebel movement in Herzegovina , Vukalović understood this as the people had been strained and then wrote to Omer - paša , who promised amnesty for all rebels . Omer - paša promised Vukalović that he would continue his office as " voivode " of Zubac , Kruševica , Dračevica and Sutorina , but this was not held , he instead appointed him bimbaša of 500 " pandurs " who would secure peace along the borders . When he saw that the Ottomans didn ' t give their promises of relief on feudal duties and tax cuts , he tried in 1865 to once again start an uprising , but without any help , was unsuccessful . Vukalović left his birthplace and migrated to Russia , where he died in 1873 . Preparations . In Herzegovina . The leaders of the people of Herzegovina : Jovan Gutić , Simun Zečević , Ilija Stevanović , Trivko Grubačić , Prodan Rupar and Petar Radović , at the end of August and beginning of September 1874 , met and decided to start preparing a rebellion . They conclude with preparing weapons and ammunition , safe - places for people , assistance of Montenegro in the uprising , concluding that the uprising is to break out in Spring 1875 . The group entered in talks with Nikola I Petrović , but he was not willing to break and risk the unreadiness of Russia in its war with the Ottomans . The preparations continued , and in Bileća and Trebinje region , serdar Todor Mujičić , Gligor Milićević , Vasilj Svorcan and Sava Jakšić lead the revolt in these regions . The Ottomans hear of the talks between Nikola I and tries to capture the ringleaders , they however flee into Montenegro in the winter of 1874 . In 1875 , Austria is drawn in , and with its interests in Bosnia and Herzegovina , they seek from the Ottomans to give the ringleaders amnesty . The pressured Ottomans join in discussion with Austria . In Bosnia . The preparations start somewhat later than the Herzegovinian and did not manage to coordinate actions of the two regions . In the preparations are Vaso Vidović , Simo and Jovo Bilbija , Spasoje Babić and Vasa Pelagić . The plans began with firstly liberating the villages of Kozara ; Prosara and Motajica , then attack communications and block the cities of the Sava river , later to take over Banja Luka . The start of the uprising was envisaged on August 18 , 1875 . The Ottomans imprisoned priests in Prijedor , which put further pressure on the people , therefore villagers from Dvorište , Čitluka , Petrinje , Bačvani , Pobrđani and Tavija attack the Turks in Dvorište on August 15 . The uprising sparks wide , and the leader of the uprising is chosen to be Ostoja Kormanoš . Rebellions in Herzegovina . Nevesinje . The leaders return in 1875 and continue their plans on revolt , the plan seeks liberation of Nevesinje region , then expansion on the rest of Herzegovina . In the meantime , Turks seek " hajduk " Pera Tunguz , who on July 5 , had attacked a caravan on the Bišini mountain . On July 9 , the Turks start a conflict with the armed villagers of Jovan Gutić on the Gradac hill north of Krekova . This conflict would be known as " Nevesinjska puška " ( Nevesinje gun ) and marked the beginning of the uprising in all of Herzegovina . Firstly Nevesinje , Bileća and Stolac are involved , then in August , Gacko and the frontier towards Montenegro . " Četa " of 50 – 300 people and bands of 500 – 2000 people gather and attack Ottoman border posts and Bey towers . The Ottomans had 4 battalions of regular army ( nizami ) with a total of 1800 soldiers , situated in Mostar , Trebinje , Nikšić , Foča and the border posts , also a larger number of başıbozuk are present all over the province . The Ottoman troops are commanded by Selim - paša who in turn is under Derviš - paša , the commander of Bosnia Eyalet . After the outbreak of the uprising , the Turks try to gain time by starting negotiations while reinforcements arrive . The rebels wanted lower taxes , which the Turks refused , and the fighting continues . In August , 4000 nizami arrive from Bosnia , and later 4 more battalions by sea through Klek in Trebinje . The rebels had by July and August destroyed the majority of border posts and besieged Trebinje in August 5 . The Turks regained Trebinje by August 30 . In the end of August , fights break out in Bosnia , and Serbia and Montenegro promise aid , sparking an intensification of the uprising . Knez Nikola sends Petar Vukotić , while a large number of Montenegrin volunteers arrive at the command of Peko Pavlović . The Serbian government dare not to publicly assist because of international pressure , but secretly sends Mićo Ljubibratić ( who took part in the 1852 – 1862 uprising ) among others . There is a conflict between the rebels because of disagreement between the representatives of the Montenegrin and Serbian governments , causing failures in the ongoing uprising . Rebellions in Bosnia . August 1876 . According to Herr Fric , the Serbian rebels were " extremely numerous , and in some cases well armed " and were divided among following troops and bands : The aim of the bands was to prevent any greater concentration of Turkish troops on the Drina , on the western frontier of Serbia . As a systemically organized insurrection in Bosnia is of no possibility , the rebels pursue and drive back the Muslim population into their towns . The bands protect and help the exiles hiding in the woods ; unarmed men , women , and children , to reach the frontier of Austria or Serbia through safe conduct . The state of the common Christian people was serious , the number of fugitives exceeded 200 , 000 by January 1877 . 1877 . The rebels in South Bosnia had cleared the region of Turks , presently under the command of Despotović , between the Austrian frontier and the Turkish fortresses of Kulin Vakup , Ključ , and Glamoč . In August 1877 , all Bosnian Muslims men from 15 to 70 were ordered to fight , although there was already 54 battalions , each with 400 – 700 men . Aftermath . The unrest rapidly spread among the Christian populations of the other Ottoman provinces in the Balkans ( notably the April Uprising in Bulgaria ) setting off what would becomne known as the Great Eastern Crisis . The atrocities of the Ottoman Empire in suppressing unrest in the Balkan provinces eventually led to the Russo - Turkish War of 1877 – 78 , which ended in Turkish defeat , and the signing of the Treaty of San Stefano in March 1878 , followed in July of the same year by the Treaty of Berlin , severely reducing Ottoman territories and power in Europe . The Congress of Berlin decided that Bosnia and Herzegovina , while remaining nominally under Turkish sovereignty , would be governed by Austria - Hungary . Austria - Hungary was also given the right to occupy those provinces , but did not do so until 1908 . That occupation enraged Serbian nationalists and was a catalyst for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by the Bosnian Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip .