The Treaty of San Stefano was signed on March 3, 1878, following the conclusion of the Russo-Turkish War, which had lasted from 1877 to 1878. The war was fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire, with the latter seeking to protect the rights of Eastern Orthodox Christians within the Ottoman realm, particularly in the Balkans. The signing took place in the village of San Stefano, near Constantinople, and was primarily negotiated by Russian diplomat Mikhail Nikolayevich Muravyov. One of the most significant aspects of the treaty was its establishment of a large Bulgarian principality, which included territories inhabited by Bulgarian people that had been previously under Ottoman control. This momentous event not only signified the formal end of Ottoman rule in Bulgaria but also highlighted the burgeoning nationalistic movements within the Balkans during this period. The treaty marked a key moment for Bulgarian nationalism, fostering a sense of unity and identity among the Bulgarian populace.While the Treaty of San Stefano aimed to create peace and stability in the region, it was met with significant opposition from other Great Powers, particularly the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the United Kingdom, who feared the expansion of Russian influence in the Balkans. As a result, the treaty was revised later that year at the Congress of Berlin, which curtailed Bulgaria's territorial gains and reduced its autonomy, demonstrating the complex interplay of nationalist aspirations and imperial interests in the Balkans during the late 19th century.